We’re less than a week away from the start of the 2026 college football season. Before the action gets underway, everyone — including Kirk Herbstreit — is getting their predictions out on the circuit.
On the latest episode of their Nonstop podcast, Herbstreit and Joey Galloway made their choices for the College Football Playoff semifinalists and national champion. The duo had three of the same semifinalists — Ohio State, Georgia and Notre Dame. Their only differences were Indiana (Herbstreit) and Miami (Galloway). Herbstreit then picked the Fighting Irish to beat the Hoosiers in the championship game.
“Can you imagine the state of Indiana, if that happened?” Herbstreit asked. “Indiana against Notre Dame, in the national championship… I got CJ Carr and Notre Dame winning the national championship.”
Our NATIONAL CHAMPION predictions… 🏆👀
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) August 25, 2026
Who you got winning it all?#nonstop pic.twitter.com/00HQa90kNO
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After Herbstreit’s reveal, Galloway — who also picked the Fighting Irish as his champion — jokingly offered his condolences to head coach Marcus Freeman.
“Sorry, Marcus Freeman,” Galloway teased. “We apologize… they’ve got no shot now. Notre Dame, it was fun while it lasted… it’s over.”
The Fighting Irish controversially missed the CFP a year ago after holding a playoff spot in every rankings reveal except the final one. Miami, who beat Notre Dame head-to-head, snared the final slot and advanced to the championship game, while the Fighting Irish declined their bowl invitation. Notre Dame took flak for that move, but if the CFP trophy comes home to South Bend in 2026, they’ll have had the last laugh. The Fighting Irish open the season versus Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sept. 6 (7:30 p.m. E.T., NBC).
