Kirk Herbstreit predicts Notre Dame as the 2026 college football national champion

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit announced his pick for the 2026 College Football Playoff national champion during the September 5 College Gameday broadcast. Herbstreit stated that Notre Dame will claim the title, departing from expectations that the winner would emerge from the SEC or Big 10. The analyst noted that the current roster possesses a competitive drive and feels the team is better equipped than the squad that reached the championship game in previous years. Notre Dame seeks to rebound following its exclusion from the College Football Playoff field last season. The program prepares to face Wisconsin in the Shamrock Series game held at Lambeau Field this Sunday. The announcement highlights growing anticipation for the team's performance throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.

• 12:02 PMYahoo Sports — Kirk Herbstreit explains why he picked Notre Dame as national champion