Several National Pundits Predict Notre Dame To Win The 2026 National Championship
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
We're six days away from Notre Dame kicking off their 2026 campaign and their journey to the 2026-2027 CFP national title game will begin at Lambeau Field on Sunday night. The expectations for the Fighting Irish this fall are sky high with several national pundits predicting this is the year they end their near 40-year national title drought. We've made our opinions known at Irish Breakdown around who we believe will bring home the title, but we're certainly not alone in that line of thinking.
Joel Klatt, FOX Sports
Klatt is one of the biggest media members in the college football world. He has Notre Dame making the semi-finals in a rematch with the Miami Hurricanes and advancing to the title game against the Oregon Ducks.
"A rematch of that game in South Bend this year," Klatt shared. "I think Notre Dame wins the first one, I think Notre Dame wins the second one. Notre Dame is that good…It might be a curse to be the team that I pick as the national champ. Last year, I picked Clemson. My national champ in my very first bracket prediction of the year is [drumroll please]: the Notre Dame Fighting Irish."
Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN
You can't talk about college football without mentioning Herbstreit for the role he plays on College Gameday and calling every ESPN primetime matchup. He's also remained consistent throughout the offseason around his pick for the championship winner. Herbstreit also believes this is Notre Dame's year.
"Can you imagine the state of Indiana if that happened?" Herbstreit explained when he picked the Irish to win the title over the Hoosiers. "I got CJ Carr and Notre Dame winning the national title over Indiana."
Joey Galloway, ESPN
The former standout wide receiver has stood by Notre Dame's side throughout the offseason ever since the playoff snub on December 7, 2025. He was one of the first national pundits who called out the committee for their decision to leave out the Irish. He doubled-down on who he believes will win the national title.
In his playoff bracket, Galloway's final four consisted of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia and Miami. He had Ohio State downing the Bulldogs in the semi-finals and the Irish beating the Hurricanes in a rematch meeting the Buckeyes in the title game they would eventually go on to win.
Dusty Dvoracek, ESPN
Dvoracek is another ESPN analyst that's very high on Notre Dame's outlook this season. They bring back the most production in college football compared to any other program, both coordinators and head coach Marcus Freeman in year five.
"I'm all in on the Fighting Irish this season," Dvoracek stated. "I think this is Notre Dame's year. Last year, they were just left out. Marcus Freeman's mantra for this year: leave no doubt. I love the line of scrimmage; this is an elite defense, and I think CJ Carr is a star."
Bill Connelly, ESPN
Earlier this offseason, Connelly broke down his CFP bracket in the ESPN preseason magazine. To the surprise of many, including myself, Connelly predicted Notre Dame to bring home their first title since 1988.
"Notre Dame over Georgia [in the title game]," Connelly shared about his prediction. "I never know which teams I think the most highly of until I force myself to make some predictions. Apparently, 2026 is Notre Dame's year. You heard it here first. The Irish appear loaded on paper, and whoever beats Oregon in the CFP has to win the whole thing. It's the rule at this point."
There are several other national media pundits who believe this is Notre Dame's year. Several writers from CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated predicted the Irish to win the national title. At the end of the day, these predictions will all be for not if they don't take care of business on the field this fall. But countless college football experts believe this is the year for the Fighting Irish.
——
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @TTrow5
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos