March 9, 2026, 7:03 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
Notre Dame is returning significant talent, including quarterback C.J. Carr.<\/p>\n
Notre Dame may have chosen to sit out<\/a> last bowl season but it does not look like outsiders think the momentum in South Bend is slowing down.<\/p>\n FanDuel released their odds-on favorites<\/a> to win the college football national title next year and it was the Fighting Irish<\/a> who sit atop of those projections with +650 odds to win it all. For those non-gamblers reading this, it means that should a person bet $100 for Notre Dame to win it all, they would in turn receive $750 ($650 profit) if the Irish do finish the season as champions.<\/p>\n Notre Dame narrowly edged out Ohio State<\/a> (+700), Texas<\/a> (+700), and Indiana (+750) to be the favorite, and Oregon<\/a> (+850) rounds out the top five. Those odds show just how slim the margins are at the top of college football.<\/p>\n Notre Dame is returning a significant portion of their production next season, headlined by quarterback C.J. Carr<\/a> and a core bolstered through both high school recruiting and the transfer portal.<\/p>\n Still, it needs to be mentioned that these projections in March are just that, projections and not quite predictions. Notre Dame will once again have to handle the pressure of being an independent program and thus have a very small margin of error. This year, being the favorite will put extra pressure on Marcus Freeman\u2019s shoulders because the narrative will go from whether they can break through to can they live up to the expectations.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n The Irish have been a fixture in the college football playoff race the last few years and it looks as if this year will be no different.<\/p>\n Contact\/Follow us\u00a0@IrishWireND<\/a>\u00a0on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.<\/p>\n Follow Sunny on X:@<\/a>thesunnyv<\/a><\/p>\n Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose.\u202f While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.\u202f We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site.\u202f Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.<\/p>\n Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24\/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.<\/p>\n