Notre Dame 2026

[Bobref]

Eli Raridon has declared for the draft. Good player. I expect him to make an NFL roster. But eminently replaceable.

[Bobref]

You heard it here first. It’s going to snow in South Bend next Nov. 7.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

     - Ancient Klingon proverb

 

09/06 - vs Wisconsin (in Green Bay, WI)

09/12 - Rice

09/19 - Michigan State

09/26 - at Purdue

10/03 - at North Carolina

10/31 - vs Navy (in Foxborough, MA)

11/07 - Miami (FL)

11/21 - Boston College

TBA - SMU

TBA - Stanford

TBA - at Syracuse

TBA - vs USC

[23andCounting]

29 minutes ago, Bobref said:

You heard it here first. It’s going to snow in South Bend next Nov. 7.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

     - Ancient Klingon proverb

 

09/06 - vs Wisconsin (in Green Bay, WI)

09/12 - Rice

09/19 - Michigan State

09/26 - at Purdue

10/03 - at North Carolina

10/31 - vs Navy (in Foxborough, MA)

11/07 - Miami (FL)

11/21 - Boston College

TBA - SMU

TBA - Stanford

TBA - at Syracuse

TBA - vs USC

Pitiful looking schedule though. Run the table or bust. It's Notre Dame vs ESPN. And with the new agreement in place, ESPN and the CFPS will relish in ranking a one loss Irish team #13. 

Sidenote: Seeing more on the internet about ND being the third most likely team to win this year according to oddsmakers. 

*****coming soon. 

[Bobref]

Just now, 23andCounting said:

Pitiful looking schedule though.

 I don’t disagree. But in the NIL/portal era, teams can change literally overnight. So, we shall see. But having said that, show up ready to play in Week 1, and they’ll be fine. What do you call a Notre Dame team that runs the table with this schedule? You call them a #1 seed in the playoffs.

[Bash Riprock]

4 minutes ago, Bobref said:

 I don’t disagree. But in the NIL/portal era, teams can change literally overnight. So, we shall see. But having said that, show up ready to play in Week 1, and they’ll be fine. What do you call a Notre Dame team that runs the table with this schedule? You call them a #1 seed in the playoffs.

Assuming no other P4 team goes undefeated with a stronger SOS 

[PDB26]

55 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Pitiful looking schedule though. Run the table or bust. It's Notre Dame vs ESPN. And with the new agreement in place, ESPN and the CFPS will relish in ranking a one loss Irish team #13. 

Sidenote: Seeing more on the internet about ND being the third most likely team to win this year according to oddsmakers. 

*****coming soon. 

It’s nonsense to think that ESPN doesn’t want the eyeballs that Notre Dame brings—both supporters and the haters hoping to get a dose of schadenfreude of an ND loss in a meaningful game—especially when the alternative is what we got in the last two games yesterday.

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, Bobref said:

 I don’t disagree. But in the NIL/portal era, teams can change literally overnight. So, we shall see. But having said that, show up ready to play in Week 1, and they’ll be fine. What do you call a Notre Dame team that runs the table with this schedule? You call them a #1 seed in the playoffs.

I think Bash hit the nail on the head. Wins over Miami and USC could be very good wins, but I imagine that an undefeated Big Ten or SEC would trump and undefeated ND team. But, as the committee stated leading up to the final ranking, eye test matter. The problem though is it didn't matter in the final ranking. Hence the question. Does the eye test matter or not?

[23andCounting]

40 minutes ago, PDB26 said:

It’s nonsense to think that ESPN doesn’t want the eyeballs that Notre Dame brings—both supporters and the haters hoping to get a dose of schadenfreude of an ND loss in a meaningful game—especially when the alternative is what we got in the last two games yesterday.

I think it's naive to use word like nonsense. Your opinion is your opinion, but maybe try a different word. It's human nature to take care of your own. Look no further than this year. You do understand the relationship between ESPN, the CFPS, and the SEC, right? Five SEC teams while the independent with the third most likely odds to win the title is sitting at home. 

The Miami win over A&M wasn't as close as the scoreboard indicated. Neither Oklahoma or or Alabama looked very good. The SEC is overrated. The only "nonsense" I see is having five SEC teams in the field. And again, remember........ESPN = SEC and CFPS. 

Edited December 21, 2025 by 23andCounting

[Bash Riprock]

2 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

I think it's naive to use word like nonsense. Your opinion is your opinion, but maybe try a different word. It's human nature to take care of your own. Look no further than this year. You do understand the relationship between ESPN, the CFPS, and the SEC, right? Five SEC teams while the independent with the third most likely odds to win the title is sitting at home. 

The Miami win over A&M wasn't as close as the scoreboard indicated. Neither Oklahoma or or Alabama looked very good. The SEC is overrated. The only "nonsense" I see is having five SEC teams in the field. And again, remember........ESPN = SEC and CFPS. 

I am not sure about the dissing of Bama....sure they started slow, but then roared back and laid it on Oklahoma.  Not easy to do down 17-0 playing on the road in front of 80K+.  Bama has to have plenty of confidence coming to their Rose Bowl matchup against Indiana.  

[Bobref]

6 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

Assuming no other P4 team goes undefeated with a stronger SOS 

 

4 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

I think Bash hit the nail on the head. Wins over Miami and USC could be very good wins, but I imagine that an undefeated Big Ten or SEC would trump and undefeated ND team. But, as the committee stated leading up to the final ranking, eye test matter. The problem though is it didn't matter in the final ranking. Hence the question. Does the eye test matter or not?

I presumed an undefeated regular season for ND would lead to a #1 seed. Here’s why: Ask yourself “When was the last season in which the FBS had more than one team with an undefeated regular season record?” Hint: Not in this century.

