If you’ve spent any time on sports Twitter or message boards lately, you know the vibe around South Bend is basically a mix of "finally" and "about time." It is mid-January 2026, and the latest notre dame football ranking has everyone talking for a reason that isn't just about a bowl game or a playoff snub.
For the first time in what feels like forever, Marcus Freeman has the Irish sitting at the very top of the 247Sports overall team rankings. They just passed Texas for the No. 1 spot.
How?
Honestly, it’s a weird mix of a 10-game winning streak to end 2025 and a recruiting heater that looks more like something you’d see from Georgia or Alabama than an independent school in Indiana. People are still arguing about the fact that this team went 10-2 last year and missed the College Football Playoff entirely. That’s the "disappointed but motivated" energy driving the program into this 2026 off-season.
The Reality of the Current Notre Dame Football Ranking
Numbers don't lie, but they can be kinda annoying. Right now, the Irish are ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll for the 2025 season. They finished 10-2. On paper, that’s a great year. In reality, it was a heartbreaker.
They lost their first two games of 2025 to Miami and Texas A&M by a combined total of four points. Four points! Imagine being a field goal away from a possible No. 1 seed. Instead, the CFP committee dumped them at No. 11 in their final rankings, which—thanks to the way conference champions get auto-bids—meant they were the first team left out of the 12-team field.
It was a mess.
💡 You might also like: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
But here’s where it gets interesting for the notre dame football ranking moving forward. Because they were so dominant in their final 10 games, outscoring people by ridiculous margins (shoutout to that 70-7 win over Syracuse), the computers absolutely love them. They finished with the No. 3 SRS (Simple Rating System) score in the country.
Why the No. 1 Recruiting Rank Actually Matters
Most fans roll their eyes at "recruiting championships," but the 2026 class Freeman just signed is different. It’s the No. 1 ranked class as of January 15, 2026.
They didn't just get lucky. They went out and grabbed guys like Rodney Dunham, an edge rusher from North Carolina who is basically a human wrecking ball. He’s the No. 8 overall player in the country. Then you’ve got Ian Premer, a five-star tight end from Kansas who chose South Bend over half the SEC.
When people search for the notre dame football ranking, they’re usually looking for the AP Poll. But the "Talent Compound" ranking is what tells you if a team is actually going to stay there.
Notre Dame’s 2026 roster will have:
- 4 Five-star recruits (freshmen).
- 26 Four-star recruits.
- A transfer portal haul headlined by Oregon defensive lineman Tionne Gray.
Gray is a massive pickup. Literally. He’s the reason Notre Dame just jumped Texas in the combined rankings.
📖 Related: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
The Marcus Freeman Factor
Let's be real: people were skeptical of Marcus Freeman. After the 2024 season where they went 14-2 and made the national title game, the 0-2 start in 2025 had the "fire him" crowd getting loud.
He didn't blink.
Freeman is now 43-12 as the head coach. That .782 winning percentage is sixth in school history. That’s better than Lou Holtz. It’s better than Brian Kelly. He’s trailing guys like Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy.
He recently shut down NFL rumors, which is huge. Stability is a currency in college football. If he had left, the notre dame football ranking for 2026 would have cratered as players hit the portal. Instead, he’s retained the core of his coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who turned CJ Carr into a household name this past fall.
Breaking Down the 2025 Stats
If you want to know why the notre dame football ranking stayed high despite the early losses, look at the efficiency.
The Irish offense averaged 42 points per game. That was 3rd in the entire FBS.
The defense gave up 17.6 points per game. That was 11th.
👉 See also: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
CJ Carr is the real deal. As a freshman starter in 2025, he threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions. He’s got that "it" factor. He isn't just a game manager; he’s the reason they were able to survive losing stars like Jeremiyah Love and JD Price to the NFL Draft this winter.
What’s Next: The 2026 Outlook
The early 2026 notre dame football ranking in "Way-Too-Early" Top 25 lists is generally landing between No. 3 and No. 6.
The schedule is a lot more manageable than last year's gauntlet. They open against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on September 6. That’s a massive stage, but it’s a game they should win if the talent gap is what the recruiting rankings say it is.
Then you've got Michigan State and Miami coming to South Bend. It’s a schedule designed for a playoff run.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are tracking the notre dame football ranking to see if this program is finally "back," here is what you need to watch over the next three months:
- The Quarterback Room: CJ Carr is the guy, but the depth behind him is thin with the recent portal entries. Watch if they grab a veteran backup before the spring window closes.
- The Offensive Line: Replacing the "maulers" who graduated is the biggest hurdle. Keep an eye on Ben Nichols, the four-star freshman who might start day one.
- The Schedule Shifts: The ACC is still messing with the 2026 dates. A road game against Syracuse or North Carolina might get dropped, which would actually help their strength of schedule if it gets replaced by a higher-tier opponent.
The bottom line is simple. Notre Dame is no longer just a "legacy" top 10 team that gets ranked because of the helmet. They are a statistical juggernaut with the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. The 2025 snub sucked for fans, but it created a monster for 2026.
Check the 247Sports team rankings weekly as the final portal entries settle. If the Irish hold that No. 1 spot into the spring, the hype for the Wisconsin opener is going to be unlike anything we've seen in the Freeman era.