2026 Season Predictions

allenm5333 · Aug 17, 2026

Wild Bill said:
Miami may be more talented from top to bottom, but Bain and Messidor were game wreckers. and in large part, were the difference against ND, A&M, OSU and almost caused enough havoc against IU in the 2nd half to win that game.

They were a nightmare to deal with in the run and pass and dictated what offenses could do. They will still have talented edge players who put up numbers, but they won’t dictate games and handcuff offenses the way those two did, so their defense will take a step back even if they are more talented top to bottom.

And lose a lot of ol talent

NDMatt91 · Aug 17, 2026

zelezo vlk said:
I badly want to disagree, but Jamie and the rest of the folks at ISD have me convinced Miami will be for real this year but likely won't have another Bain/Messidor combo

They're legit. The only concern is Offensive Line where they return only 1 starter. Their WR room is loaded and they return Fletcher and brought in Mensah. Mensah takes them to another level. If they didn't get away with tampering with him at the 11th hour I wouldn't be worried about them.

Irish Norseman · Aug 17, 2026

I’m ready to be hurt again. Championship or bust. Now I know what it feels like to be a Bama fan under Saban.

Irishdawg · Aug 17, 2026

Leave No Fucking Doubt!!

thekid33 · Aug 18, 2026

Scorched earth.

We make the title game undefeated, but I don't want to tempt fate predicting the game itself.

NDWarrior · Aug 18, 2026

MMFF!

calvegas04 · Aug 18, 2026

NDWarrior said:
MMFF!

View attachment 3064372

One, who links Facebook? Two I look at it and hear SAS talking...

Jiggafini19Deux · Aug 18, 2026

irishnd31 said:
Same age and boy you better stretch. You run like you’ve never run before. You will not only earn the respect of the neighbors, but your wife will think you are the coolest…..😂☘️

@Jimmy3Putt I'm 48 and I've arrived at a point in life where I can't tell if I'm injured or if this is just what normal feels like now. LOL

FU BK · Aug 18, 2026

National Champs or bust. Fuck everyone

Jimmy3Putt · Aug 18, 2026

Jiggafini19Deux said:
@Jimmy3Putt I'm 48 and I've arrived at a point in life where I can't tell if I'm injured or if this is just what normal feels like now. LOL

It's tough.
Sometimes I see my reflection hobbling up the stairs and think it's my dad! Or deciding to jog/quick step across a parking lot to avoid traffic and realize the legs aren't moving, lol!

Jiggafini19Deux · Aug 18, 2026

Jimmy3Putt said:
It's tough.
Sometimes I see my reflection hobbling up the stairs and think it's my dad! Or deciding to jog/quick step across a parking lot to avoid traffic and realize the legs aren't moving, lol!

I wish I had one of those hyperbaric chambers to sleep in like Tom Brady.

NDohio · Aug 18, 2026

Jiggafini19Deux said:
@Jimmy3Putt I'm 48 and I've arrived at a point in life where I can't tell if I'm injured or if this is just what normal feels like now. LOL

Oh just wait - I am 59 and have an 18 month old grandson. This past weekend I was outside, carrying him, and doing soccer cone drills like I did with my kids. Oh! My! God! Sunday was the day of the dead for me.

I haven’t been this excited for a season in 30 + years. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.

Huntr · Aug 18, 2026

I bent over to pick something up the other day and sneezed at the same time.

Thought I was going to die, or at least felt like it.

irishnd31 · Aug 19, 2026

Huntr said:
I bent over to pick something up the other day and sneezed at the same time.

Thought I was going to die, or at least felt like it.

I'll guess that your boxers have seen better days...

NDWarrior · Aug 19, 2026

So, we're actually ranked just right at #4 in the AP Poll (since Finebaum is always wrong with his takes)

allenm5333 · Aug 20, 2026

Bowl projections: Preseason outlook as Miami, Big Ten, SEC lead the way in loaded CFP bracket

An early look at every bowl matchup and potential first-round and quarterfinal CFP pairings for 2026

www.cbssports.com

if this happened, we would play 3 playoff teams

zelezo vlk · Aug 20, 2026

allenm5333 said:
Bowl projections: Preseason outlook as Miami, Big Ten, SEC lead the way in loaded CFP bracket

An early look at every bowl matchup and potential first-round and quarterfinal CFP pairings for 2026

www.cbssports.com

if this happened, we would play 3 playoff teams

Jamie U at ISD mentioned earlier this year there's a distinct possibility SMU could be undefeated coming in to the November 21 matchup. @Louisville looks to be their toughest matchup and it's certainly not a guaranteed loss. If ND is their only loss, it's easy to see how they'll make the playoff

allenm5333 · Aug 20, 2026

zelezo vlk said:
Jamie U at ISD mentioned earlier this year there's a distinct possibility SMU could be undefeated coming in to the November 21 matchup. @Louisville looks to be their toughest matchup and it's certainly not a guaranteed loss. If ND is their only loss, it's easy to see how they'll make the playoff

