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Pate: Irish would conquer the SEC
12 Aug
Summary
- Notre Dame is ranked fifth in the 2026 preseason coaches poll.
- Analyst claims Notre Dame would win the SEC this season.
- The SEC has not won a national title since 2021 and 2022.
The 2026 college football season begins with Notre Dame ranked fifth in the preseason coaches poll. The Fighting Irish are expected to contend for a national title. Analyst Josh Pate made a provocative claim on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," suggesting Notre Dame would win the SEC if they played in the conference this year.
Pate's assertion is based on his assessment of Notre Dame's current strength and a perceived decline in the SEC's national championship competitiveness. He highlighted that no SEC team has reached the national title game since Georgia's back-to-back victories in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
While Notre Dame's schedule appears manageable on paper, Pate emphasized the team's resilience and coaching under Marcus Freeman. He expressed optimism about the program's future over the next five years, contrasting it with the SEC's recent lack of national success compared to the Big Ten.
