Key Matchups Define the Path
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are once again setting their sights on a return to the College Football Playoff, hoping to translate a strong start in 2025 into a national championship run after falling short in the 2024 title game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
A rocky 0‑2 start gave way to a ten‑game winning streak that propelled the Irish back into the conversation, but conference championship weekend saw the Miami Hurricanes overtake them, making the upcoming clash between Notre Dame and Miami a pivotal determinant of both teams' playoff aspirations.
Analyst Joel Klatt has voiced doubt that the Irish will reach an 11.5‑win threshold, citing the likelihood of injuries and the departure of key playmakers.
The loss of running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, both selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, has stripped the offense of depth, while redshirt sophomore CJ Carr is currently the favorite to capture this season's Heisman Trophy at +750 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Head coach Brian Kelly, who guided the program through an undefeated regular season in 2018, now faces the challenge of reshaping a roster that must replace those departures while navigating a schedule that includes matchups against BYU, Miami and SMU.
If the Irish can stay healthy and capitalize on the upcoming games, they could still rewrite their playoff narrative and return to the national championship conversation.