For almost ten years now, The Irish has been a team to watch when it comes to the national championship. They’ve made it to the College Football Playoff, even played in a championship game, and have been one of the most consistent teams in college football.
However, just being consistent isn’t cutting it anymore. Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish need to take it to the next level if they want to stay relevant in the conversation about the best teams in the country.
Being good every year is no longer enough as they missed the 12 team playoff last year due to two key losses in the regular season.
Heading into 2026, Marcus Freeman has a golden opportunity to take the next step and cement Notre Dame as the team to beat in college football. The Irish return one of the nation’s most talented quarterbacks in CJ Carr, reload once again through recruiting, and field a defense capable of competing with anyone in America.
2025 Recap
Notre Dame’s 2025 season was defined by two completely different stories.
The Irish got off to a tough start, suffering devastating losses to Miami and Texas A&M – two games that were decided by a mere four points combined.
These early setbacks put Marcus Freeman’s team at a disadvantage before October had even begun, which made their road ahead even more challenging. It was a disappointing beginning to the season, and it seemed like things were not going in their favor right from the start. What happened after that is the reason a lot of people thought Notre Dame should be in the College Football Playoff. From October right up to the end of the regular season, the Fighting Irish were on fire, looking like one of the top teams in college football. They won 10 games in a row, totally outplaying their opponents on both offense and defense, and finished the year playing some of their best football.
The Irish took down some tough opponents, won with a great balance of skills, and definitely looked like a team that could win a championship and look like they passed the test with flying colors. Things didn’t go well from the start, and some bad decisions made it tough to catch up. Notre Dame had a great season, finishing 10-2 and winning their last 10 games, but they didn’t make it to the College Football Playoff. Instead, Miami and Alabama got in.
This decision caused a lot of discussion among college football fans, with many people thinking that Notre Dame was one of the top 12 teams in the country by the end of the season, even if their record wasn’t good enough to impress the committee. Some people felt that the Irish got a raw deal, and that they should have been included in the playoff. The fact that they won 10 games in a row and were playing well at the end of the season made their exclusion even more surprising to many fans.
Offensive Outlook
The biggest reason for optimism surrounding Notre Dame’s offense is simple: CJ Carr is no longer the new guy.
After a tough start in 2025, Carr really came into his own as one of the top quarterbacks in the country by the end of the season.
Now, heading into 2026, he’s got a big advantage that all the best quarterbacks have – a full year of experience under his belt as a starter.
This should make a huge difference, as the game won’t feel as overwhelming and he’ll have a much better sense of how to read defenses and make plays.
His relationships with his receivers will be stronger too, which will help him anticipate their moves and get them the ball in the right spots. And with all this experience, his confidence as the leader of the offense should be higher than ever – he’ll know he’s got what it takes to make the big plays and lead his team to victory.
Now the expectation changes. Carr isn’t just expected to manage games anymore. He’s expected to elevate Notre Dame into a legitimate national championship contender.
Fortunately, he’ll have more help around him.
Notre Dame has revamped its receiving team by recruiting new players and using the transfer portal, which means Carr now has more exciting options for long passes than he did last year.
The team has added faster, taller, and more versatile players to its wide receiver position, making it harder for other teams’ defenses to match up. If these new players can learn and adapt quickly, Notre Dame’s passing game could become one of the toughest to defend in the nation.
A new chapter is unfolding for the running backs.
Notre Dame is looking at a new era with some familiar players gone. But they’ve brought in some great new talent, so they’re hoping to find another star runner. The Irish will keep using multiple running backs and see who’s doing well at different times during the season.
This way, they can keep their opponents guessing and make the most of their players’ strengths. With a bit of luck, they might find a new standout player to lead their team. The key will be to find the right balance and make the most of their roster. By doing so, they can keep their offense fresh and exciting, and make a real impact on the field.
The team’s offense starts strong with a solid line that’s a major advantage for the program.
