Both No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 22 Pitt are currently being led by their respective freshman quarterbacks on the offensive side of the ball. The Fighting Irish have loved everything they have seen from CJ Carr this season, with the Panthers have enjoyed what Mason Heintschel has shown as well.
This is going to be a matchup that could make the difference between one team making the College Football Playoff and another missing it. Notre Dame needs this win for their resume and potentially hosting a game, while Pitt could use a signature win along with an ACC title to help secure its spot in the playoff.
CBA Sports talked a lot about the matchup that is home to College GameDay this week, and one former coach is giving the Fighting Irish the edge, but it is only because of Carr.
CJ Carr's ability to take care of the football could secure the win for Notre Dame over Pitt
"I think Narduzzi absolutely stops the ND run game... that makes it about the QBs."@CoachNeuheisel thinks CJ Carr will be the reason Notre Dame beats Pitt. pic.twitter.com/Uo3qcUlO98
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 12, 2025
Notre Dame freshman quarterback CJ Carr has been everything the Fighting Irish could have asked for this season. The Michigan native has thrown for 2,275 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only four interceptions in his first season.
Even though Carr had to win a quarterback battle this season, he has impressed since stepping onto the field and could be the very reason Notre Dame makes it to the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame is set to take on Pitt this weekend, a very good run defense, so running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price could see some trouble on the field.
When speaking about the game on CBS Sports Network, analyst Rick Neuheisel gave his edge in this game to the Fighting Irish, but it is not because of the run game, but because of Carr.
"I think CJ Carr has been brilliant thus far," Neuheisel said. "I think he has also been really good at playing keep away; he has not turned it over. Maybe that's the edge that I give Notre Dame."
It is true that Carr has taken good care of the football. Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel threw two interceptions last week against Stanford to give him five on the season. Notre Dame's defense has gotten a lot stronger this season, and cornerback Leonard Moore will be ready to get yet another turnover this season.