Notre Dame Football Will Make a Title Run in 2026 and Here’s Why

Notre Dame has been a force in college football for many decades. Yet, they haven’t won a championship since the late 80’s. They seem to be in the conversation every single year but are simply never able to pull it off. A few years ago, they made it to the big game but lost to Ohio State. So, will 2026 be different? Can they actually win it all?

According to sportsbooks, Notre Dame enters this season as the third best team on the country. This is because they have Ohio State favored at +575 and Texas at +600. Notre Dame is currently sitting at +650 odds to win it all.

So, what gives? Why is Natre Dame predicted to be a serious contender for 2026?

Elite returning production and roster talent: Notre Dame returns massive experience, including quarterback C.J. Carr (with a full year of starting under his belt and strong Heisman buzz), plus high-end talent across the skill positions, lines, and secondary.

QB Carr threw for 2,741 yards, 24 TD’s to only 6 interceptions last season. He is expected to pick up right where he left off and deliver even better numbers this season.

Notre Dame returns 14 starters for the 2026 season (one of the highest totals in the FBS).

Program momentum under Marcus Freeman: Freeman has built consistent success (overall strong winning record, multiple playoff appearances, and a run to the 2024 national championship game). The program is no longer seen as just a “good but not elite” team—they’re a consistent playoff participant with a roster capable of beating anyone. The expanded CFP format and new rules favor them more (e.g., likely needing multiple losses to miss the top 12).

Favorable path and schedule outlook: Projections often have them as a top-5 preseason team with a realistic shot at going 11-1 or 12-0. They’re big favorites in key games, and as an independent, they avoid some conference gauntlets while still building a strong resume.

2026 Notre Dame Football Schedule

9/6 – vs Wisconsin (Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI) – Shamrock Series
9/12 – vs Rice (Notre Dame Stadium)
9/19 – vs Michigan State (Notre Dame Stadium)
9/26 – at Purdue
10/3 – at North Carolina
10/10 – vs Stanford (Notre Dame Stadium)
10/17 – at BYU
10/31 – vs Navy (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA)
11/7 – vs Miami (Notre Dame Stadium)
11/14 – vs Boston College (Notre Dame Stadium)
11/21 – vs SMU (Notre Dame Stadium)
11/28 – at Syracuse

The Fighting Irish have a real chance at running the table here. Miami may be their toughest challenge, and they get to host them at home. Notre Dame will most certainly be favored in this one, by as much as a full TD.