Notre Dame secures automatic playoff berth with easy 2026 schedule

Jan 23, 2026, 8:59 PM20

(Update: Jan 23, 2026, 9:00 PM)

University of Notre Dame

Catholic university located in South Bend, Indiana, United States

Marcus Freeman

American football player and coach (born 1986)

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Notre Dame secures automatic playoff berth with easy 2026 schedule

Notre Dame missed the 2025 College Football Playoff despite a strong performance, leading to questions about their eligibility in the future.
In 2026, changes to the playoff format guarantee them a spot if ranked in the top 12, alongside a schedule featuring mostly weaker teams.
This has raised concerns about the fairness of the playoff system and whether an easy schedule could undermine their competitiveness.

University of Notre Dame

Catholic university located in South Bend, Indiana, United States

Marcus Freeman

American football player and coach (born 1986)

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