The Notre Dame Fighting Irish controversially missed out on a spot in the College Football Playoff in December after being pipped into the 12-team field by the Miami Hurricanes on Selection Sunday. The Fighting Irish subsequently opted out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl in protest.
In many quarters, the Fighting Irish’s playoff snub was blamed on their independent status, with some fans and analysts suggesting it wouldn’t have happened had they been part of a conference advocating for their inclusion.
Analyst Blasts Notre Dame Schedule Bias
During Friday’s segment of the “Cone & Crain” podcast, analyst Bryan Driskell blasted the narrative about the ease of Notre Dame’s schedule next season vis-a-vis other national championship contenders.
“What frustrates me, I read something on CBS Sports today. It was like, of all the contenders, this is the easiest schedule. So Indiana is not a contender? Have you seen their schedule? It’s that lazy narrative ’cause they’re not in a conference, it’s not a touch schedule. They play ten Power Four teams next year.
“One of the teams they play has won like ten games each of the last two years and has beaten two P4 teams in bowl games. The frustrating thing is the notion that it’s an easy schedule. It’s not. It’s not a gauntlet either. It’s a top-heavy schedule. This fanbase saw Notre Dame lose to Northern Illinois and Marshall. We don’t take anybody for granted.”
The Fighting Irish will play six ACC teams and three Big Ten teams, in addition to clashes against the Rice Owls, Navy Midshipmen, and a marquee matchup against the Big 12’s BYU Cougars next season.
Analyst Tabs Fighting Irish As Favorite for Natty Next Season
During Sunday’s segment of the “Josh Pate College Football” show, analyst Josh Pate selected Notre Dame as the team to beat in his way-too-early rankings for the 2026 season, ahead of the Texas Longhorns and reigning national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers.
“The No. 1 team in an extremely, egregiously way-too-early top 25 is Notre Dame. Because they have everything I would want in a No. 1 team in early February,” Pate said. “They have C. J Carr at quarterback, and they have a very good roster. And they’ve got an extremely good staff. They’re machine-like in staffing right now.
“They’re snatching guys up that are coordinators in other conferences. They’ve got the hunger. They went to a national championship game two years ago, lost. They, according to some, were robbed of a playoff spot this past year. It’s all there, they won’t have to worry about hunger and motivation and all that stuff.”
The retention of quarterback CJ Carr and an aggressive transfer portal recruitment have set the Fighting Irish up as one of the dark horses for the national championship next season, but, most importantly, coach Marcus Freeman dismissed NFL interest in his services to remain in South Bend.
