ESPN’s latest look at the 2026 college football field puts Notre Dame where a lot of people around the sport already had them: near the very top, and in the safest-bets conversation.
The Fighting Irish landed in ESPN’s Tier 1 group, one of four teams at the top of the list alongside Indiana, Miami and Ohio State. ESPN’s David Hale pointed to Notre Dame’s returning production and big-play profile as major reasons for the placement.
“Notre Dame returns 72% of its offensive and defensive snaps from last season, according to ESPN's Bill Connelly,” David Hale of ESPN shared. “That's the best rate in the country.
No team had a better explosive play differential last season vs. FBS opponents than Notre Dame (plus-7.5%).
Leonard Moore has allowed 19 completions for a first down as the primary defender in his career. Eleven of them came when Notre Dame held a double-digit lead.
None came when the Irish were trailing. He allowed just four in his past 11 games.”
That Tier 1 grouping also lines up with some of the marquee matchups on Notre Dame’s schedule. Ohio State travels to Bloomington on October 17, while Miami comes to South Bend on November 7.
ESPN’s tiers also give a little more shape to the rest of Notre Dame’s schedule. The BYU Cougars, who the Irish view as their second toughest opponent, are in Tier 3.
Head coach Kalani Sitake has gone 23-4 over the last two seasons and brings back key pieces for 2026. Their October 17 meeting in South Bend should say plenty about both teams.
SMU shows up in Tier 5 as one of the ACC’s dark horses to reach the 2026 CFP. Rhett Lashlee’s team is two years removed from playing for the conference championship and making the first 12-team College Football Playoffs, and quarterback Kevin Jennings is back.
For Notre Dame, though, the headline is simple: ESPN sees the Irish as one of the most reliable contenders in the country. That fits the buzz around Marcus Freeman’s team heading into a season that could end with a run at the program’s 12th national title.
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Notre Dame Is Back At The Center Of College Footballs Same Debate
Curt Cignetti brought an old argument back to the surface this week, taking aim at Notre Dames football independence and suggesting the Irish ought to be willing to play more games at Indianas home field. The Indiana coachs comments drew an immediate boost from former Florida State quarterback and analyst Danny Kanell, who backed Cignetti publicly and questioned the advantages Notre Dame enjoys as one of college footballs last true independents.
The backdrop matters here: Indiana had previously backed out of a scheduled home-and-home series with Notre Dame, and Cignettis critique came in the shadow of that decision. For Notre Dame, it is the kind of familiar debate that never really goes away, with independence remaining both a point of pride and a target for critics who see an uneven playing field. [Read more 🡒]
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Among the most interesting pieces is DJ McKinney, whose talent and experience stand out, even as Ash said he still has to get comfortable in the system. Jaylen Sneed is another name worth tracking on the defensive side, with Ash noting his growth as a pass rusher and his readiness to battle for playing time as Notre Dame looks to sort out its rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Florida's Receiver Crowd Just Added More Pressure On Billy Napier
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The broader piece treats them as part of a larger wave of receivers changing schools and trying to turn previous promise into production in new uniforms. Porter and Graham are being slotted into roles where opportunity matters as much as talent, and Notre Dame will be watching closely to see which of the two can carve out the bigger lane. In a market where breakout candidates often decide how deep a receiver group can go, their development feels like one of those storylines that could end up shaping the Irish offense more than it does now. [Read more 🡒]