Herbstreit doubles down on Notre Dame title pick, adds CJ Carr for Heisman

ESPN college football commentator Kirk Herbstreit reaffirmed his prediction that Notre Dame will win the national championship on Thursday, appearing on the Pat McAfee Show and adding that junior quarterback CJ Carr will claim the Heisman Trophy. Herbstreit cited the Fighting Irish's recruiting, receiver experience, cornerback Leonard Moore, and what he described as a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality heading into the 2026 season.

They're going to walk into the College Football Playoff. And that guy right there is going to win the Heisman Trophy. I'm all in on Notre Dame this year. I think this is the year. … They've recruited well, they've got some experience at receiver, there's Leonard Moore, this is a very talented team. And I think they've got a bit of a chip on their shoulder from what happened a year ago. I think it's the real deal.

— Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN college football commentator

Herbstreit is far from alone in his assessment. College GameDay host Rece Davis has also forecast a Notre Dame CFP title, as has On3's David Cone. On Thursday, two NBC Sports analysts — Nicole Auerbach and former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry — each released full bracket predictions that ended with the Fighting Irish hoisting the trophy. Auerbach installed Notre Dame as the No. 1 seed, with the Irish defeating Ohio State in the quarterfinals, Oregon in the semifinals, and Indiana in the championship game. Perry, seeding Notre Dame second, projected a different path through Miami and Ohio State before a title-game win over Georgia.

Where Notre Dame Stands in the Preseason Rankings

The wave of championship predictions aligns with Notre Dame's standing in the composite preseason rankings. A composite of 11 major polls and publications — including the AP Preseason Top 25, the Coaches Poll, ESPN, CBS Sports, and others — places Ohio State first, Oregon second, and Notre Dame third entering the season. The Irish hold the No. 1 spot in two of those 11 outlets. Indiana, one of the programs Auerbach projects Notre Dame to defeat in the title game, sits sixth in the composite despite topping two individual publications.

Notre Dame enters the season with legitimate championship credentials on paper, but also with significant expectations attached. With Herbstreit, Davis, Auerbach, Perry, and Cone all publicly aligned behind the Irish, the pressure now falls on head coach Marcus Freeman to deliver what would be the program's first national title since 1988.