Notre Dame Football 2026: Is This The Year Of The Irish?

The College Football Playoff has been shaken up due to #3 Ohio State losing their starting Quarterback Julian Sayin indefinitely. How will everything fall after this huge blow to the Buckeyes and what it means for the other teams in the hunt including the Indiana Hoosiers, USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks and more.

Week 7 of the College Football season was not for the weak. 5 of the top 7 teams went down for the first time in history. Chris 'The Bear' Fallica, Geoff Schwartz, and Sammy Panayotovich are here to recap the wildest weekend in college football including the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes being the biggest loser of the weekend despite beating the #6 Indiana Hoosiers. Will the Buckeyes have issues moving forward without starting quarterback Julian Sayin? Do the #19 Texas Longhorns have a Steve Sarkisian problem or an Arch Manning Problem after losing back-to-back weekends to an unranked team. Are we worried about the #5 Georgia Bulldogs after losing to unranked Auburn? #2 BYU took down #4 Notre Dame. Is the Fighting Irish going to make the College Football Playoff and how important is the upcoming Miami Hurricanes matchup?

Welcome back to Bruce & The Bear! Chris "The Bear" Fallica and Bruce Feldman kick off Week 7 by reacting to reports that the College Football Playoff could expand to 24 teams. Then, they break down the Big Ten Game of the Week: #4 Ohio State heading on the road to take on #5 Indiana. Can Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers overcome the odds at home, or will the Buckeyes crash the party in Bloomington?Next, Bruce and Bear head out West to preview #2 Notre Dame traveling to face #8 BYU, while breaking down the broader Big 12 playoff landscape.After falling in the Red River Rivalry to Oklahoma, Arch Manning and #7 Texas face a crucial bounce-back spot against Florida. Bruce and Bear analyze how the Longhorns quarterback can rebound and keep Texas on track.Then comes the highlight of the show: Bruce surveyed 34 head coaches, assistants, and college football insiders, asking them one simple question: "If you had one game to win, which coach are you picking?" Bruce reveals the survey results, including a few stunning names that topped the list—and some notable big-name omissions.Plus, the guys look at UCLA in the wake of QB Nico Iamaleava's season-ending injury. Can the Bruins stay in the College Football Playoff conversation, or is this weekend's matchup against Wisconsin a prime letdown spot?Finally, Vegas insider Sammy Panayotovich joins Bear for "The Walkthrough" to give you the sharpest betting perspectives from behind the counter:

The board is set, the lines are moving, and the Bear Bets crew is back to put cash in your pocket! Chris "The Bear" Fallica and former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz deliver their ultimate betting card for the week—featuring powerhouse spread covers and key underdogs.

FOX Big Noon Kickoff is back for Week 7 of the 2026 College Football season, headlined by a massive Big Ten showdown as the #4 Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Bloomington to take on the #5 Indiana Hoosiers.Chris 'The Bear' Fallica, Geoff Schwartz, and Sammy Panayotovich have you covered with the College Football Playoff race heating up, the stakes couldn't be higher as some of the nation's top teams face off in a loaded weekend of college football action. Can #2 Notre Dame survive a tough road test against #8 BYU? Who will come out on top in the SEC showdown between #6 Alabama and #14 Tennessee? And will #13 Missouri make a statement against #9 Ole Miss?The guys break down all the biggest Week 7 matchups, including Wisconsin vs. #12 UCLA, and deliver their favorite college football picks, best bets, predictions, betting lines, and must-watch games of the weekend!Don't miss everything you need to know before kickoff!