Greg McElroy is betting on Notre Dame to stack up more regular-season wins than some of college football’s heaviest hitters in 2026.
On a recent edition of his show, "Always College Football," the former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst laid out a batch of hot takes, and the one that stands out most is his belief that the Fighting Irish will finish ahead of Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia in the win column during the regular season.
Notre Dame has the kind of roster that makes that prediction easy to understand. The Irish are among six Power Four teams bringing back 14 starters from their 2025 team, which is tied for the second-most in the Power Four behind USC. That group includes quarterback CJ Carr, top receiver Jordan Faison and all six of Notre Dame’s leading tacklers.
The timing matters, too. Notre Dame enters 2026 with a clear edge in motivation after coming painfully close to a national title two years ago and then missing the College Football Playoff last season. That combination gives the Irish a built-in edge as they head into a schedule that looks manageable for long stretches.
The biggest regular-season test on Notre Dame’s slate is a home game against Miami on Nov. 7, a shot at revenge after last year’s Week 1 loss to the Hurricanes. Beyond that, the Irish’s only other major hurdles are a trip to BYU on Oct. 17 and a home matchup with SMU on Nov.
- The rest of the schedule is made up of Group of Six opponents or Power Four teams that finished 2025 with losing records.
McElroy also made it clear that he sees Ohio State as worthy of the preseason No. 1 spot, even if the path ahead is brutal. The Buckeyes are staring at one of their toughest regular seasons in recent memory, with road games at Texas, Iowa, Indiana and USC in the first two months alone. Then comes a November stretch that brings Oregon and Michigan to Columbus.
Oregon’s schedule may be the most forgiving of the group on paper, but it is far from soft. The Ducks have a key road game at USC in late September before their trip to Ohio State. After that, they’ll host Michigan and Washington, both of whom are being viewed as dark horses in the Big Ten.
Georgia, meanwhile, has a schedule that should keep it in the mix for a third straight College Football Playoff trip. Still, the Bulldogs have some real road work to do, including trips to Alabama and Ole Miss in SEC play. At home, they also draw Oklahoma on Sept. 26 in a game that could carry major weight in the playoff race.
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Charles Jagusah Just Gave Notre Dame A Massive Reason For Hope
Charles Jagusahs road back has been a long one for Notre Dame, but the latest update offers the kind of optimism that can change the mood around an offensive line room. The sophomore lineman has been working through a severe humerus injury and the aftermath of multiple surgeries after a UTV accident, with his recovery monitored closely by the Irish athletic training staff as he went through a complicated rehabilitation process.
For Notre Dame, the encouraging part is not just that Jagusah has made progress, but that the updates around him have shifted from uncertainty to real hope. He was already viewed as an important piece up front after stepping into major roles in the postseason, and his absence has left a real hole in the future of the line. Even with his return still tied to a patient recovery, the fact that he is trending back toward full health gives the Irish a much-needed lift heading into what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Earns Major Preseason Respect With One Big Concern
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The bigger question is whether that respect translates once the games begin, especially with so many key pieces still carrying different kinds of uncertainty into the fall. CJ Carrs first year as a starter was efficient enough to fuel the buzz, and players like Anthonie Knapp, Adon Shuler, Drayk Bowen and Boubacar Traore all give the Irish a proven base, but the range of preseason honors only sharpens the focus on the health and availability of the group behind them. Notre Dame has the accolades in hand now, and the more important part is making sure the roster is whole when it matters. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has Too Many Difference Makers Getting Ignored Right Now
There is a case to be made that Notre Dames most important 2026 pieces are also some of its least discussed, starting up front where Lambert and Anthonie Knapp have already given the Irish a sturdy foundation. Lambert started all 12 games last season and allowed only one sack, while Knapp is shifting from left tackle to left guard after piling up 27 career starts, the kind of move that can make an already dependable line even harder to deal with.
The same pattern shows up on defense, where Boubacar Traore is poised to anchor the edge and Drayk Bowen continues to flash as a player worth far more attention than he is getting. Add in the receiver room and the picture gets even deeper, with Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter arriving from Ohio State as additions that could matter quickly if Notre Dame keeps sorting out the pecking order. For a program trying to stay in the national title mix, the strange part is not that these players exist, but that so many of them are still waiting for the wider spotlight. [Read more 🡒]