ESPN Breaks Down Notre Dame's Potential Playoff Resume
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ESPN believes there are roughly 31 teams who are capable of making the 2026 College Football Playoffs. There's room for debate, but one thing we do agree on is one of the team's they have ranked in their Top 31 capable of making the postseason. Notre Dame is poised for making a run at their 12th national title this season and they now have the pieces to do so.
Head coach Marcus Freeman is headed into his fifth year at the helm and returns, for the first time in his career, his offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, quarterback and two defensive captains. That doesn't even include the host of talented returning on either side of the ball headlined by the ESPN's No. 1 defender in college football, cornerback Leonard Moore.
Heather Dinich at ESPN broke down each team's potential playoff resume. She dove into what their each team's toughest test is, what the committee will like about the team, what they won't like about the team that could hurt their chances of getting in and if they agree or disagree with the ESPN analytics. One of the things potentially working in Notre Dame's favor is their opportunity for dominant wins.
"Convincing wins," Dinich explained about what the committee will like about the Irish. "Notre Dame's highest-ranked opponents will likely be Miami and BYU, with SMU also a likely CFP top-25 team. There might not be another ranked opponent on the schedule. If the Irish can assert themselves against weaker, unranked opponents on a consistent basis, and not leave any doubt in the eyes of the committee that they were the better team, Notre Dame can overcome what is at least now perceived to be a weaker schedule and have a chance at a higher seed. Dominant performances could mean the difference between earning a first-round bye, hosting a playoff game or having to hit the road."
Unfortunately, their schedule sets up in a way that there's little to no margin for error. Last season, we saw the Irish drop games against the two best teams that they played and it ultimately cost them their spot in the 2025 College Football Playoffs. A repeat of that scenario would be disastrous for Notre Dame's playoff aspirations.
"Three losses," Dinich stated when talking about what the committee might not like about Notre Dame's resume. "Remember, under the new CFP contract, Notre Dame is guaranteed a spot in the playoff if it finishes in the top 12. So the Irish would really have to screw up to be excluded — or play so poorly all season that the committee calls into question their playoff worth. If Notre Dame finishes with two losses, and those losses are to Miami and BYU, the committee will have a hard time justifying Notre Dame's remaining strength of schedule."
All signs are pointing in the right direction for Notre Dame to end their national title drought this season. It's not question who the toughest opponent on their schedule is. In a rematch from the season opener in 2025, Miami travels up to South Bend on November 7 in a game that will be one of the most anticipated of the season. The Irish have the opportunity to go undefeated this fall, but will have to prove themselves against BYU on October 17, Miami on November 7 and SMU on November 21.
Three of Notre Dame's regular season opponents were ranked in ESPN's top 31 teams who could make the CFP this fall. Miami came in at No. 6 overall on the list, BYU came in at No. 13 and the SMU Mustangs came in at No. 18.
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