The sting of last season’s College Football Playoff snub still lingers in South Bend. Notre Dame hovered in the playoff conversation for most of the year, sitting firmly inside the top 10 until the final rankings dropped on the first Sunday of December.
But when the dust settled, the Irish found themselves at No. 11-just outside the 12-team playoff field. Miami leapfrogged them into the No. 10 spot, and that late shift effectively ended Notre Dame’s season.
Rather than accept a bowl invitation, the program chose to hit pause and regroup.
Now, with the 2026 season on the horizon, Notre Dame is setting its sights on redemption-and a return to the postseason spotlight.
A Schedule That Raises Eyebrows
The Irish unveiled their 2026 schedule on January 23, and it didn’t take long for the critics to weigh in. The slate includes games against BYU, Miami, SMU, and Navy-teams with some pedigree-but beyond that, it’s a schedule light on proven heavyweights. None of the other opponents posted more than five wins last season, which has raised legitimate questions about the strength of Notre Dame’s path through the regular season.
In a playoff era where résumé strength can be the difference between a ticket to the dance and watching from home, that’s a real concern. The margin for error is razor-thin. The Irish learned that the hard way last year.
A Returning QB and Defensive Continuity Spark Hope
But there’s reason for optimism in South Bend. For the first time since Ian Book in 2020, Notre Dame will return its starting quarterback.
CJ Carr is back under center after a promising debut season that earned him a spot on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 101 players in college football. He checked in at No. 74-a solid nod to his impact and potential.
Carr’s return gives the Irish something they’ve lacked in recent years: stability at the game’s most important position. That continuity could be a game-changer, especially with a full offseason to build on what he showed in year one.
On the defensive side, Chris Ash enters his second year as coordinator. His first season got off to a rocky start-Notre Dame opened 0-2-but the unit began to settle in as the year progressed.
Ash has had time to implement his system, evaluate his personnel, and start shaping the defense in his vision. If that side of the ball takes a step forward, Notre Dame could field one of the more balanced teams in the country.
The CFP Path Is Clear-But Not Guaranteed
The good news for the Irish is that the College Football Playoff format isn’t changing-at least not yet. Despite speculation about a potential expansion to 14 teams, the 12-team model is here to stay for now. That means the roadmap is familiar: finish inside the top 12, and you’re in.
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua addressed the situation head-on in December. He confirmed that under the current CFP agreement-signed by Notre Dame and nine other FBS conferences-the Irish will secure a playoff berth as long as they finish in the top 12.
“People have asked me, ‘Well, how come Notre Dame gets that benefit?’” Bevacqua said at his end-of-season press conference.
“And we still have to prove it on the field more than anybody. We still have to put ourselves in that area, that zip code of a top 12 team, but we want to protect ourselves against what happened this year.”
Translation: Notre Dame knows it has to earn it. But it also wants to make sure that if it does, it won’t be left out again.
Looking Ahead: Can the Irish Close the Deal in 2026?
With a returning quarterback, a second-year defensive coordinator, and a clear path to the playoff, Notre Dame has the pieces in place to make a serious run. The schedule might not win over the skeptics, but the Irish can only play who’s in front of them. If they take care of business and stack wins, the committee won’t have much choice.
The opportunity is there. Now it’s about execution. After falling just short in 2025, the Irish are eyeing 2026 as their shot to break through-and this time, they’re determined to finish the job.