Notre Dame has a history of producing top-notch offensive linemen who make it to the NFL. Even with some new players taking on bigger roles, the goals for this group remain the same. They need to keep CJ Carr safe, get the running game going, and dominate the line of scrimmage against some of the toughest defenses in the country.
This is a big task, but Notre Dame’s offense is counting on them to come through. With the right combination of skill and teamwork, they should be able to get the job done and help the team succeed.
Defensive Outlook
One thing that could give Notre Dame a real shot at a championship in 2026 is their defense; it’s definitely a strong foundation to build on.
Marcus Freeman has put together one of the top defensive teams in the country, and this year’s squad has everything it needs to be one of the best in college football again.
The Irish have some great players coming back, including standout linebacker Drayk Bowen, who is one of the leaders of the defense. They also have Jaiden Ausberry, who is really athletic and can play in a lot of different positions, making him a key player at the second level.
In the secondary, Leonard Moore is the star of a talented group of defensive backs after becoming one of the top young corners in the nation. And with Adon Shuler returning to anchor the back end with his tough playing style and high football IQ, the Irish defense is looking strong. With all these pieces in place, it’s no surprise that Freeman’s defensive unit is expected to be one of the best in college football this year.
Notre Dame is looking strong up front, with a good mix of size, depth, and pass-rushing skills that should give them control of the line of scrimmage.
This will allow their linebackers and secondary players to play quickly and take some risks, making it harder for the other team to move the ball. With this kind of setup, Notre Dame’s defense can be really aggressive and make some big plays.
A lot of the key guys have been playing football together for a while now, so they’re really comfortable with Marcus Freeman’s system, and they know how to get the job done when it matters most. They’re always hustling to get to the ball, they’re great at creating turnovers, and they make the other team’s offense fight for every single yard.
Biggest Strength
Defense , Enough said. This is a unit that should be at the championship level that they inspired to be. Their depth and versatility will have them at an advantage against majority of teams on their schedule. With another year under Al Golden, it should be second nature for this side of the ball to make plays.
Biggest Concern
For all of Notre Dame’s strengths, replacing the production of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price won’t be easy.
Over the last two seasons, the duo became one of college football’s most explosive backfields, consistently taking pressure off the passing game while giving the Irish a physical identity. Now both are off to the NFL, leaving behind big shoes to fill.
The good news is Notre Dame has no shortage of talent waiting for its opportunity.
Aneyas Williams appears to be the early favorite to become the featured back after flashing versatility as both a runner and receiver. Kedren Young brings valuable experience and big-play ability when healthy, while Nolan James Jr. is another young name to watch as the season progresses. Together, they’ll look to prove that Notre Dame can continue its tradition of producing elite rushing attacks.
Games That Will Define the Season
Notre Dame once again faces one of the nation’s toughest schedules.
Several games stand out as season-defining opportunities:
vs Wisconsin
vs Michigan State
vs Miami
vs BYU
X-Factor
Can the Irish win the marquee matchups when the lights are brightest?
Last couple of seasons the Irish has lost games that they should win but last year became a daring task as they were set up with two CFP Playoff contenders in Miami (National Champion Runner Ups) and Texas A&M (CFP First Round).
Notre Dame will look to take redemption as the Hurricanes will head to South Bend under the lights and should be the stepping stones to a higher seed pursuit for both teams.
Season Prediction
Notre Dame enters the 2026 season with one of the nation’s most complete football teams.
An quarterback that is on the rise with new skill position talent ready to take flight. Also having a championship-caliber defense led by Leonard Moore and redemption on their mind for missing the playoffs last year. Everything points toward another run at the College Football Playoff.
If the Irish can keep up the great football they played from October to December in 2025, and start strong, they’ve got a real shot at competing for a National Championship. They just need to maintain that level of play and come out swinging from the start. Especially with Miami coming to down in a season altering matchup
Record Prediction: 11-1
College Football Playoff: ✅ Yes
National Championship Contender: Absolutely
It all up to the Fighting Irish to make amends.
