Notre Dame football fans have plenty to complain about with the first official preseason AP Poll. However, they also have something to be excited about, considering that this Top 25 means that when they open the season, the renewal of the rivalry with the Miami Hurricanes will also be a tilt between two Top 10 teams.
Considering that the Fighting Irish need their schedule to be as respected as possible, mainly because the Blue and Gold so often still have to fight off a narrative that their schedule is manageable, having so many good teams on their 2025 slate. This also means that Notre Dame will play Top 25 teams in back-to-back games to open the season. Escaping with a 2-0 record should garner them plenty of respect for the rest of the season.
Notre Dame football schedule loaded with AP Power
Notre Dame football starts No. 6, a bit lower than the coaches' poll has them. It's also lower than they should be with Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson, and Georgia ranked ahead of the Irish.
Texas is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time, just ahead of No. 2 Penn State.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 11, 2025
See where other top teams rank. https://t.co/qXJ5AkXKho
The rest of the Top 10 is made up of Oregon, LSU, Alabama, and then Miami. Texas A&M comes in at No. 19, and Boise State barely makes the cut at No. 25 in the rankings.
Pittsburgh, USC and Navy didn't make the Top 25 but they did get votes. With six games against teams at least getting votes in this first AP poll, it's clear that the Notre Dame football team doesn't have an easy slate ahead of it. They'll need to take care of business. If they do, big things loom.