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Notre Dame

Where does Notre Dame football rank in the Week 8 AP Poll?

Kyle Kellyby: Kyle Kelly10/12/25ByKyleKelly
Marcus Freeman
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman. (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

The Notre Dame football program continued its ascent in the latest Associated Press college football rankings released Sunday. In the Week 8 AP Top 25 Poll, the Fighting Irish (4-2) claimed the No. 13 spot. Notre Dame also landed at No. 15 in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll.

AP Poll voters have continued to award the Irish for their efforts over the last four weeks despite starting the season 0-2. Notre Dame has risen 11 total spots since dropping a 41-40 game at home to Texas A&M (6-0) on Sept. 13. After that outing, the Irish slid to No. 24.

However, since then, they have continued their climb. Notre Dame moved up to No. 22 after taking down Purdue (2-4), No. 21 following their road victory over Arkansas (2-4) and No. 16 after beating Boise State (4-2). ND rose three spots from last week. It is also the only two-loss team in this week’s rankings.

Notre Dame’s first two opponents are among the best in the country in the eyes of voters. Miami (6-0) and Texas A&M rank as the Nos. 2 and 4 teams, respectively. USC (5-1) is the only other opponent on Notre Dame’s schedule that ended up in the top 25, checking in at No. 20. Navy (6-0), which the Irish will face on Nov. 8, also received votes.

Some voters have the Irish even higher than No. 13. In On3 national college recruiting reporter Brett McMurphy’s poll, he listed Notre Dame at No. 12. He also slotted Miami at No. 1 and Texas A&M at No. 5. In McMurphy’s rankings, the Irish would hypothetically be the first team to make it in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

On Saturday, Notre Dame will have a chance to strengthen its CFP résumé in the battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh. The Irish take on USC at 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium. NBC will have television coverage.

Week 8 AP Poll

  1. Ohio State (6-0)
  2. Miami (5-0)
  3. Indiana (6-0)
  4. Texas A&M (6-0)
  5. Ole Miss (6-0)
  6. Alabama (5-1)
  7. Texas Tech (6-0)
  8. Oregon (5-1)
  9. Georgia (5-1)
  10. LSU (5-1)
  11. Tennessee (5-1)
  12. Georgia Tech (6-0)
  13. Notre Dame (4-2)
  14. Oklahoma (5-1)
  15. BYU (6-0)
  16. Missouri (5-1)
  17. Vanderbilt (5-1)
  18. Virginia (5-1)
  19. South Florida (5-1)
  20. USC (5-1)
  21. Texas (4-2)
  22. Memphis (6-0)
  23. Utah (5-1)
  24. Cincinnati (5-1)
  25. Nebraska (5-1)

Others receiving votes: Illinois 113, Michigan 73, Washington 36, UNLV 30, Navy 11, Mississippi St. 8, Tulane 2 and San Diego St. 2.