Notre Dame Secured No. 3 AP Poll Ranking

The Fighting Irish maintained their position in the AP Top 25 for the third consecutive week.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Football

Notre Dame Secured No. 3 AP Poll Ranking

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The Associated Press has ranked Notre Dame at No. 3 in its latest college football poll. The team continues to hold the same spot in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll.

Why it matters

The ranking reflects the consistency of the program as it maintains a perfect 3-0 record early in the season. It underscores the team's sustained performance since moving up from their No. 4 preseason rank.

Notre Dame currently holds a 3-0 record and has appeared in 59 consecutive AP Top 25 polls. The program has remained in the top 10 for 11 straight weeks.

The players

Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame football team is a major college program competing at the highest level of the sport.

Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization that produces influential weekly college football rankings.

The details

Notre Dame moved into the No. 3 spot following a victory against Wisconsin in Week 1. The team has successfully maintained its top 10 status since returning to that tier on November 9, 2025.

November 5, 2022: Notre Dame upset Clemson.
November 7, 2022: The consecutive ranking streak began.
November 9, 2025: Notre Dame returned to the top 10.
September 20, 2026: The current AP Poll was released.

Season Trajectory

The current ranking trajectory builds upon the momentum established by the notable November 5, 2022, upset against Clemson. This consistency bolsters the program's standing in the national playoff conversation.

The No. 3 ranking keeps Notre Dame firmly in contention for high-seed playoff positioning. This status requires the team to maintain its undefeated record to preserve its spot in the AP Top 25.

The takeaway

Maintaining a top-tier ranking throughout the season requires consistent performance against all opponents. Fans should track the team's upcoming schedule to see if they can extend their 59-week streak in the polls.