Notre Dame Is Already the Most Hated Team in College Football, and They Don't Care

Alright, buckle up! Brad Crawford just dropped some wild College Football Playoff "guarantees" for 2026, and seriously, this season is already looking insane. We're talking national championship DNA, expanded playoff contenders, and the teams everyone will absolutely love to hate.

Notre Dame: The Nation's New Villain

Alright, let's talk the Fighting Irish. Seriously, get ready, because Notre Dame is embracing the bad guy role this season. They're not flawed, they're straight up *good* with a top-end roster, favorable path to the playoff, and preseason hype putting a huge target on their back. Fans love underdogs, but they *really* love rooting against a blue blood, and that's Notre Dame. Their independence? Yeah, that's part of it. While power conferences grind through brutal nine-game league schedules, Notre Dame's doing its own thing, and everyone knows it. SEC and Big Ten fans will scream the Irish benefit from avoiding that grind, yet still get premium playoff consideration. After last season's public omission, it'll take at least two losses, maybe three, to keep them out of the top 12 under new CFP rules. They aren't just making major bowls anymore; they're consistent playoff participants, capable of beating anyone. Win double-digit games annually, recruit elite, and suddenly, nobody feels sorry. They just want to see them fail. Brutal, but that's college football!

ACC Ready to Flex, SEC Ready to Complain

B

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

ut hold up, the ACC is ready to make some serious noise! Miami is the clear top dog, but Brad Crawford's eyeing SMU and Louisville as the next teams to crash the playoff party. SMU has multi-year starter Kevin Jennings at QB, plus a roster built to hit double-digit wins if they handle the league's upper-middle class. They're annual contenders now, not just a feel-good story. Then there's Louisville. Dangerous! They've got the balance, physicality, and portal-built depth to snag those huge résumé-building wins that flip the national conversation. Early chances against Ole Miss and SMU will show their stuff. In this expanded playoff, the ACC doesn't need a perfect second team, just a double-digit-win contender with momentum, a top-25 profile, and a marquee win or two. SMU or Louisville could absolutely be that team behind Miami, and neither has to play the Hurricanes in the regular season. Huge advantage! Meanwhile, brace for SEC drama. Brad predicts a handful of top-20 teams will be politicking big-time when the selection committee meets. We're talking up to six SEC teams feeling snubbed if early projections hold. They'll definitely have something to say! Look, June is early for "guarantees," but post-spring intel gives us a clear picture of who's built different. This expanded playoff means matchups, seeding, and November momentum are everything. What a season this is shaping up to be! We'll be watching every snap to see if these predictions hold, and you know we'll be here screaming about it. Kickoff can't come soon enough!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.