Notre Dame ranks second after dominant win over Wisconsin in Week 1
Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin 41-13 on opening night, moving to the No. 2 spot in a performance-based Top 10 ranking that excludes preseason polls.
Notre Dame opened the 2026 college football season with a 41-13 victory against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, propelling the Irish to the No. 2 position in a newly released Top 10 list that evaluates teams solely on early-season results. The Fighting Irish built a 13-10 halftime lead into a 28-point margin, scoring on a pick-six, a 28-yard touchdown pass and two rushing touchdowns from newcomer Aneyas Williams.
Head coach Marcus Freeman said the team was “pressing” during a sluggish first half and credited the rushing attack for keeping the offense on track. Quarterback CJ Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense limited Wisconsin to 284 total yards and allowed no run longer than seven yards.
The ranking, which does not consider preseason polls or prior-season records, placed LSU at No. 1 after its 51-10 win over Clemson, with Notre Dame following. The list aims to reward teams that face tougher opponents early in the season and will be updated as the schedule progresses.
Other teams in the top ten include Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Virginia, Colorado, Auburn, Boise State and UCLA, each highlighted for notable performances in Week 1.