The Fighting Irish have not hoisted a national title since 1988, a span that has turned every season into a quest for redemption. After coming close in the 2012 BCS championship game against Alabama and falling short in the 2024 title matchup with Ohio State, the program knows that a single misstep can keep the trophy out of reach.
This year the roster returns a wealth of experience, highlighted by quarterback CJ Carr and linebacker Leonard Moore, both of whom are expected to anchor the offense and defense. Head coach Marcus Freeman, now in his fourth season, has assembled a core that analysts say is the most productive in school history. College football analyst Brooks Austin has gone as far as to call the Irish a lock for the playoff.
A favorable slate
The schedule offers several winnable contests, with home games against BYU, Miami and SMU all projected as favorites. Winning at least two of those three marquee matchups should be enough to cement a playoff spot, and the team enters each contest with the momentum of a program eager to end its long drought.
Failure to break through would not only prolong the championship wait but also intensify scrutiny on the program’s leadership. Yet the combination of a top‑ranked returning production rate, a favorable calendar and the belief of insiders like Austin suggests that the Irish are poised to translate preseason optimism into postseason reality.