IRISH OPEN AT #4: Notre Dame Begins 2026 with National Championship Expectations in AP Pre Season Poll

The road to a national championship officially begins with plenty of respect for the Fighting Irish.
The Associated Press released its 2026 Preseason Top 25 on Monday, and Notre Dame will open the season ranked No. 4 in the nation, trailing only Ohio State, Oregon, and Georgia. Texas rounds out the top five, putting Marcus Freeman's squad in elite company before a single snap has been played.
For Notre Dame fans, this ranking is more than just a number, it's confirmation that the Irish are once again viewed as one of college football's premier programs. Under Freeman, expectations have shifted from simply competing for New Year's Six bowls to legitimately chasing a College Football Playoff berth and a national championship.
The No. 4 ranking also reflects the confidence voters have in a roster loaded with talent, experience, and the culture Freeman has continued to build in South Bend. Notre Dame even received multiple first place votes in the preseason poll, showing that some voters believe the Irish have what it takes to finish the season on top.
Of course, preseason rankings don't win football games.
The Irish now have the challenge of living up to the hype. Every opponent on the schedule will treat a matchup with the nation's fourth ranked team as one of the biggest games of its season. That's the price of being a perennial contender.  Then again, for most teams playing Notre Dame that game is their "Championship Game."
Still, there's plenty of reason for optimism.
Freeman has steadily elevated the program, recruiting at a high level while establishing a culture built on toughness, discipline, and accountability. Notre Dame has become a consistent fixture in the national conversation, and the expectations surrounding the program continue to grow each season.
The preseason poll also serves as a reminder of just how competitive college football has become. Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Texas, Indiana, Miami, and several other national powers will all be fighting for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff, making every week of the season critical.
For the Irish faithful, though, the message is simple: the opportunity is there.
Notre Dame enters the 2026 campaign exactly where every championship caliber program wants to be... in the national spotlight, carrying legitimate title aspirations, and controlling its own destiny.
Now, the rankings take a back seat.
It's time to prove them right.
Go Irish.