Notre Dame missing the playoffs this season hasn't affected people who believe they can be a National Title contender in 2026.
Part of the reason there are still plenty of analysts out there who believe in the Fighting Irish is that more than a few thought they had a claim to the College Football Playoff field. Sure, there were complaints about ND's resume, but in reality, everyone knew a 10-2 team was plenty talented.
Heading into 2026, Notre Dame is considered one of the most talented teams in the country, as their National Title odds according to FanDuel demonstrate. The Irish are tied with Ohio State according to those odds as the teams with the best chance to win the title at +650.
Notre Dame’s 2026 national title odds reflect elite talent and expectations
The top two teams aren't, by any stretch, the runaway favorites. After Notre Dame and Ohio State, Indiana is technically second at +700, and then Texas comes in at +750.
Oregon (+950) rounds out the Top 5 teams with the best odds, followed by Georgia (+1100) as things tend to separate. LSU is the only team in the Top 10 that hasn't made the playoffs in either of the last two seasons. They sit at seventh in these odds at +1400.
None of this means a whole lot. It's simply Vegas setting the odds in January that will change drastically as things move closer to the 2026 season. However, it does show that Notre Dame is a program that has the talent to be considered one of the best in the country. Now they have to prove it.