Everyone wants to know where the Irish stand. Right now, as we push into the middle of January 2026, the final dust has settled on a season that felt like a fever dream for fans in South Bend. If you’re looking for the quick answer, Notre Dame football is ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. It’s a top-ten finish. That sounds great on paper, doesn't it? But if you ask anyone wearing navy and gold at a sports bar right now, they’ll tell you it feels a little bit like a consolation prize. Why? Because the College Football Playoff committee had them at No. 11 in their final rankings, and in the new 12-team playoff world, that’s where the drama lives.
The Irish finished the 2025 season with a 10-2 record. They didn't play in a bowl game. Yeah, you read 그 right. After being the "first team out" of the playoff bracket, the players actually voted to skip the bowl season entirely. It was a bold, controversial move by Marcus Freeman and his squad that has the college football world still talking.
The Notre Dame Football Ranking Rollercoaster
Let's look at how we got to No. 9. This season wasn't exactly a smooth ride. It started with a punch to the gut—a 27-24 loss to Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. Then, things got weirder. A week later, they dropped a heartbreaker to Texas A&M, 41-40.
Starting 0-2? For most teams, that’s the end of the story. For Notre Dame, it was just the prologue.
They went on a tear. Ten straight wins. They absolutely demolished Purdue and Syracuse, scoring 56 and 70 points respectively. They took down a ranked USC team 34-24 in mid-October, which was probably the highlight of the year. By the time November rolled around, CJ Carr was looking like a Heisman contender, and the defense was suffocating people.
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The problem? Independence. Without a conference championship game to play in, the Irish sat at home on the final weekend of the season. They watched as teams like Miami and Alabama—teams they were neck-and-neck with—got one last chance to impress the committee. When the final CFP rankings dropped on December 7, 2025, Notre Dame was sitting at No. 11.
Because of the way the seeds are distributed (giving byes to conference champs), that No. 11 ranking made them the first team on the outside looking in.
Final Rankings Breakdown (January 2026)
- AP Poll: No. 9
- Coaches Poll: No. 13
- CFP Selection Committee: No. 11 (Final)
- Record: 10-2
The disparity between the AP Poll (voted on by media) and the CFP ranking (the only one that matters for the playoffs) is basically the entire story of the 2025 season. The media saw a top-ten team. The committee saw a team without a "13th data point."
Why the Ranking Matters More Than Usual
The No. 9 spot in the AP Poll is basically a stamp of "we think you're better than the committee does." It’s a bit of a middle finger to the system.
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Honestly, the 2025 season was a case study in why being an Independent is both a blessing and a curse. You’ve got the national TV deals and the historic prestige. But when you're 10-2 and you don't have a trophy to lift in December, the committee is going to look for reasons to keep you out.
Marcus Freeman has been pretty vocal about this lately. He's mentioned that the criteria seem to shift every year. One year it's about "strength of schedule," the next it's about "how you're playing lately." Notre Dame had the momentum, but they didn't have the "undeniable" resume the committee demanded.
What's Next for the Irish?
If you're wondering how this ranking affects the 2026 season, the answer is "massively."
Coming off a top-ten finish (in the polls, at least), the Irish are expected to start the 2026 preseason somewhere in the top six or seven. They've been hitting the transfer portal hard this month. The sting of missing the playoff has clearly lit a fire under the coaching staff.
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You've got a young quarterback in CJ Carr who just threw for over 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns. You've got a defense that only gave up 17.6 points per game. The pieces are there.
The "Next Steps" for Notre Dame fans aren't about checking the rankings anymore—they're about the schedule. To avoid this No. 11 trap next year, they basically have to go 11-1 or 12-0. There is no margin for error when you don't have a conference title to hide behind.
Keep an eye on the spring practice reports and the final portal additions. The 2026 season is going to be about one thing: making that No. 9 ranking a No. 1.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: Notre Dame is currently looking for veteran help at wide receiver to support CJ Carr’s development.
- Check the 2026 Strength of Schedule: Note that the 2026 schedule includes several high-profile matchups that will be critical for CFP tiebreakers.
- Review Scholarship Numbers: With several seniors departing after the "no-bowl" decision, keep an eye on how Freeman fills the remaining roster spots before spring ball.
Ultimately, being No. 9 is a sign of respect, but in South Bend, it's just another year without a trophy. The mission for 2026 is clear: leave no doubt for the committee.