Notre Dame vs Stanford Prediction: The Final CFP Step For the Irish
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It’s not as simple as Win and Be In for the Irish.
Notre Dame might be No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but if BYU wins the Big 12 Championship, and Alabama wins the SEC Championship, and form holds, the Irish would get bumped out of the top ten. With the Group of Five champion and ACC champ needing a spot …
Realistically, if the Irish take care of business against Stanford, everything else should be okay.
Stanford is a quirky-tough out, though.
It rose up and rocked Cal last week, getting Bear head coach Justin Wilcox fired, and is 4-1 at home. It might be ensured of a losing campaign, but win this, and the season couldn’t close any stronger.
Notre Dame vs Stanford Preview
How To Watch Notre Dame vs Stanford
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Game Time: 10:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, CA
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Why Notre Dame Will Win
There’s only one more shot for Jeremiyah Love to make any sort of a Heisman statement.
The best running back in college football is a home run hitter from anywhere on the field, and he and Jadarian Price should hammer away on a Stanford run defense that’s been good, but hasn’t been challenged enough.
Teams that try to run against the Cardinal are able to do it. Stanford is 0-4 when allowing more than 150 rushing yards, and Notre Dame is on fire, averaging well over 200 yards since the losses to Texas A&M and Miami.
The offense is explosive and balanced, and the defense has turned into a rock as the season has gone on. There’s not enough of a consistent Stanford passing game to worry about. Keep the Cardinal from running well, and all is fine.
Why Stanford Will Win
Can the Cardinal give Notre Dame something to sweat about?
The Irish win over Boston College was a little too close for comfort, but not really. The USC game was in relative control throughout, and every game since the two losses was a double-digit blowout. It’s up to the Cardinal to make this a four quarter fight and put the pressure on.
The Stanford run defense really has been fantastic. It ate up everything against Cal stopped North Carolina cold, and only SMU was able to run effectively.
The pass rush is decent, the offensive line can pound away a bit, and the team has the ability to slow things down a bit. However …
Notre Dame vs Stanford Prediction, Betting Lines
CJ Carr continues to be excellent.
He might have thrown two picks against Pitt, but when needed – he wasn’t used much against Syracuse – he has come through.
He’ll keep the chains moving after Love and Price get bottled up early, and then the Irish ground game will find its footing early in the second half. That’s when the tight game takes a turn.
Notre Dame 41, Stanford 13
Line: Notre Dame -32.5, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Must See Rating: 3
Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Related: Colorado vs Kansas State Prediction: Can Buffs Bust Wildcat Bowl Hopes?
This story was originally published by College Football News on Nov 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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