We are just over two months away from seeing the Fighting Irish run out of the tunnel at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to take the field against the Miami Hurricanes. After a thrilling 2024 season, Marcus Freeman will be tasked to take the Irish even further (and by further, I mean winning the National Championship).
Even though Notre Dame is considered one of the best teams coming into this season, they (like any other successful team) went through a little bit of change with the roster and the coaching staff. The Irish had players head to the NFL, as well as their defensive coordinator in Al Golden, who is now with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Notre Dame is also heading into the season with a new quarterback (most likely C.J. Carr) with Riley Leonard being in the NFL now and with this win-now roster, Carr will have a massive task to take this team far in 2025.
Changes for Notre Dame could get in their way of a National Championship run in 2025
David Cobb of CBS Sports put together tiers heading into the 2025 season of the teams that have the most continuity with “head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and quarterback who started atleast four games in the prior year.”
There were six tiers on Cobb’s list, and Notre Dame landed in the second tier which is listed as “continuity in 2 of the 4 critical spots and the elite talent required to be considered a serious title contender”. Alabama and Miami were in this tier as well.
With Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock coming back, there is a little bit of continuity. As far as the defensive coordinator with Chris Ash and C.J. Carr at quarterback, that’s what knocks the Irish down from being able to be placed in Tier 1.
There is no denying that Notre Dame has a lot of talent this coming season, and quite frankly they could easily have the best rushing attack in college football. However, with a little bit of turnover on the defense and as well as at the most important position on the field at quarterback, the Irish might be in a lot more close games than they should be and if things don’t go their way, it could cost them some games a deep run in the playoffs.