As the 2025 college football season approaches, predictions are flying from analysts, former players, and media personalities alike. One of the most respected voices in the game, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt, released his College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket this week — and while Notre Dame fans may be pleased to see the Irish included in the field, Klatt’s outlook for their postseason is less than ideal.
According to Klatt’s early bracket, Notre Dame lands as the No. 7 seed in the expanded CFP, matched up in the first round against No. 10 LSU. It’s a juicy matchup, not only because of the teams involved, but also due to the narrative surrounding it — the Irish would be facing former head coach Brian Kelly, who infamously left South Bend for Baton Rouge.
Klatt does give Notre Dame the edge in that opening matchup, predicting a win over the Tigers. The emotional weight of that victory alone would be significant, offering a bit of catharsis to fans still bitter over Kelly’s departure. But the celebration, Klatt suggests, would be short-lived.
In his bracket, Notre Dame’s path hits a massive roadblock in the second round, where they would face No. 2 seed Texas. Klatt doesn’t see the Irish overcoming the Longhorns, who he believes are poised for a deep playoff run. That loss would end Notre Dame’s national title hopes and continue their ongoing quest to finally break through in the playoff era.
While Klatt’s projection of a second-round exit may feel disappointing to Irish faithful, it’s worth noting that simply making the field in a 12-team playoff is still a major accomplishment — especially given the program’s recent postseason struggles. It’s also telling that Klatt has Notre Dame ranked high enough to avoid the lowest seeds, even though they just miss out on the all-important first-round bye reserved for the top four.
In terms of his overall CFP picture, Klatt slots in Penn State as the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Texas, Clemson, and Ohio State rounding out the top four. He predicts a national title showdown between Clemson and Ohio State, with Clemson ultimately coming out on top. That means Klatt believes the Buckeyes will fall just short of repeating as national champions.
Of course, as any college football fan knows, preseason brackets and predictions are far from guaranteed outcomes. Last season proved how quickly things can change — from injuries to breakout players, to teams peaking at just the right time. If Notre Dame gets hot late in the season, seedings and matchups could become secondary to momentum and grit.
For now, Klatt’s bracket gives Irish fans both hope and something to prove. A playoff berth is within reach, but if Notre Dame wants to do more than just show up, they’ll need to beat some of the nation’s elite — and perhaps even defy expectations like they’ve done in years past.