Ranking Every Notre Dame Opponent in 2025—From Easiest to Toughest

This is where it turns into a toss-up when ranking Notre Dame's opponents. Boston College may have very well had a cultural addition by subtraction after quarterback Thomas Castellanos transferred to Florida State. The Eagles get the nine-spot, but a case could be made for them to be as high as sixth on the list.

8. Oct. 11: Notre Dame vs. NC State

North Carolina State brings in a pair of new coordinators when it comes to South Bend the week before USC. The Wolfpack are replacing more than half their starters from a season ago, which makes winning in South Bend an even more challenging ask.

7. Nov. 22: Notre Dame vs. Syracuse

Syracuse put up a nine-win regular season last year, which included a late-season win to derail Miami's College Football Playoff hopes. The schedule is much less forgiving for the Orange this year, but head coach Fran Brown appears to be building something with sustainability that we haven't seen there in a long time.

6. Nov. 15: Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

Pitt started 7-0 last year but stumbled down the stretch, finishing 7-6 as it didn't win after Oct. 24. The defense returns seven starters from a year ago and could very possibly make life difficult on Notre Dame come mid-November.

5. Oct. 4: Notre Dame vs. Boise State

This is another case where the gap takes place. Boise State is here, but could have a case to be No. 3 on the list. Anytime you're on the other side of what could be the biggest regular-season game in the history of a different program, you've got to be on alert if you're Notre Dame.

4. Oct. 18: Notre Dame vs USC

For what will likely be the final time in the regular season for the foreseeable future, Notre Dame hosts USC in mid-October. I fully expect emotions to be extremely high between both and for USC to pull out all the stops to try and end the series by ruining Notre Dame's year. I fully expect this rivalry to go out with an absolute banger.

3. Sept. 27: Notre Dame at Arkansas

Perhaps Notre Dame caught a break that this was announced as a noon ET kickoff, because I expect an absolute hornet's nest in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks aren't near challenging for an SEC title, but they were able to upset Tennessee, who wound up in the College Football Playoff, just last year.

2. Sept. 13: Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M

How strong is Notre Dame's defensive front? It must play at a high level when Texas A&M comes to town because the Aggies will be bringing one of the best rushing attacks in the nation to South Bend. As difficult as last year's contest was, this Texas A&M squad should be improved.

1. Aug. 31: Notre Dame at Miami (FL)

Notre Dame starts the season like last year - on the road, facing its biggest challenge of the regular season. Miami had an explosive offense a year ago but dipped into the portal in a big way to fix up its defense. Win on South Beach to open the year, and everything is on the table for the Fighting Irish again in 2025.