For the first time in the Marcus Freeman era, Notre Dame football will have a signal caller who was recruited by the fourth-year head coach in South Bend. Although Freeman has seen success in his first three seasons with Drew Pyne, Sam Hartman, and Riley Leonard, I think it’s fair to say that the Fighting Irish are still looking for that true top-tier QB to lead the team.
Pyne was serviceable but has really become a journeyman in the league. Hartman did a decent job but probably underwhelmed compared to expectations. In contrast, Leonard, while being the heart and soul of the team and leading them through a remarkable playoff run and to the championship game, probably exceeded expectations. Still, the program is searching for that “program-changing quarterback.”
How the QB race could impact Notre Dame’s next chapter
So, it might not be an exaggeration to say this is the turning point of the Freeman era. Because when he picks between CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey, he’s not just choosing who runs the offense, he’s showing us who the face of the program will be moving forward. In the portal and transfer era, where teams may just have a QB for one year to “win now,” the goal with this decision will be to have a quarterback potentially leading the Irish for the next three years (which would be out of the norm in this new era of college football).
Is he going to ride with the young phenom and start building for something special? Or is he going to lean on experience and try to win right now with a guy who’s been grinding behind the scenes?
CJ Carr: The 4-star future
Let’s start with Carr. The name alone comes with expectations. He’s a former four-star, a legacy recruit, and the face of Freeman’s elite recruiting efforts. The tools are all there: great vision, timing, polished mechanics, and a calm presence in the pocket. He’s not going to beat anyone with his legs, but he is athletic enough, and the upside is clear.
If Freeman hands him the keys to the kingdom, it’s a clear message: we’re building something sustainable. CJ would grow with a young roster that’s talented across the board, especially in the backfield, and potentially set up Notre Dame for a multi-year playoff window.
But it’s a gamble. He lacks real game experience. There will be growing pains. Freeman has to decide if he’s willing to ride that out.
Kenny Minchey: The underdog with juice
On the flip side, there’s Kenny Minchey. He’s not as hyped, but man, he brings something different. He’s athletic, confident, and can make things happen when a play breaks down. He’s not the clean, polished type, but he’s the guy who can move the chains and bring some juice to the offense.
He’s been in the system, has waited his turn, and might just be the safer option to start the year. If Freeman wants to ease Carr in, Minchey could be the bridge.
But that choice comes with risk too. If Kenny struggles early, you’re now behind the 8-ball and asking a freshman to fix it midseason. That’s a tough spot for any young QB.
This isn’t just about 2025
This decision is bigger than just one season. It will set the tone for everything. Freeman’s already proven he can recruit. Now he has to prove he can develop, scheme, and win and the QB choice is at the heart of all of it.
The roster is in a great spot. The running back room is stacked with Love, Price, and Williams. The defense, as always, will be solid. What they need is stability and leadership at the most important position on the field.
Freeman doesn’t have to find a Heisman winner, he just has to pick the right guy to lead a team that’s capable of making another deep playoff run. If he nails this? Notre Dame could be back in serious CFP conversations. Miss, and we could be looking at a season of unmet expectations and more “maybe next year” talk.
This is the Marcus Freeman moment
Every head coach has that moment where it shifts from “building something” to “now we have to go do it.” We got a taste of it last year, but I believe this QB decision could be the starting point for the beginning of Freeman’s legacy in South Bend.
Is he going to bet on the future with Carr? Or ride the present with Minchey?
Whatever he chooses, this could be the moment where we’ll look back and say, “That’s when the Freeman era truly began.” Or, if it goes south, that’s when the pressure really started to build.
It starts with QB1 for the Notre Dame football team and then builds from there.