Way Too Early 2026 Notre Dame Football Record Prediction and Opponent Previews: Part One
- Brenden Duffy
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
With the 2025 College Football season officially under wraps, we look ahead to Notre Dame's 2026 season with an early look at six of the Irish's opponents.
Wisconsin (Sep. 6 at Lambeau Field)
2025 Record: 4-8 (2-7 in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Luke Fickell (5th season)
Notes: The Badgers caught a bit of fire at the end of last season with upset wins over Washington and Illinois in two of the last four weeks after Fickell was reportedly on the hot seat. Wisconsin brass has stuck with their coach this season and spent some money in the portal, bringing in over 30 transfers. It is expected that Old Dominion QB transfer Colton Joseph will be the Badgers’ signal-caller in 2026. He impressed against Conference USA defenses, but time will tell how he fares against consistently talented groups like the Irish and Big Ten contenders.
Prediction: We see a fired-up version of Notre Dame after months of thinking about their CFP snub. Wisconsin could end up having a solid six-win season, but trying to figure out its offense against an Irish defense that returns most of its core should spell trouble for the Badgers. Notre Dame routs Wisconsin in one of the most iconic venues in all of sports.
Rice (Sep. 12 at ND Stadium)
2025 Record: 5-8 (2-6 in American)
Head Coach: Scott Abell (2nd season)
Notes: The Owls lost their starting QB to Kansas this offseason, but they were able to bring in former four-star recruit and UCF transfer Jacurri Brown as a potential replacement. Rice was also able to replace some key defensive losses via the portal with multiple power-conference school transfers, including former Irish EDGE Preston Zinter.
Prediction: This is the obvious trap spot on Notre Dame’s schedule, similar to past instances where the Irish were tripped up by Northern Illinois, Marshall, etc. However, Marcus Freeman’s new mantra is “Leave No Doubt.” Notre Dame can not, and will no longer, overlook these types of games. Expect Freeman and Co. to put a beating on the Owls in Zinter’s return to South Bend.
Michigan State (Sep. 19 at ND Stadium)
2025 Record: 4-8 (1-8 in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (1st season)
Notes: The Fighting Irish and Spartans renew their rivalry with the former Northwestern HC leading MSU in his return to coaching. Despite massive roster turnover featuring 43 outgoing and 26 incoming transfers, the Spartans believe they have a QB in Alessio Milivojevic who took over in the last month of the past season. How everything looks around Milivojevic is to be determined, considering the losses of their starting RB Makhi Frazier to Ole Miss and top receiver Nick Marsh to Indiana. This matchup will also see the return of WR KK Smith and former LB Coach Max Bullough to South Bend.
Prediction: Notre Dame will win, but it will not be easy. Fitzgerald will have MSU playing with violence, and as a result, should find themselves within reach of almost any game. However, having to play at Notre Dame in his third game at the program is just not ideal following two early matchups against MAC programs. Irish by 10 in a close scare.
Purdue (Sep. 26 at Ross-Ade Stadium)
2025 Record: 2-10 (0-9 in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Barry Odom (2nd season)
Notes: While it was not a pretty first year for Odom in West Lafayette, help is on the way. In addition to returning starting QB Ryan Browne, Purdue has brought in 26 transfers, many of whom hail from big-time programs such as former Georgia EDGE Elo Modozie, a top-110-ranked transfer according to 247 Sports. Expect the Boilermakers to continue improving after bottoming out in 2024 during a 1-11 season.
Prediction: The Boilermakers have not been able to stop the Irish offense in their past two meetings, and it is hard to see things changing with CJ Carr’s expected development and a seemingly improved selection of weapons. Browne had a solid performance against Notre Dame this past season, throwing over 250 yards with a TD and an INT as the Boilermakers surprisingly dropped 30 points on an Irish defense that was searching for an identity. I think we can see another high-scoring affair with the Irish coming out on top by at least 14.
North Carolina (Oct. 3 at Kenan Memorial Stadium)
2025 Record: 4-8 (2-6 in ACC)
Head Coach: Bill Belichick (2nd season)
Notes: Freeman and Notre Dame head east for a matchup with the greatest NFL HC of all time. The Tar Heels lost a lot, especially defensively, including their star CB to the NFL, and two key LBs transferred elsewhere. Belichick will be working with former Arkansas OC and interim HC Bobby Petrino to figure things out offensively. UNC brought in Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr and Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill to compete for the starting QB role, with Edwards viewed as an early favorite. If they can get improved play at the QB position, UNC could compete in a lowly ACC.
Prediction: Notre Dame wins by two to three scores. Despite his NFL success, the Irish still have the better HC and the better talent compared to the Tar Heels. I would expect the Irish defense to feast on either Edwards or O’Neill, both of whom have yet to show they can consistently compete against top power-conference defenses.
BYU (Oct. 17 at LaVell Edwards Stadium)
2025 Record: 12-2 (8-2 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (10th season)
Notes: About eight months after the Irish declined an invitation to play the Cougars in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, the two teams will meet in 2026 with CFP implications likely on the table. Much like Notre Dame, BYU is a unit on a mission after it also felt snubbed from the 2025 CFP. After rumors circled around Sitake and Penn State, the Cougars' legend returns for his tenth year, and he returns some top talent as well. Among the returning starters are QB Bear Bachmeier, RB LJ Martin, and top WR Parker Kingston. BYU did not lose much this offseason and was even able to bring in the #8 transfer TE, Walker Lyons from USC, and the #1 portal LB, Cade Uluave from Cal.
Prediction: This will be a fun one. Coming into this game, BYU will be much more tested with previous contests against Arizona, TCU, and Iowa State. Additionally, LaVell Edwards has one of the best atmospheres in all of college football, and I would assume the Cougars will do everything in their power to get this game in primetime, creating an electric scene. That being said, I think Notre Dame pulls away in the 4th quarter as their offensive firepower is just too much for the BYU defense. Give me the Irish in a tight one-score victory.
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