[Bash Riprock]

2 minutes ago, Bobref said:

 

I presumed an undefeated regular season for ND would lead to a #1 seed. Here’s why: Ask yourself “When was the last season in which the FBS had more than one team with an undefeated regular season record?” Hint: Not in this century.

Fair

[23andCounting]

2 hours ago, Bobref said:

 

I presumed an undefeated regular season for ND would lead to a #1 seed. Here’s why: Ask yourself “When was the last season in which the FBS had more than one team with an undefeated regular season record?” Hint: Not in this century.

Agree. Anything but a #1 seed would be another snub. 

[23andCounting]

4 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

I am not sure about the dissing of Bama....sure they started slow, but then roared back and laid it on Oklahoma.  Not easy to do down 17-0 playing on the road in front of 80K+.  Bama has to have plenty of confidence coming to their Rose Bowl matchup against Indiana.  

Crucify me, but I think the SEC is overvalued again this year. I think it's telling that Alabama went down 17-0. Indicative of their entire season. Inconsistent. That may catch up with them against a well coached team like Indiana. I just don't see the Tide as a team that can put together enough good games in a row against quality opponents to win the whole thing. 

[Sparty]

40 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Crucify me, but I think the SEC is overvalued again this year. I think it's telling that Alabama went down 17-0. Indicative of their entire season. Inconsistent. That may catch up with them against a well coached team like Indiana. I just don't see the Tide as a team that can put together enough good games in a row against quality opponents to win the whole thing. 

Didn’t Alabama have a stretch mid year where they went 4, 5-0 against quality, ranked opponents?  At home and on the road.  

Edited December 22, 2025 by Sparty

[Komets2727]

Lots of speculation being reported that Marcus Freeman is the frontrunner to be the new head coach of the New York Giants. Thoughts Irish fans? If true, new head coach?

[23andCounting]

59 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Lots of speculation being reported that Marcus Freeman is the frontrunner to be the new head coach of the New York Giants. Thoughts Irish fans? If true, new head coach?

Haven't really been paying attention to that story. You can't blame the guy, being an NFL coach is much easier than being a college coach. Freeman loves Notre Dame and would never ditch the Irish for another college program, but yeah, hard to ignore an offer from the NFL. 

[gonzoron]

1 hour ago, Sparty said:

Didn’t Alabama have a stretch mid year where they went 4, 5-0 against quality, ranked opponents?  At home and on the road.  

Alabama hasn't played any games in 2026 yet. I think you're in the wrong thread. 

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, gonzoron said:

Alabama hasn't played any games in 2026 yet. I think you're in the wrong thread. 

Nope. Just responding to the fellow poster.  

2 hours ago, Komets2727 said:

Lots of speculation being reported that Marcus Freeman is the frontrunner to be the new head coach of the New York Giants. Thoughts Irish fans? If true, new head coach?

Would be wild if he did. His choice.  His son is going to college in the NE so maybe there’s validity about the speculation.  
 

Tommy Rees?  This late in the game?

[23andCounting]

14 hours ago, Sparty said:

Didn’t Alabama have a stretch mid year where they went 4, 5-0 against quality, ranked opponents?  At home and on the road.  

Stunk in their first game, stunk in their last game. Like I said, inconsistent football team. 

[Sparty]

2 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Stunk in their first game, stunk in their last game. Like I said, inconsistent football team. 

Last game meaning conference championship vs. Georgia, correct?

[gonzoron]

3 minutes ago, Sparty said:

Last game meaning conference championship vs. Georgia, correct?

Notre Dame isn't in a conference. Let's try to stay on topic here. It's not that hard.

[GOLDRUSH1985]

16 minutes ago, gonzoron said:

Notre Dame isn't in a conference. Let's try to stay on topic here. It's not that hard.

That hardly ever happens , seems every thread Dwarfs into something else . 

[Bash Riprock]

1 hour ago, gonzoron said:

Notre Dame isn't in a conference. Let's try to stay on topic here. It's not that hard.

2nd time he responded to another post from someone also off topic that you let go because they are an Irish fan.  You do understand you have zero control over what people post right?  He was nice in his reponse to you the first time.  

[gonzoron]

15 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

2nd time he responded to another post from someone also off topic that you let go because they are an Irish fan.  You do understand you have zero control over what people post right?  He was nice in his reponse to you the first time.  

He responded to a member of the FW Mafia I have on ignore. I can't see those posts unless they're quoted. I'm just asking people to stay on the topic of the thread.

I don't think that's too much to ask.

If you want to hate on Notre Dame, do it on their 2026 team-which is the topic of this thread. The 2025 season is finished for Notre Dame, the team knows it, their fans know it, the only ones who want to keep talking about it are the haters. There are still active threads for those of you so inclined to continue yapping about Notre Dame not making the CFP.

[Bash Riprock]

5 minutes ago, gonzoron said:

He responded to a member of the FW Mafia I have on ignore. I can't see those posts unless they're quoted. I'm just asking people to stay on the topic of the thread.

I don't think that's too much to ask.

If you want to hate on Notre Dame, do it on their 2026 team-which is the topic of this thread. The 2025 season is finished for Notre Dame, the team knows it, their fans know it, the only ones who want to keep talking about it are the haters. There are still active threads for those of you so inclined to continue yapping about Notre Dame not making the CFP.

He wasn't hating on ND...he was responding to comments made by others about a different team being in the post season.  Even if he was hating on ND, its his perogative.  Block him if you don't like it...but telling everyone to get off your lawn all the time gets old.  People divert all the time on threads....perhaps take the same energy of attempting to be the GID sheriff and get people back on topic with something positive...it might work better.  Regardless, people are going to do what they wish regardless of how much you may not like it.