I personally think they are more of a threat than BYU

Dale · Aug 20, 2026

SMU definitely higher upside. Road environment is main concern of BYU before anything on the roster. SMU still gives Mack Brown ranked UNC vibes

NDPhilly · Aug 20, 2026

Feels like SMU is the classic team that is ranked too high when they play us due to an easy schedule who we beat so bad they are no longer a quality win. See at Pitt last year. We’re currently -17.5 vs SMU lol.

Dale · Aug 20, 2026

NDPhilly said:
Feels like SMU is the classic team that is ranked too high when they play us due to an easy schedule who we beat so bad they are no longer a quality win. See at Pitt last year. We’re currently -17.5 vs SMU lol.

Kevin Jennings vs PSU

🤝

Mason Heinstchel vs ND

greyhammer90 · Aug 20, 2026

NDPhilly said:
Feels like SMU is the classic team that is ranked too high when they play us due to an easy schedule who we beat so bad they are no longer a quality win. See at Pitt last year. We’re currently -17.5 vs SMU lol.

Navy every year. 10 win team about to be ranked and we beat them by 40+ and they're radioactive to being seen as a decent win by any poll.

MPClinton22 · Aug 20, 2026

allenm5333 said:
Bowl projections: Preseason outlook as Miami, Big Ten, SEC lead the way in loaded CFP bracket

An early look at every bowl matchup and potential first-round and quarterfinal CFP pairings for 2026

www.cbssports.com

if this happened, we would play 3 playoff teams

I just see no evidence that Miami is gonna win a Nov game in South Bend. Even last year they struggled in that late/middle stretch of the season, and they are notorious for struggling in the cold.

I'd still take 11-1 and a top 4 seed, obviously. But damn I want to beat the Canes so badly

IRISHbluehen · Aug 20, 2026

MPClinton22 said:
I just see no evidence that Miami is gonna win a Nov game in South Bend. Even last year they struggled in that late/middle stretch of the season, and they are notorious for struggling in the cold.

I'd still take 11-1 and a top 4 seed, obviously. But damn I want to beat the Canes so badly

Yeah I'm not "ok" with any of the likely losses this year. Last year I hoped they would start 2-0 but expected 1-1. This year I want to beat the hell out of both BYU and Miami.

MeanGreenBeans · Aug 20, 2026

MPClinton22 said:
I just see no evidence that Miami is gonna win a Nov game in South Bend. Even last year they struggled in that late/middle stretch of the season, and they are notorious for struggling in the cold.

I'd still take 11-1 and a top 4 seed, obviously. But damn I want to beat the Canes so badly

ND is winning this game regardless of the weather. I'm more worried about them dropping some other game that we don't expect. They've had this one circled since the CFP snub and will be sky high for sure. Miami is walking into a hornet's nest. ND by double digits.

IrishLax · Aug 20, 2026

Dale said:
SMU definitely higher upside. Road environment is main concern of BYU before anything on the roster. SMU still gives Mack Brown ranked UNC vibes

BYU is making the ND game their Super Bowl. INSANE ticket prices, now putting together custom fan experience packages and all kinds of other shit. Guaranteed to be a crazy environment where anything can happen, but Freeman seems to typically thrive on these kind of games so fingers crossed.

zelezo vlk · Aug 20, 2026

IrishLax said:
BYU is making the ND game their Super Bowl. INSANE ticket prices, now putting together custom fan experience packages and all kinds of other shit. Guaranteed to be a crazy environment where anything can happen, but Freeman seems to typically thrive on these kind of games so fingers crossed.

It's literally their biggest home opponent since before the Soviet Union fell

OrlaNDomer · Aug 20, 2026

Gameday at BYU for ND? I'd be cool with that.

zelezo vlk · Aug 20, 2026

OrlaNDomer said:
Gameday at BYU for ND? I'd be cool with that.

Biggest competition most likely will be Ohio State @ IU, Bama @ Tennessee, Penn State @ Michigan.

allenm5333 · Aug 20, 2026

zelezo vlk said:
Biggest competition most likely will be Ohio State @ IU, Bama @ Tennessee, Penn State @ Michigan.

no set kickoff time for Ohio State at Indiana. Im sure Big noon wants that one

2026 Season Predictions

How will Notre Dame finish?

Championship

Runner Up

Semifinals

Quarterfinals

1st round loss

10-2, excluded

9-3 or worse, chaos

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