The Fighting Irish have entered the 2026 college football season as the clear favorite in each of their marquee matchups, according to the latest lines posted by DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbooks.
Early Season Favorites
Notre Dame opens the year as a 19.5‑point spread favorite over Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field, a line that reflects both the program’s historic brand and the Badgers’ recent rebuilding phase. The same sportsbooks list the Irish as 24.5‑point favorites against North Carolina, 11.5‑point favorites versus BYU, 7.5‑point favorites against Miami and 17.5‑point favorites over SMU in the four games labeled as the team’s “games of the year.”
Those spreads translate into moneyline figures of roughly -2450, -1150, -750 and -1750 respectively, underscoring the heavy expectations placed on the Irish this fall.
National Title Outlook
Beyond individual games, the betting market also positions Notre Dame as the second most likely contender for the College Football Playoff national championship, trailing only Ohio State. The odds sit at +700 for the Irish compared with +550 for the Buckeyes, a gap that reflects Ohio State’s recent dominance but leaves the Fighting Irish firmly in the conversation.
Analysts note that the combination of a favorable schedule, a strong recruiting class and a seasoned coaching staff could allow the Irish to convert those favorable odds into a championship run, especially if they avoid early stumbles against the Badgers and Tar Heels.