Can Notre Dame Football Prove Themselves Worthy of a CFP Bid in 2026?
Last season was one of the best in college football, and the offseason brought plenty of storylines, especially about the teams that made the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame was left out and felt snubbed by the committee. For months, people have debated whether they deserved a spot, since they looked strong but played a lot of weaker teams. As one of the last independent FBS teams, Notre Dame picks its own schedule, which usually means facing mostly mid-level ACC teams, a few Group of Five opponents, and maybe a Big Ten team.
Still, the Fighting Irish have a strong roster, even if their schedule is seen as easy. Some say they avoid tough matchups, but if you were Notre Dame’s athletic director, would you really want to schedule teams like Ohio State, Alabama, and Texas every year? To impress the committee, Notre Dame needs to dominate their games. If they struggle against weaker teams, it gives people reasons to doubt them. If they want to be considered a top program, they have to play like one, but last year they didn’t always show it, especially when they barely beat a one-win Boston College team. Looking ahead to 2026, Notre Dame is bringing back many key players, including quarterback CJ Carr, who is already in the Heisman conversation. Running back Aneyas Williams is also returning and should help take some pressure off Carr in the red zone. Plus, former Ohio State receiver Quincy Porter is joining the team to give Carr another target.
Looking at the schedule, there aren’t many surprises about who Notre Dame will play. The real question is whether they can go undefeated or maybe lose just one game. Their toughest matchup is at BYU in Provo, but that shouldn’t be too difficult for Marcus Freeman’s team. The home game against Miami will be a real test and a chance to make up for last year’s loss to the Hurricanes, which kept them out of the playoff. The rest of the teams on their schedule don’t match up to Notre Dame’s talent. Some people blame the weak schedule for the committee’s decision, but this year’s team should have no trouble making the playoffs and proving the doubters wrong.
