Notre Dame WILL Win The National Championship, And Here's Why...

Notre Dame will win the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. Ryan Roberts is planting his flag on Marcus Freeman, CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish entering a season with championship expectations in South Bend. This isn't simply a prediction that Notre Dame CAN compete for a national title. Ryan explains why he believes the Fighting Irish WILL win it all in 2026 — and why this roster may be better equipped to finish the job than any Notre Dame team he's watched in years. It starts with continuity under Marcus Freeman. Notre Dame returns its head coach along with offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, defensive coordinator Chris Ash and special teams coordinator Marty Biagi. In a college football environment defined by constant roster and coaching movement, that familiarity could become a significant advantage for the Fighting Irish. Then there's CJ Carr. Carr returns after throwing for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions while completing more than 66% of his passes in 2025. Ryan explains why the confidence surrounding Carr entering 2026 feels different from what Notre Dame fans have experienced at quarterback in a long time — and why his continued development could be the biggest ingredient in a championship run. But Notre Dame's case goes well beyond quarterback. Ryan breaks down why the Fighting Irish offensive and defensive lines might be as deep and talented as he's seen during his Notre Dame fandom. Will Black, Guerby Lambert, Ashton Craig and a deep collection of offensive line options give Notre Dame significant talent up front, while Bryce Young and a loaded defensive front could allow the Irish to attack opponents in waves. That depth matters when Notre Dame gets into College Football Playoff games against the best teams in the country. Finally, this roster has legitimate star power. From Carr on offense to Leonard Moore and other potential difference-makers on defense, Notre Dame has players capable of deciding games when the margin gets tight. Ryan has historically been cautious about predicting Notre Dame to finally reach the mountaintop. Not this year. Why is 2026 different? Is CJ Carr ready to lead a championship offense? Are Notre Dame's offensive and defensive lines deep enough to match the elite programs in college football? And does Marcus Freeman finally have the roster capable of bringing a national championship back to South Bend? Ryan Roberts breaks it all down on A to Z Sports Notre Dame. Subscribe for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football analysis, reactions, roster breakdowns, recruiting conversation and year-round coverage from A to Z Sports. 0:00 Notre Dame WILL Win The National Championship 0:15 Why 2026 Feels Different 1:43 Ryan Plants His Flag 2:02 Marcus Freeman's Biggest Advantage 3:34 Why CJ Carr Changes Everything 5:15 Notre Dame Is Loaded In The Trenches 6:41 How Good Can This Defensive Line Be? 8:39 Notre Dame Has Championship Star Power 9:28 Why Ryan Believes Notre Dame Wins It All Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: https://atozsports.com/college-football/notre-dame-fighting-irish-news/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotreDameFans4Life Twitter: https://x.com/AtoZSportsNFL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atozsportsnotredame/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notredame.atozsports #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #CollegeFootball #GoIrish