Week 12 · College Football

SMU vs Notre Dame prediction

The TailgateNinjas model gives Notre Dame a 87% chance to beat SMU in this College Football matchup. Updated August 29, 2026.

#23 Atlantic Coast Conference

SMU

18% to make the 12

#1 FBS Independent

Notre Dame

82% to make the 12

The model's read

SpreadNotre Dame −17.5Vegas

Projected scoreSMU 17 — Notre Dame 35

Notre Dame is a heavy favorite — 87% in the model. Upset alert if it's close.

Chaos meter26 · CHALK

26/ 100

CalmMayhem

SMU

13%

to win

Notre Dame

87%

to win

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2025 efficiency · ranks

SMU

Notre Dame

#22Offense · EPA/play#6

#11Defense · EPA/play#9

#10Explosiveness#1

#54Success rate#24

50%Returning production37%

National ranks from last season (1 = best). The 2026 outlook builds on this.

13 meetings all-time

Notre Dame leads 10–3

Last met 1989 · Notre Dame 59–6 SMU— Notre Dame won

via Google News

What SMU is hearing

What Notre Dame is hearing

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