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It was an off the cuff comment, but it was an on the air comment. Kirk Herbstreit picked Notre Dame to win the national championship game.
Sitting in with the guys on the Pat MacAfee Show on Wednesday, the longtime ESPN college football analyst asked the guys who they liked to win the national championship. One of them, Boston Connor, picked Notre Dame.
Then it circled around to Herbstreit, and he went with the Fighting Irish as well.
“I’m going Notre Dame,” he said.
“They’re saying CJ [Carr] is the real deal, this kid,” MacAfee responded.
“Real deal, CJ is the real deal,” Herbstreit said.
Herbstreit also shouted out two other teams he likes to possibly win it all: Miami and Texas A&M. Those, of course, are the only two teams the Irish lost to last season. The Hurricanes went on to play in the national championship game while Texas A&M lost to that very Canes team in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The Irish did not qualify for the CFP. The team mantra going into this year is “leave no doubt.” The losses to Miami and Texas A&M left doubt. Marcus Freeman’s team can’t do that again.
Notre Dame social media posts of the day
Irish safety Luke Talich has well-rounded perspective heading into his senior season.
The Irish women’s basketball coaching staff is hitting the road for recruiting this weekend.
Former Irish pitcher Jack Radel has huge aspirations for himself.
Fighting Irish quote of the day
“People misconstrue this like it’s just money-driven now. No, it’s not. It’s relationships. The top teams are going to probably offer this guy the same amount of money. When everything is equal, then that’s where relationships come in to matter.”
— Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman on the art of recruiting high school prospects
Blue & Gold headlines of the day
• Notre Dame football’s recruiting pitch to four-star CB Nate Dollard goes beyond the coaching staff
• Five-star OL Albert Simien reflects on Notre Dame commitment
• Top 25 most important Notre Dame football players of 2026: No. 8
• The Marcus Freeman admission that will have Notre Dame playing better from the start in 2026
• Is 2026 Notre Dame wide receiver stock up in spite of inexperience? | Position preview
• The essence of Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and why his coaching stock continues to rise
• Why Champ Monds was built to become ND’s quarterback of the future
• Notre Dame football: Story of a Marcus Freeman offseason
• Jeremiyah Love pitch is resonating with four-star RB Tahmere Brown
