Paul Finebaum questions Notre Dame’s preseason placement after split in major polls

Notre Dame enters the 2026 season with a spotlight on it from two of college football’s best-known preseason ranking outlets, and SEC analyst Paul Finebaum is not fully aligned with that picture. In a commentary picked up by Yahoo Sports, Finebaum expressed confusion about where the Fighting Irish landed in the preseason mix, pointing to the fact that Notre Dame is listed as No. 5 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the AP preseason poll.

The distinction matters because preseason rankings are often treated as a shorthand for the national title conversation, even when they do not predict results with precision. A one-spot swing between polls can reflect different weighting of the previous season’s form, returning personnel, recruiting momentum, and perceived strength of schedule. Finebaum’s concern is less about the exact number and more about the overall logic behind Notre Dame being positioned so close to the top of both lists.

From Notre Dame’s perspective, being ranked fourth and fifth in two separate preseason systems places the program in the highest tier of national expectations before a ball is kicked. For teams at that level, the ranking itself becomes a storyline that follows every week, because early outcomes can quickly either validate the preseason consensus or force voters to recalibrate. For independent programs like Notre Dame, that scrutiny is amplified by the way national narratives are built without conference standings as a secondary reference point.

Still, the rankings also underscore that voters are not looking at college football through a single lens. The AP preseason poll is determined by sportswriters, while the US LBM Coaches Poll is assembled from coaches. Even if both groups are evaluating the same team, their baseline perspectives can differ, and those differences are often visible in preseason top-10 lists. That is the backdrop to Finebaum’s reaction: two polls are both high on Notre Dame, yet his interpretation of why the Irish are there does not match what those rankings suggest.

For fans, the practical takeaway is that Notre Dame’s early results will likely be measured against both preseason placements. If Notre Dame starts slowly, the gap between being ranked No. 4 and No. 5 becomes less important than the larger question of whether preseason trust was misplaced. If the Irish start strong, the argument will shift to whether the preseason recognition was reasonable and how far the team can rise before the postseason committee and voters converge on a title picture.

What to watch next is straightforward. First, how quickly Notre Dame’s performance aligns with the level implied by a top-five preseason billing. Second, whether voters keep the Irish in that top tier after the first few games, or whether either poll’s voters adjust their confidence as on-field evidence accumulates. Finally, Finebaum’s comments are a reminder that preseason rankings do not settle debates, and in a season defined by close races for playoff positioning, the early narrative disputes can become part of the competitive atmosphere surrounding marquee programs.