Kirk Herbstreit Predicts 12-Win Season for Notre Dame
College football analyst Kirk Herbstreit has picked the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to have a 12-win season in 2026.
Herbstreit joined The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the top contenders entering the season and named Notre Dame as his number one favorite. "I'm going Notre Dame… CJ [Carr] is the real deal," Herbstreit said. "I like Notre Dame."
The Fighting Irish will look to return to the College Football Playoff after falling short of a national title in 2024 and missing last season's playoff field. They enter the season with a strong chance to return, with their postseason fate largely in their own hands.
Notre Dame defeated Indiana at home during the 2024 College Football Playoff before falling short of a title. The Fighting Irish will try to follow Indiana's lead and bring another national championship to the state.
On paper, Notre Dame enters the season as one of the nation's strongest preseason favorites. They rank third in ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) and own the highest probability of running the table during the regular season at 32.7%. They also have a 74.4% chance of making the College Football Playoff, which ranks second only to Ohio State.
Head coach Marcus Freeman should give the Fighting Irish an edge against most opponents on the schedule. He returns a roster that still features key contributors from the team's last deep playoff run, including CJ Carr, who Herbstreit believes is the real deal.
Notre Dame's schedule is favorable, but the Fighting Irish will still have to prove themselves on the field and navigate another playoff run. Championships aren't won on preseason projections, and the team will face stiff competition from programs like Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio State.
The Fighting Irish will need to navigate a challenging schedule and prove themselves on the field to live up to Herbstreit's predictions. Their chances of a 12-win season and a return to the College Football Playoff are high, but the team will need to deliver on the field to make it a reality.
Source: Yahoo Sports