The University of Notre Dame is once again staking its claim on a national championship, a goal it has not achieved since the 1988 season.
Quarterback CJ Carr has risen to become a Heisman Trophy favorite, drawing acclaim for his poise, accuracy and ability to extend plays under pressure.
The defensive unit features a wave of talent, including top NFL Draft prospects such as Leonard Moore and preseason All‑Americans Tae Johnson, Drayk Bowen and Kyngstonn Viliamu‑Asa, who together bolster the team’s championship aspirations.
Recent history adds context: a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State in the 2024 title game, a 10‑2 record in 2025 that fell just short of the College Football Playoff, and consecutive bowl victories in 2022 and 2023 that have kept optimism high.
The 2026 schedule blends opponents from the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12, offering six home games, four road contests and two neutral‑site matchups, with a slate that includes six ACC members, three Big Ten teams and two Big 12 foes.
A demanding slate
Among the most demanding road tests are visits to BYU, Navy and Miami, while the return of the historic Notre Dame‑USC rivalry is slated for 2030, promising another marquee showdown.
Broadcast arrangements are set, with NBC airing all six home games and enlisting Dan Hicks for play‑by‑play and Jason Garrett for analysis; road games will be carried by the host conference’s network, ranging from ABC and CBS to Fox, ESPN and TNT.
The excitement surrounding the campaign is palpable, as fans anticipate whether the Fighting Irish can translate preseason hype into a breakthrough title run.