Klatt slots Notre Dame at #5, highlighting a stacked roster and championship aspirations. Can the Fighting Irish deliver with this loaded talent?
It's already that time of year where various media outlets and college football analysts are releasing their way-too-early lists. Up next, is FOX Sports Joel Klatt who recently put out his Way-Too-Early Top 10 rankings for college football ahead of the 2026 season. There were, obviously some of the usual suspects in there including Ohio State and Oregon, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish cracked the Top 10 list coming in at No. 5 per Klatt.
"There's no better motivation than being totally furious with how your season ended and feeling like you didn't get what you deserved. That's exactly how Notre Dame feels. It felt like it should've been in the CFP, and with the way Miami went through the field, who's to say Notre Dame couldn't have won the whole thing? At times, Notre Dame looked like one of the better teams in the country. So, Notre Dame's offseason is going to be filled with motivation and vinegar.
I think Notre Dame will be a little more pass-heavy with running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price going into the NFL. You're looking at a good combination, though, at quarterback and wide receiver. C.J. Carr is in his second season as a starting quarterback and his top two receivers (Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison) are back. They also added a pair of wide receivers out of Ohio State (Quincy Porter, Myles Graham) from Ohio State.
The defense is still one of the best, if not the best, defensive units in the country. You know Notre Dame is going to have really solid defensive backs and a tough defensive line." - Joel Klatt, FOX Sports
This is an extremely talented roster returning to South Bend; all chips are on the table and after last season's playoff snub, the Irish are going all in on this year to bring home the 12th National Championship. Marcus Freeman and his staff have a spoil of riches across the board. This team is loaded with depth and high-level talent that will make impact plays Saturday after Saturday.
Notre Dame returns an exceptionally loaded roster this upcoming season. On offense, on top of Carr returning at quarterback, they have left tackle Anthonie Knapp, right guard Guerby Lambert, lineman Charles Jagusah returning from injury, receivers Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse, running back Aneyas Williams and a host of talented new comers. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will have a spoil of riches at the skilled positions led by a returning starting quarterback.
Defensively, they might have the best two-deep in the country across the board. There won't be a better secondary in college football than the one in South Bend that consists of Leonard Moore, Christian Gray, Tae Johnson and Adon Shuler.
Every linebacker in the rotation last season returns in 2026 and their two starting edge rushers in Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young return. The brought in a host of talent through the portal and high school recruiting to boot.
The Irish will have a top three roster in college football, and it won't be third. They also are one of the few top teams in the country that return both of their coordinators from the past season, their head coach, and almost every position coach from the previous season.
Joel Klatt Way-Too-Early Top 10
1. Oregon Ducks
2. Georgia Bulldogs
3. Indiana Hoosiers
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
6. Texas Longhorns
7. Miami Hurricanes
8. LSU Tigers
9. Michigan Wolverines
10. Texas Tech Red Raiders
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