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 We're knocking on the door of Notre Dame kicking off their 2026 regular season in the Shamrock Series against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field. The Irish are coming off of a 10-2 win season where they were ultimately left out of the 2025 CFP. This season, they're not leaving anything to chance and their 'Leave No Doubt' mantra has fueled them this offseason. 

They're going to need more than just a catchy slogan to achieve their full potential, make it through the regular season and put themselves in a position to make a run in the 2026 College Football Playoffs. Yesterday, we broke down their entire regular season schedule and while it isn't a gauntlet, it will still come with challenges. 

WISCONSIN BADGERS

Last Meeting: 2021 – Notre Dame won 41-13

What's At Stake: Notre Dame needs to kick off the season on a strong note. The inability to start fast in previous seasons has hurt this program, but the outlook in 2026 is strong. It's our first chance to see the '26 football team in action and their massive favorites entering the season. It's also our first opportunity to see how this team responds to the ending of the 2025 season.

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 31-10

RICE OWLS

Last Meeting: 2014 – Notre Dame won 48-17

What's At Stake: I'd be lying if I said there were major playoff implications surrounding this game. But head coach Marcus Freeman is 1-3 in home openers during his time in South Bend and his only win has been over an FCS team. This is an opportunity to begin to right the ship. Rice is coming off a 5-8 season in 2025, but they won't be intimidated walking into a stadium that saw losses to Northern Illinois and Marshall. The Irish have to make a clear statement in this matchup and I think they will. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 56-3

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Last Meeting: 2017 – Notre Dame won 38-18

What's At Stake: It's the first night game of the season which means this will likely be a massive recruiting weekend for the Irish. It's also a rivalry renewed with this being their first matchup with the Spartans in over a decade. Notre Dame has faired very well against the Big 10 over the last several seasons and I think that trend continues in the battle for the Megaphone Trophy. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 45-10

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

Last Meeting: 2025 – Notre Dame won 56-30

What's At Stake: Notre Dame's trip down to West Lafayette is their first road contest of the 2026 season. They've absolutely dominated this series 61-26-2 and they'll look to continue that dominance this fall. The Irish can't afford to overlook the skilled talent the Boilermakers have like they did last fall when they allowed 24 first-half points inside of Notre Dame Stadium. Thankfully, I don't think they will and the Irish will win big on the road. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 56-6

NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS

Last Meeting: 2022 – Notre Dame won 45-32

What's At Stake: As we know, the Irish have an agreement with the ACC that runs well into the 2030s. This is their first matchup with an ACC opponent this fall and it comes on the road to head coach Bill Belichick heading into year two with the Tarheels. This is a completely different looking team than it was last season, but they have some individual players who could present some problems. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 49-6

STANFORD CARDINAL

Last Meeting: 2025 – Notre Dame won 49-20

What's At Stake: This is a rivalry that Notre Dame has dominated over their last several matchups. Last season, they won handily on the road by 29 points. They have a series lead of 25-14 but this will be a new-look Stanford program under the direction of Tavita Pritchard. Fortunately, after a slow start, I have the Irish rolling in this one. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 41-7

BYU COUGARS

Last Meeting: 2022 – Notre Dame won 28-20

What's At Stake: This is, by far, the toughest road contest of the season for the Fighting Irish. For the first time since the early 2000s, Notre Dame travels out to Provo, Utah to take on the Cougars and head coach Kalani Sitake who is 23-4 over the last two seasons. Both programs have their eyes set on the 2026 College Football Playoffs. This will be Notre Dame's first of three major tests this season, and it comes on the road. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 34-13 

NAVY MIDSHIPMEN

Last Meeting: 2025 – Notre Dame won 49-10

What's At Stake: You don't need to look any further around the definition of a 'trap game' than Notre Dame's road contest against the Midshipmen. Navy is a much improved program over the last couple of seasons under head coach Brian Newberry who is one of the best in the business at the G5 level. They'll be looking to sneak up on the Irish as they could potentially be looking ahead to their presumed Top 5 matchup against the Hurricanes a week later. Thankfully, Notre Dame still handles business in Gillette. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 52-6

MIAMI HURRICANES

Last Meeting: 2025 – Notre Dame lost 27-24

What's At Stake: This will be one of the most anticipated matchups in the country this fall, not just for the Irish and for the Hurricanes. What more needs to be said about this matchup? This will be Notre Dame's most defining game of the season. They'll be tested along the way, but this is what college football is all about. Notre Dame, Miami and a lot of College Football Playoff implications on the line under the lights in South Bend, Indiana. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 31-27

BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES

Last Meeting: 2025 – Notre Dame won 25-10

What's At Stake: History and tradition are both mentioned in the same sentence when talking about the lore of Notre Dame. Unfortunately, that history isn't always positive. In 1993, after knocking off the No. 1 team in the country, the Irish fell to Boston College at home. This season, they'll have the opportunity to exercise those demons, right the wrongs of the past and breeze past the Boston College Eagles and I believe they'll do just that. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 59-7

SMU MUSTANGS

Last Meeting: 1989 – Notre Dame won 59-6

What's At Stake: This is the final big test of the regular season and Notre Dame's final opportunity to make one major statement to the College Football Playoff committee and they'll have to do it on Senior Day. This is, by far, the toughest opponent they will face on Senior Day in over a decade. SMU is coming off a 9-4 season in 2025 and will be looking to spoil Notre Dame's Senior Day and their chances of a bye in the CFP. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 38-14

SYRACUSE ORANGE

Last Meeting: 2025 – Notre Dame won 70-7

What's At Stake: If the Irish are truly going to 'Leave No Doubt' then they have the end the regular season on a high note. For the first time since 2022, they travel out east to face Syracuse in the dome, a place that's been home to a couple of upsets in the past. The Irish will also be facing forming quarterback Steve Angeli who was a game-changer for the Orange last fall before a season-ending injury. 

Game Prediction: Notre Dame wins 42-13

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