2026 Season Predictions

[notredomer23]

Arguably the most anticipated season with the highest expectations since the Holtz era. Call your shot.

Record predictions are too difficult with the variety of playoff scenarios that can occur. 11-1 they’re in. 10-2 we know the story.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I truly believe this is the year. I'm ready to get hurt again.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I’m hopeful we win it all, but am only expecting a run to the final four. Anything more than that is gravy.

 

[notredomer23]

I picked runner up because I feel the top few teams are all very evenly matched and I’m viewing the semis onward as coin flips.

 

[notredamermotherpray4us]

I picked championship. We are now in championship or bust mode. I agree any games against the other top teams will be a coin flip

 

[tko]

These players were laughed at and embarrassed by America and the corrupt SEC/ACC/Media machine. I don't know if they do it or not, but there better be a reckoning, ND vs the world. Leave No Doubt should resonate in their minds every day. Let's ride!

 

[Irish Norseman]

15-0. Undefeated regular season and a 1 seed in the CFP. Carr wins Heisman. Literally the perfect season and we stick it up everyone’s ass all next off season.

 

[IA4irish]

Championship. I am soooo ready to be hurt

 

[notredamermotherpray4us]

15-0. Undefeated regular season and a 1 seed in the CFP. Carr wins Heisman. Literally the perfect season and we stick it up everyone’s ass all next off season.

That sounds fantastic except for that last part. Maybe we could do something else all next off season

 

[Huntr]

Anyone voting for anything but a Championship gets banished to an off-brand Hurricanes board for the season.

Choose wisely.

 

[MacIrish75]

I can’t do this to myself so I’m going to just enjoy a week at a time. Last year getting left out of the playoffs broke a bit of something inside me and I’ve gotta just temper any expectations.

That said…I predicted a Natty.

 

[Irish#1]

15-0. Undefeated regular season and a 1 seed in the CFP. Carr wins Heisman. Literally the perfect season and we stick it up everyone’s ass all next off season.

I can get behind that.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Semifinalists. Not making any prediction beyond that, because at that point it becomes a crapshoot.

But anything less than the Final 4 is a disappointment, IMO.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Natty or bust, I’m ready to be hurt again

 

[GreenGemsOmally]

I’m hopeful we win it all, but am only expecting a run to the final four. Anything more than that is gravy.

That's exactly where I am. OSU, Georgia, Oregon and ND are all (in my mind) in a very similar position in terms of expectations and ability to win it all. Teams like Miami, Texas, Texas A&M and Indiana (among others of course) will make it really interesting and could easily make a deep run as well.

It takes a LOT of luck to win the natty. It's not just talent, but we've done the best job that we've seen in years to put ourselves in as good of a position as we can to take the whole thing. Going something like 14-1 is a fantastic season and I will never sit here and say that just because you don't win a national championship therefore it's a failure, because otherwise literally nobody but one program has a "good" season ever. Maybe some people view it that way, but this is supposed to be fun and I don't like that NCG OR MISERY option.

That said, Go Irish, fuck all the haters, go win it all, build Freeman the statue.

 

[NDPhilly]

I think the top of the sport is just better than last year primarily because of QBs, which sucks. If this was last years field I’d have us tied at 1 with IU.

 

[greyhammer90]

I wish I could just vote for 11-1 since I have no clue who we'll play in the playoffs, but since I'm flying blind I just picked championship.

My official regular season prediction is 11-1. Who knows about the playoffs. Depends on health and bracket from there.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Natty. I’m ready to celebrate again, F this hurt shit.

 

[CoachB]

Why do I feel like ND, Miami, Ohio St.and IU are just a tick above Texas, Georgia, and Oregon despite all the preseason love for the Ducks and Longhorns?

That being said, I picked natty! Go big.

 

[arrowryan]

I think Notre Dame has the best QB and probably the best defense. That should take them a long way.

 

[greyhammer90]

My nightmare scenario is that OSU gets beat twice in the regular season, plays a tune up game against some bad ACC team while we're at home on a bye and then we face them in the first round.

Feels like another one of those years where the team with the No.1 overall seed is going to get screwed by the bracket so my 11-1 is me wishcasting us playing Tulane at home in Round 1.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

Championship. I've believed it since 12/7/25.

 

[RudyVerse]

My nightmare scenario is that OSU gets beat twice in the regular season, plays a tune up game against some bad ACC team while we're at home on a bye and then we face them in the first round.

Feels like another one of those years where the team with the No.1 overall seed is going to get screwed by the bracket so my 11-1 is me wishcasting us playing Tulane at home in Round 1.

It's going to happen. If not OSU it'll be Texas or Oregon. Whatever, let's secure the BYE and beat who we have to.

 

[NDPhilly]

Arguably the most anticipated season with the highest expectations since the Holtz era. Call your shot.

Record predictions are too difficult with the variety of playoff scenarios that can occur. 11-1 they’re in. 10-2 we know the story.

I was curious so I looked up preseason 2006 - pretty wild we were #2 with 10 first place votes in retrospect. Our better understanding of team v team talent through recruiting would have probably reigned this in today, bc that roster wasn’t anywhere near title caliber (thanks willingham)

2006 Preseason Football Polls | College Poll Archive

www.collegepollarchive.com

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

That sounds fantastic except for that last part. Maybe we could do something else all next off season

I prefer to just gloat.

 

[Kingbish01]

With the schedule, by the time they really need to battle to win games, CJ will have 12 games under his belt. Some people will look at ND as not battle tested (because they may win by 30 every week) because they only play Miami....But I'm looking at it as 3 months worth of low pressure practice reps. IF ND rolls into the playoffs healthy with 50 quarters of easy prep....They will be deadly.

 

[Blazers46]

I think if we had this schedule last year, we would be sitting here as defending national champion today.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

This is the year we've been waiting for. Every star has aligned just right.

 

[Rocketman84]

14-1

 

[Crazy Balki]

Championship.

I think this fan base more than deserves it, not just for the long drought we've endured, but hearing all the absolute bullshit over the long offseason about ND being given "special treatment", people ignoring the obvious runaround act by the CFP committee and saying it was fair and square, yeah fuck all that.

Scorched earth. 15 games of absolute scorched motherfucking earth.