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Notre Dame Fighting Irish emerge as national championship contenders for 2026
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish enter the 2026 college football season as prominent national championship contenders. Led by quarterback CJ Carr, who is considered a Heisman Trophy favorite, the team returns a significant portion of its defense and high-level production.
Betting markets and analysts have placed high expectations on the program. Sportsbooks like FanDuel and Bovada offer favorable odds for the Irish to win the national championship, make the playoffs, or finish the regular season undefeated. On the Kalshi prediction market, Notre Dame remains a top contender, tied with Ohio State at a 13% probability.
Media personality Joel Klatt has also backed Notre Dame to win the national championship, projecting them to defeat Oregon in the final. While the team faces a schedule featuring several lower-ranked opponents, key matchups against BYU and Miami are viewed as critical tests. The roster faces challenges following the departure of key contributors to the NFL, including running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.
Entities
CJ Carr · FanDuel · Kalshi · Marcus Freeman · Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were both selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Quarterback CJ Carr is considered a Heisman Trophy favorite heading into the 2026 season. www.nytimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] On the Kalshi prediction market, Notre Dame's probability of winning the national championship has decreased from 18% to 13%.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Notre Dame reached the national championship game in 2024 but lost to Ohio State. www.nytimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] FanDuel offers +600 odds for Notre Dame to win the 2026 national championship. www.onefootdown.com