Where is Notre Dame in ESPN’s power rankings after Week 5?
Notre Dame is undefeated and plowing through competition so far. ESPN released their power rankings after Week 5, but where do the Irish stand?
Following the first five weeks of the 2026 season, Notre Dame remains undefeated with a 3-0 record against Big Ten teams including Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Purdue. ESPN's latest college football power rankings place the Fighting Irish at No. 5, a two spot drop from the previous week, according to David Hale's report. The team's big concern through the first four games was the "lackluster performance" of their run game.
However, freshman Jonaz Walton may have solved that issue, as he rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries during the 37-26 victory over North Carolina. Despite losing two NFL first-round draft picks from the previous season, Notre Dame's run game showed significant improvement, especially in the second half where they dominated North Carolina with 241 rushing yards. Texas, Georgia, Miami, and Alabama currently hold the top four spots in ESPN's power rankings.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
