It's no surprise that Notre Dame football is turning heads as we look ahead to the 2026 season. The Fighting Irish are sitting pretty with the best odds among the Blue Blood programs to go undefeated.
With such high expectations, CBS Sports' Brad Crawford has shared some intriguing predictions for the team. He anticipates that Notre Dame will climb to the top of the rankings, only to face a significant challenge down the line.
Crawford projects that Marcus Freeman's squad will reach the No. 1 spot by Week 8. At that point, they’re expected to be 7-0, taking over from a Texas team that stumbles against the Florida Gators. Heading into Week 9, Notre Dame will have an 8-0 record, fresh off a bye week, and gearing up for a showdown with Miami.
However, the Hurricanes are predicted to be a formidable roadblock for the Irish. Despite Notre Dame's desire for redemption after a tough season opener in 2025, Crawford foresees Miami triumphing once more in South Bend. This would knock Notre Dame from the unbeaten ranks and the top spot.
Crawford notes that Miami, after defeating Notre Dame for a second consecutive season, could rise to No. 1 for the first time since 2002. With remaining games against Duke, Virginia Tech, and Boston College, plus the ACC Championship Game, Miami's explosive offense might just power them through to an undefeated regular season.
If there's a silver lining for Notre Dame in this scenario, it's that losing to Miami might not be the end of the world. Should Crawford's predictions hold, the Irish could still have opportunities to make their mark as the season progresses.