Where is Notre Dame in ESPN’s power rankings after Week 5?

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US LBM Coaches Poll No. 3 Notre Dame has had a strong, unbeaten showing through the first five weeks of the 2026 season.

That includes a 3-0 record against Big 10 teams – Wisconsin, Michigan State and Purdue.

In ESPN’s latest college football power rankings, they have the Fighting Irish at No. 5, dropping them down two spots from last week. David Hale noted in his report that Notre Dame’s “biggest concern” through the first four games of the season was the “lackluster performance” of its run game.

But Hale noted that the Irish may have found their running back in true freshman Jonaz Walton, who ran for 120 yards on 23 carries last Saturday’s 37-26 win over North Carolina.

“With two NFL first-round draft picks gone (Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price) from last season's team, are the Irish still capable of asserting their will on the ground?,” Hale said. “North Carolina wasn't the best test, but Saturday's win certainly showed Notre Dame can push some folks around. The Irish pulled away in the second half based on a power run game – barreling between tackles repeatedly, 17 times on their first 28 snaps of the half – to grind away the clock and punish the Heels' front. For the game, Notre Dame finished with a season-high 241 yards rushing.”

Texas, Georgia, Miami and Alabama round out ESPN’s top-four teams in their power rankings.

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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Where is Notre Dame in ESPN’s power rankings after Week 5?

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