The Team To Beat

Notre Dame absolutely has to be considered the favorite to win the 2027 college football national championship.

The biggest reason is mindset. “Leave No Doubt” is not just a catchy line after getting snubbed from the College Football Playoff. It should define everything about this team heading into 2027. Programs that feel disrespected and still have elite talent are dangerous. Notre Dame will enter the season with a clear message to itself: do not leave anything in the hands of voters, committees, or outside opinions ever again.

The path also sets up beautifully. The schedule is manageable, and it is genuinely hard to picture the Irish losing more than one game. That matters because the playoff miss should sharpen the urgency all year long. Notre Dame does not need to be perfect to make the field, but this team is good enough that it may not have to flirt with danger much at all.

CJ Carr is another huge piece of the argument. If he returns as a sophomore and takes the expected jump, Notre Dame will have one of the top quarterbacks in college football. That changes everything. Championship teams need high-end quarterback play, and Carr has the talent to give the Irish exactly that.

Then there is the defense, which should be elite. The line is expected to improve, the secondary has the look of a true strength, and the linebackers should be more than capable. That kind of defensive foundation gives Notre Dame a championship floor before even getting into the offense.

At running back, the next-man-up plan should be just fine. Notre Dame has recruited well enough and built enough structure that it does not need one single superstar there to keep the machine moving.

And then there is Marcus Freeman. He could have had several NFL opportunities, but he wants to be in South Bend and he wants to be with this team. That matters. Stability matters. Belief matters. Notre Dame has both.

Put it all together and the conclusion is simple: the Irish are the team to beat in 2027.

8/1 odds are currently available in the market.