Notre Dame faces high expectations entering the 2026 college football season

Notre Dame enters the 2026 season with national title aspirations and significant roster depth. Quarterback CJ Carr leads the offense alongside cornerback Leonard Moore on a defense featuring multiple potential NFL prospects. Head coach Marcus Freeman has prioritized daily consistency over national championship talk, instructing his team to focus on the immediate schedule. The Irish open their season against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field this Sunday. While the team remains a popular preseason pick for the College Football Playoff, the program faces the challenge of replacing two departed starting running backs. The schedule includes critical matchups against BYU, Miami, and SMU, providing few opportunities for error given the program's desire to secure an unquestioned spot in the postseason.

• 12:00 PMYahoo Sports — How can Notre Dame meet its massive hype? Leave no doubt