Best of IB: Notre Dame Among The Top Ascending Teams In College Football
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In this episode of Irish Breakdown, hosts Brian and Trev analyze the landscape of college football's ascending programs, focusing on teams that have made significant strides in the past few years but haven't yet secured a national title. They begin by identifying the 'arrived' programs—Ohio State, Georgia, and Indiana—as dominant forces with recent championships and consistent playoff appearances. From there, they spotlight Notre Dame as a premier program on the verge of title contention, citing their 24-4 record over the last two seasons, elite recruiting (number one class in 2026), returning coordinators, and proven ability to beat top teams. Miami Hurricanes are highlighted for their back-to-back 10-win seasons and dominant playoff run, overcoming massive roster turnover. Texas Tech is praised for its strategic use of the transfer portal and growing high school recruiting, while BYU is recognized for its maturity and consistency despite not being a title favorite. Oregon is lauded for its Big Ten success and elite recruiting, though still lacking wins over top-tier opponents. Texas and Texas A&M are discussed as elite-tier programs with high talent but still needing to prove themselves against the best. LSU is identified as a rising force under Lane Kiffin, with Brian Kelly’s departure removing a key barrier to success. The episode ends with honorable mentions like Virginia Tech and Houston, both seen as potential future powerhouses. Key takeaways include: Notre Dame is now a top-tier program with elite recruiting and a proven track record; Miami’s ability to rebuild and dominate despite massive turnover proves their legitimacy; Texas Tech’s hybrid recruiting strategy is a blueprint for non-traditional powerhouses; Oregon’s ascension is real but hinges on beating Ohio State and Indiana; and LSU’s future is bright under Lane Kiffin. The overall sentiment is highly positive, emphasizing momentum, strategic development, and the shifting balance of power in college football.
Notre Dame is now a top-tier program with elite recruiting, returning coordinators, and a proven track record against top teams.
Miami Hurricanes have proven they’re not a flash in the pan, overcoming massive roster turnover to reach the playoff and dominate top teams.
Texas Tech’s hybrid recruiting model—blending portal talent with strong high school recruiting—positions them as the class of the Big 12.
Oregon’s Big Ten success and elite recruiting show real ascension, but they must beat Ohio State and Indiana to join the 'arrived' group.
Texas is a top-four talent roster with championship potential, but needs to improve physicality and toughness in the trenches.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction: The Power of Ascending Programs
The hosts set the stage for a deep dive into college football’s rising programs, framing the discussion around teams that have transformed from underdogs to national contenders over the past few years. They outline the three-tiered approach: 'arrived' programs (Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana), 'ascending' teams (Notre Dame, Miami, Texas Tech), and emerging contenders (Texas, LSU, Houston). The focus is on long-term trends, recruiting, and on-field performance.
The Arrived: Ohio State, Georgia, and Indiana
The hosts establish the benchmark for elite status, identifying Ohio State and Georgia as perennial national title contenders with multiple championships and playoff appearances. Indiana is included despite skepticism, due to their national title win and consistency against top teams. The discussion emphasizes that winning a title is the ultimate validation of arrival.
Notre Dame: The Premier Ascender
“They're not alone. And one of the two teams that beat them last year, we'll be talking about here very, very shortly. But there's no question that Notre Dame is a premier team now. And as long as Marcus Freeman is here, that's going to continue. Without a doubt.”
Miami Hurricanes: Resilience Through Rebuilding
“They lost their top six receivers. They lost two starting offensive linemen. They lost their Heisman candidate quarterback... They came out the next year and they were better. Look, here's the deal. The resume is there, 23-6.”
Texas Tech: The Portal Powerhouse
“They're not going to go out and get top five national recruiting classes in high school. But last year, they had the 19th ranked recruiting class. That's perfect for them.”
“They're not alone. And one of the two teams that beat them last year, we'll be talking about here very, very shortly. But there's no question that Notre Dame is a premier team now. And as long as Marcus Freeman is here, that's going to continue. Without a doubt.”
“They lost their top six receivers. They lost two starting offensive linemen. They lost their Heisman candidate quarterback... They came out the next year and they were better. Look, here's the deal. The resume is there, 23-6.”
“You win the title, you've arrived. They're in that group. And I don't think the drop-off that a lot of people are expecting is going to come.”
Hosts
notre dame
other
miami hurricanes
other
texas tech
other
college football playoff
other
brian
person
oregon
other
trev
person
texas
other
ohio state
other
georgia
other
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