For the first time in the modern era of college football, Notre Dame is a preseason title winning favorite, and for good reason Apr 25, 2026; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) warms up before the Blue-Gold game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images Now that spring football is concluded, we move into the next phase of the college football yearly cycle, the waiting phase. We hit this period of the football calendar every year, finding more questions than answers as fans cross days off their summer calendars. While this period of time has always existed, it feels very different this time around. Why? Because Notre Dame is considered a legitimate title contender. Will 2026 be the year of the Irish? Will it really be different this time? There are reasons to believe the answer can be yes.…