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The college football season is roughly a month away, and the race for the national championship is about to begin. Indiana enters the season as the defending national champion, while another in-state program, Notre Dame, will look to return to the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame fell short of a national title in 2024 and missed last season’s playoff field. Now, the Fighting Irish have a strong chance to return, with their postseason fate largely in their own hands. One prominent college football analyst believes they will.
MORE: Stephen A. Smith questions Kirby Smart’s standing as Georgia chases CFP return
Kirk Herbstreit joined The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the top contenders entering the season. When asked to name his number one favorite, Herbstreit didn’t hesitate to pick the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Jan 18, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit speaks to fans at fan fest in the Miami Beach Convention Center before the College Football National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes in Miami Florida. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
“I’m going Notre Dame… CJ [Carr] is the real deal,” Herbstreit said. “I like Notre Dame.”
Notre Dame will try to follow Indiana’s lead and bring another national championship to the state. The Fighting Irish defeated Indiana at home during the 2024 College Football Playoff before falling short of a title.
On paper, Notre Dame enters the season as one of the nation’s strongest preseason favorites.
The Fighting Irish rank third in ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) and own the highest probability of running the table during the regular season at 32.7%.
MORE: College Football Playoff expansion could cost ESPN’s monopoly
They also have a 74.4% chance of making the College Football Playoff, which ranks second only to Ohio State. ESPN’s FPI also projects the Fighting Irish to rank third in both national championship game appearance probability and national title odds.
Nov 22, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with players after scoring against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Of course, championships aren’t won on preseason projections. While Notre Dame benefits from a favorable schedule, the Fighting Irish will still have to prove themselves on the field and navigate another playoff run.
Head coach Marcus Freeman should give the Fighting Irish an edge against most opponents on the schedule, with perhaps only Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio State matching the program’s combination of talent and coaching. He also returns a roster that still features key contributors from the team’s last deep playoff run.
Will Notre Dame return to the College Football Playoff in 2026?
Continue reading...
Notre Dame fell short of a national title in 2024 and missed last season’s playoff field. Now, the Fighting Irish have a strong chance to return, with their postseason fate largely in their own hands. One prominent college football analyst believes they will.
MORE: Stephen A. Smith questions Kirby Smart’s standing as Georgia chases CFP return
Kirk Herbstreit joined The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the top contenders entering the season. When asked to name his number one favorite, Herbstreit didn’t hesitate to pick the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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Jan 18, 2026; Miami, FL, USA; ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit speaks to fans at fan fest in the Miami Beach Convention Center before the College Football National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes in Miami Florida. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
“I’m going Notre Dame… CJ [Carr] is the real deal,” Herbstreit said. “I like Notre Dame.”
Notre Dame will try to follow Indiana’s lead and bring another national championship to the state. The Fighting Irish defeated Indiana at home during the 2024 College Football Playoff before falling short of a title.
On paper, Notre Dame enters the season as one of the nation’s strongest preseason favorites.
The Fighting Irish rank third in ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) and own the highest probability of running the table during the regular season at 32.7%.
MORE: College Football Playoff expansion could cost ESPN’s monopoly
They also have a 74.4% chance of making the College Football Playoff, which ranks second only to Ohio State. ESPN’s FPI also projects the Fighting Irish to rank third in both national championship game appearance probability and national title odds.
You must be registered for see images attach
Nov 22, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with players after scoring against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Of course, championships aren’t won on preseason projections. While Notre Dame benefits from a favorable schedule, the Fighting Irish will still have to prove themselves on the field and navigate another playoff run.
Head coach Marcus Freeman should give the Fighting Irish an edge against most opponents on the schedule, with perhaps only Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio State matching the program’s combination of talent and coaching. He also returns a roster that still features key contributors from the team’s last deep playoff run.
Will Notre Dame return to the College Football Playoff in 2026?
Continue reading...
