See how Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman voted in final US LBM Poll
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SOUTH BEND — Staying home for the holidays cost Notre Dame football two spots in the final US LBM Coaches Poll.
The Irish ranked 11th in the final Top 25 released on Jan. 21, two spots behind Alabama (11-4) and one behind Oklahoma (10-3). Both SEC schools reached the College Football Playoff, facing off in the first round.
In the season’s final Associated Press media poll, Notre Dame dropped one spot to No. 10.
Ranked as high as No. 5 by the coaches and dropping as low as No. 21 in 2025, the Irish reeled off 10 straight wins after an 0-2 start. They were left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff on Dec. 7 and subsequently declined an invitation to face Brigham Young in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Notre Dame’s losses came against No. 2 Miami, which fell 27-21 to Indiana in the national championship game, and No. 8 Texas A&M, which finished 11-2.
The 2026 Irish schedule includes three games against teams that made the final coaches’ Top 25: No. 2 Miami (Nov. 7 in South Bend), No. 12 BYU (Oct. 17 in Provo, Utah) and No. 23 Navy (Oct. 31 in Foxborough, Mass.)
Irish coach Marcus Freeman voted his team ninth. He left No. 21 USC (9-4) off his ballot.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
- Indiana
- Miami (Fla.)
- Mississippi
- Georgia
- Oregon
- Ohio State
- Texas A&M
- Texas Tech
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
- Brigham Young
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
- Iowa
- Vanderbilt
- Michigan
- Virginia
- Navy
- Houston
- Georgia Tech
- James Madison
- Tulane
- Illinois
- TCU
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: See where Notre Dame football landed in final US LBM Coaches Poll
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