"Notre Dame honestly should have been in the playoff this past season. CJ Carr had a strong freshman season, ranking eighth nationally with a QBR of 83.4, and figures to be sharper with a year of experience under his belt. Even with running back Jeremiyah Love moving on to the NFL, the Irish will still have weapons, especially if wideout Jaden Greathouse can return to his 2024 playoff form coming off a serious hamstring injury."
"The pressure is on coach Lincoln Riley, who hasn't reached 10 wins since his first season, and the pieces are in place to get there. With quarterback Jayden Maiava returning, along with all five starting offensive linemen and running back King Miller, the offense has the potential to be potent. Riley lured in the No. 1 recruiting class and also has help coming from the transfer portal."
With spring approaching, college football reporters assess teams poised for improvement in the 2026 season. Indiana won the national championship and Fernando Mendoza earned the Heisman Trophy in 2025, while Texas Tech, Miami, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss made their first College Football Playoff appearances. Houston, Utah, and Virginia improved from losing records to double-digit wins. Looking ahead, Notre Dame emerges as a strong playoff contender with quarterback CJ Carr's strong freshman performance and a seasoned defense. Texas is identified as a preseason top contender. USC, under coach Lincoln Riley, possesses returning quarterback Jayden Maiava, all five starting offensive linemen, and a top recruiting class, though defensive improvements are needed.
#college-football-playoff #2026-season-predictions #notre-dame #usc-football #quarterback-performance
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