Notre Dame Tops SI’s 2026 Crystal Ball, But Predictions Remain Highly Varied

Sports Illustrated’s 2026 crystal-ball predicts Notre Dame as the consensus national-title contender, but beyond that the panel is deeply split on playoff matchups, conference winners, and Heisman favorites (CJ Carr, Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Trinidad Chambliss). The piece covers a wide spread of picks—from Indiana and Oregon to BYU and Texas Tech in the CFP—and features debates on potential flops, coaching firings, and standout Group of 6 contenders, highlighting a loaded yet highly unpredictable season.