CBS analysts predict Notre Dame’s CFP semifinal breakthrough

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After being left out of the College Football Playoff last season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have stayed firmly in the spotlight. Now, the narrative has shifted with experts labeling them as true title contenders this season.

CBS Sports recently announced their predictions for the College Football Playoff, with Notre Dame making the cut. However, what is truly remarkable is that there is a virtual consensus among nine out of ten analysts about Notre Dame’s potential to make noise.

“Expect Notre Dame to be a team on a mission in 2026,” CBS Sports analyst David Cobb wrote. “The furor of a 2025 CFP snub should fuel a Fighting Irish team that operated as one of the nation’s best following a 0-2 start.”

While Cobb focused on the emotional edge, Brandon Marcello highlighted the favorable path, projecting both an undefeated season and top-seed debate. “Notre Dame has the clearest path to the College Football Playoff of any team in America,” Marcello wrote. “I’m projecting the Irish to go 12-0, which will ignite debate over whether they deserve the No. 1 seed.”

Marcello doubled down on that belief, pointing to both the schedule and overall talent as reasons for his bold projection. “They’ll withstand every criticism — the soft schedule, the talk about being snubbed last year — but don’t let any of that overshadow one of the most talented rosters in the country, and Marcus Freeman cementing himself as a top-five coach in the sport,” Marcello added.

Despite all the pressure on Freeman and Notre Dame to perform during this year’s season, the team continues to maintain its position as one of the most fascinating teams in college football. The team is likely to come under scrutiny in order to break through.

Talk is easy in the offseason, but the margin for error is gone. The Fighting Irish now face a season where anything less than a statement run will raise more questions than answers.

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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: CBS Sports predicts Notre Dame will dominate College Football Playoffs

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