Notre Dame Predicted to Win National Title in 2026

Analyst Brett McMurphy forecasts Fighting Irish to claim championship

Mar. 2, 2026 at 2:55am

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Analyst Brett McMurphy has predicted that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will win the 2026 National Championship, projecting them as the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. McMurphy sees the Irish defeating Oregon, Miami, and Georgia on their way to the title.

Why it matters

Notre Dame is one of college football's most prominent programs, and a national title would be a major accomplishment for the Fighting Irish and head coach Marcus Freeman. This prediction adds to the growing hype and expectations surrounding the team heading into the 2026 season.

The details

In his "way too early" CFP and bowl game picks, McMurphy has Notre Dame as the No. 1 seed, facing No. 8 Oregon in the first round, followed by a matchup with No. 4 Miami. The Irish would then take on No. 2 Georgia in the national title game, which McMurphy forecasts as a 1 vs 2 showdown.

  • McMurphy released his predictions earlier this week.

The players

Brett McMurphy

An analyst for On3 who has predicted Notre Dame will win the 2026 National Championship.

Marcus Freeman

The head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

CJ Carr

A Notre Dame player who is expected to be a Heisman Trophy contender in 2026.

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What’s next

As spring practice approaches, the focus will be on Notre Dame's preparations for the 2026 season and whether the team can live up to the high expectations set by analysts like McMurphy.

The takeaway

This prediction from a respected analyst further cements Notre Dame's status as a national title contender in 2026, adding to the growing hype and excitement surrounding the Fighting Irish program.