ESPN’s FPI ranks Notre Dame as one of the top teams nationally in 2025.

ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has placed Notre Dame among the top teams in the nation heading into the 2025 college football season, a recognition that reflects the strength of the program, its depth of talent, and the expectations that accompany a blue-blood institution entering the modern playoff era. With the College Football Playoff expanding and the Irish maintaining their status as an independent, the timing could not be better for Notre Dame to assert itself as a legitimate national title contender. The FPI, which combines past performance, returning production, recruiting data, and strength of schedule to generate its rankings and projections, sees the 2025 iteration of Notre Dame football as one of the most complete and dangerous teams in the country. This statistical recognition doesn’t guarantee success, but it certainly sets the tone for a season of heightened scrutiny, anticipation, and pressure. The ranking is a culmination of years of methodical program building, strategic decisions in coaching hires and roster management, and a clear evolution in how Notre Dame approaches the modern college football landscape.

At the heart of the 2025 Notre Dame team is a roster stacked with talent, both experienced and youthful. The quarterback position, always the centerpiece of any contender, is in good hands. Notre Dame has a signal-caller capable of executing complex schemes while also possessing the athleticism to extend plays and challenge defenses in multiple ways. That alone places the Irish in rare company, as consistent quarterback play has often been the dividing line between good teams and national title threats. Add to that a backfield loaded with explosive running backs, a deep and versatile receiving corps, and a tight end unit that continues the school’s tradition of producing elite players at the position, and the offense becomes a nightmare to plan against. The offensive line, long a point of pride in South Bend, returns multiple starters and boasts a mix of veterans and underclassmen who are already drawing attention from NFL scouts. Their ability to control the line of scrimmage, open running lanes, and protect the quarterback allows the rest of the offense to operate at maximum efficiency.

Defensively, Notre Dame has quietly built one of the best units in the nation. The FPI’s evaluation of their defense suggests a level of consistency and explosiveness that few teams can match. Up front, the Irish possess a disruptive defensive line that can both stop the run and pressure the quarterback without the need to constantly blitz. That allows the linebackers and secondary more flexibility, and Notre Dame’s defensive backs are more than capable of locking down receivers and creating turnovers. The scheme itself is both aggressive and disciplined, designed to confuse quarterbacks and limit big plays. This balance between defensive aggression and reliability is something that the FPI model tends to favor heavily, and Notre Dame ranks exceptionally well in that department. Player development on this side of the ball has been outstanding, with former three-star recruits blossoming into All-American candidates and highly rated prospects living up to their billing. That kind of growth reflects not just talent acquisition, but elite coaching and a culture that prioritizes improvement.

Special teams, often overlooked in discussions about contenders, are another reason why Notre Dame ranks so highly in ESPN’s advanced metrics. From dependable placekicking to excellent punt and kick return coverage, the Irish leave few gaps for opponents to exploit. Field position, hidden yards, and the ability to swing momentum with a big return or a clutch field goal attempt are all part of the equation, and Notre Dame has invested in making sure those margins are not neglected. That comprehensive approach is one of the reasons the FPI model treats them so favorably compared to other top-tier programs who may lean more heavily on offense or defense alone. Notre Dame’s commitment to excellence in all three phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—is a hallmark of championship-caliber teams.

Another critical component of Notre Dame’s high FPI ranking is its strength of schedule. As an independent, the Irish have crafted a challenging and diverse schedule that tests them in ways that few programs experience. They routinely face opponents from the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, and Pac-12, giving them one of the most varied and difficult slates in college football. In 2025, the schedule is again loaded with marquee matchups, including road games against traditional powers, neutral site games that attract national attention, and home contests that feel like playoff games in terms of atmosphere and stakes. The FPI factors in not just the quality of opponents, but also the sequence and location of those games. Notre Dame’s ability to navigate such a gauntlet and still be projected as a top-tier team speaks volumes about the confidence the model has in their overall quality and depth. It also suggests that even a one-loss or two-loss Notre Dame team could be a serious playoff contender given the strength of their résumé.

Coaching continuity and leadership are other reasons for Notre Dame’s high standing. Head coach Marcus Freeman, now fully entrenched and growing in national stature, has reshaped the program’s identity. His emphasis on physicality, accountability, and recruiting has reinvigorated the program and helped bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. Freeman’s ability to connect with players, recruit at a high level, and put together a staff that excels in development and strategy has turned Notre Dame into a more modern powerhouse without sacrificing the values that have long defined it. The FPI model, while algorithmically driven, does incorporate elements of coaching success and stability into its projections, and Notre Dame checks that box in emphatic fashion. Assistant coaches on both sides of the ball have also garnered attention, with coordinators being mentioned for future head coaching opportunities, a sure sign of a healthy and successful program infrastructure.

Recruiting continues to be a driving force behind Notre Dame’s resurgence. The 2025 team benefits not only from the highly rated classes brought in during Freeman’s early years, but also from a development pipeline that maximizes each player’s potential. The Irish are now consistently in the conversation for elite prospects, and their ability to land top-100 recruits across the country is no longer an anomaly. Perhaps more importantly, they have become adept at identifying underrated talent and molding it into elite college football players. The transfer portal, another critical aspect of modern roster building, has also been utilized effectively. Notre Dame has managed to bring in experienced players who fill specific needs without disrupting team chemistry or development timelines. The FPI accounts for returning production as well as incoming transfers, and Notre Dame ranks highly in both categories, suggesting a deep and balanced roster that should hold up well over the course of a grueling season.

Fan expectations have always been high in South Bend, but the FPI ranking adds fuel to a fanbase that believes the Irish are on the verge of finally breaking through and winning their first national title since 1988. The expanded playoff format provides a broader path, but it also means more opportunities for missteps. Still, Notre Dame’s consistency, both in terms of performance and preparation, makes them a team that others will fear come November and December. The home field advantage of Notre Dame Stadium, the national spotlight that follows them, and the brand power that attracts attention even during idle weeks all contribute to the pressure and prestige of being ranked among the top by the FPI. That spotlight can be a burden, but it can also galvanize a team that believes its best days are still ahead.

Media perception, often skeptical or dismissive in years past, is beginning to shift as well. Analysts now point to Notre Dame’s overall profile—elite talent, elite coaching, and elite preparation—as reasons why this year’s team might finally match the hype. While the FPI is a data-driven model, its predictions often align closely with human analysis when it comes to identifying truly elite teams. In Notre Dame’s case, the numbers back up the buzz. The Irish don’t just look good on paper—they look ready to contend on the field. The question is whether they can deliver when it matters most. In recent years, the Irish have made playoff appearances but fallen short against the likes of Alabama and Clemson. Those losses were painful but instructive. They revealed the margins Notre Dame needed to close, and under Freeman’s leadership, those gaps are closing. Whether it’s team speed, physicality in the trenches, or elite quarterback play, Notre Dame has taken steps in every area to build a team capable of not just competing with, but beating, the sport’s elite.

The FPI’s projection isn’t a guarantee, but it is a significant endorsement. It suggests that Notre Dame, entering the 2025 season, is one of the best-positioned programs in the country to make a deep playoff run and potentially win it all. The pieces are in place. The coaching is right. The talent is undeniable. And the schedule offers plenty of opportunities to prove their worth. All that remains is the execution. If Notre Dame plays to its potential, avoids major injuries, and maintains focus throughout the season, the FPI may have done more than predict a top team—it may have correctly forecasted a national champion in the making. For a program steeped in history and hungry for modern glory, that would be the ultimate validation.