Stanford at No. 3 Notre Dame 2026 Preview: Prediction, Betting Odds & 4 Prop Bets

No. 3 Notre Dame returns to South Bend on Saturday afternoon looking to remain undefeated when Stanford visits Notre Dame Stadium for the latest battle for the Legends Trophy.

Notre Dame enters 5-0 after defeating North Carolina 37-26 in Chapel Hill. Stanford is 2-3 overall and 1-3 in ACC play after suffering a stunning 57-3 loss at Wake Forest.

The Fighting Irish are enormous 37.5-point favorites, reflecting both Notre Dame’s unbeaten start and Stanford’s major struggles away from home.

Game Information

Matchup: Stanford Cardinal at No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET TV: NBC / Peacock Venue: Notre Dame Stadium — Notre Dame, Indiana Tickets: As low as $144 Point Spread: Notre Dame -37.5 Over/Under: 53.5

This will be the 40th meeting between the programs. Notre Dame has won the last three meetings, including a 49-20 victory in 2025, while Stanford’s most recent victory in South Bend came 16-14 in 2022.

Notre Dame: Irish Continue Perfect Start

Notre Dame’s 5-0 record has been built around a balanced offense and a defense capable of taking over games after halftime.

Quarterback CJ Carr was outstanding against North Carolina, completing 21 of 29 passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Notre Dame led only 21-20 early in the third quarter before taking control with two long scoring drives.

Freshman running back Jonaz Walton provided another encouraging performance, carrying 23 times for a career-high 120 yards.

Notre Dame’s offensive depth was also evident with Nolan James Jr. producing 49 rushing yards on one third-quarter drive before catching a touchdown pass early in the fourth.

Defensively, the Irish held North Carolina to only 77 rushing yards. Defensive end Boubacar Traore consistently disrupted the Tar Heels’ offense with four quarterback hurries.

Against a Stanford offense that just managed 197 total yards, Notre Dame’s defense has an opportunity to dominate.

Stanford: Cardinal Trying to Recover From Disaster

Stanford’s season has been difficult to evaluate because the Cardinal have alternated competitive performances with lopsided losses.

Stanford defeated Hawai’i 37-27 and Georgia Tech 34-27, but its three losses have come 45-6 against Miami, 35-7 at Duke and 57-3 at Wake Forest.

The Wake Forest loss was particularly concerning.

Stanford produced only 197 total yards, while Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez accounted for five touchdowns. The defeat also extended Stanford’s school-record road losing streak to 13 games.

Quarterback Davis Warren is capable of much better.

One week earlier, Warren threw for a career-high 396 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback victory over Georgia Tech.

Stanford needs that version of Warren to have any chance of keeping this competitive.

Running back Micah Ford also gives the Cardinal a potential weapon after rushing for 76 yards on 11 attempts earlier this season against Duke.

Four Prop Bets to Consider

College player-prop availability varies by sportsbook, so these are target numbers to consider if offered near these ranges.

Prop Bet #1: CJ Carr Over 239.5 Passing Yards

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Carr Over 239.5 Passing Yards

• 4 TDs vs North Carolina
• Notre Dame 5-0
• Stanford Allowed 57 Last Week

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Carr threw for 234 yards against North Carolina despite Notre Dame controlling much of the second half with its rushing attack.

Stanford has struggled badly against quality competition, and Notre Dame should create favorable field position throughout the afternoon.

Carr may not need four quarters to surpass this number.

Prediction: CJ Carr — 267 passing yards

Prop Bet #2: Jonaz Walton Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Walton Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

• 120 Yards vs North Carolina
• 23 Carries Last Game
• Notre Dame Favored by 37.5

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Walton is coming off the best rushing performance of his young career.

He carried 23 times for 120 yards against North Carolina and dominated Notre Dame’s clock-killing third-quarter drive.

A huge projected lead should create plenty of second-half rushing opportunities.

Prediction: Jonaz Walton — 103 rushing yards

Prop Bet #3: Jordan Faison Over 54.5 Receiving Yards

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Faison Over 54.5 Receiving Yards

• TD vs North Carolina
• Carr’s Top Playmaker
• Stanford Secondary Under Pressure

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Faison played an important role in Notre Dame’s first scoring drive against North Carolina, catching five passes on the possession and finishing it with a 28-yard touchdown reception.

Stanford cannot afford to focus exclusively on stopping the run, creating opportunities for Faison downfield.

Prediction: Jordan Faison — 72 receiving yards

Prop Bet #4: Stanford Under 13.5 Team Points

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Stanford Under 13.5 Team Points

• 3 Points vs Wake Forest
• 7 at Duke
• 6 vs Miami

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Stanford has struggled dramatically against stronger opponents.

The Cardinal scored only six against Miami, seven against Duke and three against Wake Forest.

Notre Dame’s front seven should make establishing the run extremely difficult and force Warren into obvious passing situations.

Prediction: Stanford — 10 points

Players to Watch

CJ Carr — Notre Dame

Carr continues to look comfortable directing Notre Dame’s offense. His four touchdown passes against North Carolina showed how dangerous the Irish become when opponents commit extra defenders against the run.

Jonaz Walton — Notre Dame

Walton’s 120-yard breakout adds another weapon to an already deep Notre Dame backfield.

Davis Warren — Stanford

Warren threw for 396 yards against Georgia Tech, proving he can produce against major-conference competition. Stanford desperately needs him to recreate that performance.

Caden High — Stanford

High caught two touchdown passes against Georgia Tech, including a 49-yarder, and gives Warren a legitimate explosive receiving option.

Keys to the Game

Notre Dame needs to pressure Warren and prevent Stanford from generating the explosive passing plays that powered its upset of Georgia Tech.

Offensively, the Irish should establish Walton and their other backs early before attacking downfield with Carr.

Stanford must avoid a disastrous opening quarter. The Cardinal cannot afford turnovers, sacks or short fields against a team favored by nearly six touchdowns.

The biggest challenge may simply be sustaining drives. Stanford’s 197-yard performance at Wake Forest suggests Notre Dame could dominate possession.

Betting Prediction

The 37.5-point spread is enormous, but Stanford’s road performances make it difficult to take the points.

The Cardinal lost by 28 at Duke and by 54 at Wake Forest. Now they face an undefeated Notre Dame team at Notre Dame Stadium.

Notre Dame should be able to control both lines of scrimmage, create turnovers or short fields and eventually turn this into another Stanford road blowout.

The 53.5 total leans toward the over because Notre Dame could approach that number almost by itself.

The Verdict

Stanford may find a few early completions with Warren, but sustaining offense against Notre Dame’s defense will be difficult.

Carr leads several first-half touchdown drives, Walton controls the ground game and the Irish defense keeps Stanford out of the end zone for much of the afternoon.

Final Score Prediction

Notre Dame 49, Stanford 10

Betting Category Pick Best Bet Stanford Under 13.5 Team Points Against the Spread Notre Dame -37.5 Moneyline Notre Dame Over/Under Over 53.5 Top Prop Jonaz Walton Over 74.5 Rushing Yards

Final Prediction: Notre Dame 49, Stanford 10

Notre Dame improves to 6-0, covers the massive 37.5-point spread and extends Stanford’s road losing streak in another dominant Fighting Irish victory.