Notre Dame: 3 Games That Will Define 2026 Season
Summary
Notre Dame’s 2026 college football season will be shaped by three key games against BYU, Miami, and SMU. These matches are important because Notre Dame wants to improve its chance to enter the College Football Playoff after missing out last season.Key Facts
- Notre Dame missed the College Football Playoff last season despite a strong 10-2 record.
- They lost close games to ranked teams Texas A&M and Miami.
- Notre Dame had a weaker schedule last season, winning against only two ranked teams: USC and Pittsburgh.
- USC is not on Notre Dame’s schedule for 2026, making the overall schedule weaker again.
- Notre Dame will face BYU on October 17, a team that almost made the playoff last year and is a strong contender in the Big 12 conference.
- Miami will visit Notre Dame on November 7; last year Miami’s win over Notre Dame helped Miami reach the national championship game.
- SMU is expected to be a top ACC team and will play Notre Dame on November 21 in a primetime game, with SMU’s senior quarterback Kevin Jennings posing a significant challenge.
- Winning these key games is crucial for Notre Dame to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee and possibly earn a playoff bye.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.