Notre Dame: 2026 Week 12 recap

Notre Dame sits at No. 2 with an 8–1 record and a rating of 24.4, down slightly from 25.2 after last week's 31–24 home win over Miami. The victory was narrow enough to warrant scrutiny: their red-zone TD rate of 17% suggests they're leaving points on the table in the most critical moments, even as their late-game leverage performance (7.95) indicates composure when it matters most. Third-down conversion efficiency at 45% remains workable but not elite. GIE still projects them to win roughly 10.5 games and assigns a 99% shot at the playoff—a comfortable cushion independent programs rarely enjoy. Boston College visits this week.