Analyzing programs’ overall point differentials from the prior season is one way I’ve been sizing up Notre Dame’s opponents heading into the 2026-27 college football season. The opponents ended up being bucketed into three groups:
- Positive Differential: Those programs who had a positive overall differential at the end of the 2025-26 CFB season.
- Negative Differential (Moderate): Those programs who had a moderately negative overall differential, ranging between -63 and -124, at the end of the 2025-26 CFB season.
- Negative Differential (Significant): Those programs who have a significantly negative overall differential, ranging between -157 and -180, at the end of the 2025-26 CFB season.
Positive Differential
Miami (FL)
The Hurricanes finished the 2025-26 season with a +258 overall differential. They put up 459 points, compared with 237 points by opponents. Their largest statistical win was a +42 rout of fellow Florida institution, Bethune-Cookman, and their most significant losses were
two -6 differential games dropped to the ACC’s SMU and the eventual national champion, Indiana.
BYU
BYU finished the 2025-26 season with a +172 overall differential. They tallied up a total of 440 points throughout the season, compared with 268 points by their opponents. The Cougars beat Portland State with a +69 differential but dropped two games to Texas Tech. The regular season loss to Tech was by a -22 differential and the postseason loss had a -27 differential.
SMU
The SMU Mustangs finished the 2025-26 season with a +152 overall differential. They recorded 419 points throughout the season, compared with 267 points by their opponents. SMU beat ACC opponents Boston College and Louisville with +32 differentials. The team’s most significant loss was -11 differential game against fellow Texas program, TCU.
Navy
Navy finished the 2025-26 season with a +84 overall differential. They tallied up a total of 409 points, compared with 325 points by their opponents. Navy’s biggest statistical win was +45 against the Virginia Military Institute and their most significant defeat was a -39 differential game against Notre Dame.
Negative Differential (Moderate)
North Carolina
The North Carolina Tar Heels finished the 2025-26 season with a -63 overall differential. The team put up 231 points, compared with 294 points by their opponents. They beat Richmond with a +35 differential and dropped a -34 differential game to TCU.
Michigan State
Michigan State football finished the 2025-26 season with a -64 overall differential. They recorded 295 points throughout the season, compared with 359 points by their opponents. Michigan State pulled off +17 differential wins against Western Michigan and Youngstown State and their most significant statistical losses were -25 differential games that they dropped to Big Ten opponents UCLA and Indiana.
Boston College
Boston College finished the 2025-26 season with a -88 overall differential. They tallied up 305 points, compared with 393 points by their opponents. Their biggest statistical victory was a +56 win over Fordham and their most significant loss was a -41 differential game against conference opponent Pitt.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin finished the 2025-26 season with a -105 overall differential. The team put up 154 points, compared with 259 points by their opponents. Their largest win margin was +32 against Middle Tennessee State and their largest loss margin was -37 against conference opponent Iowa.
Stanford
The Stanford Cardinal finished the 2025-26 season with a -124 overall differential. They recorded a grand total of 226 points, compared with 350 by their competition. Their most significant statistical win was +21 over fellow Pac-12 expat and current ACC colleague, California. Stanford’s most significant loss was a -35 differential game dropped to the national championship runner-up Miami (FL).
Negative Differential (Significant)
Purdue
Purdue finished the 2025-26 season with a -157 overall differential. They tallied up 225 points throughout the season, compared with 382 points by their opponents. Their most decisive win was +31 against Ball State and their most decisive loss was -36 to conference opponent Washington.
Syracuse
The Syracuse Orange finished the 2025-26 season with a -177 overall differential. The team put up 242 points throughout the season, compared with 419 points by their opponents. Syracuse’s biggest statistical victory was +42 over Colgate and the biggest loss was a -63 differential game dropped to Notre Dame.
Rice
Rice finished the 2025-26 season with a -180 overall differential. The Owls recorded a grand total of 248 points, compared with 428 points by their opponents. Their most decisive win was +21 against fellow Texas institution Prairie View A&M and the team’s most decisive loss was -49 to fellow American conference member South Florida.
