Notre Dame football will turn their focus to the 2025 season as they will kick their season off on Labor Day weekend with a highly anticipated matchup against the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted on ABC from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla.
Notre Dame fans have many reasons to get excited for this season opener as the stage is set and some fans are already calling this clash a potential game of the year.
So, with that being said, it is that time of year again when the college football world is already buzzing with predictions, hot takes, and way-too-early rankings. And as usual, Notre Dame football finds itself getting snubbed by national media in their pre-season rankings and being disrespected, despite their historic 2024 season where they proved doubters wrong all season and earned a spot in the National Championship.
Notre Dame football's 2025 way-to-early rankings snub is a slap to the face
Many seemed to think the Irish are here to stay and will contend next year, but then this week those same reporters seem to overlook the Fighting Irish for next season, despite returning majority of their starters from their playoff run.
It’s an all-too-familiar narrative for Notre Dame football as multiple way-too-early rankings, have the blue and gold ranked outside of the top 5, and have them at six, but one ranking left the Irish at 8, which leaves Irish fans scratching their heads.
Last season, Notre Dame shattered expectations, after a few years of being written off as a “good but not elite” team, the Irish took on elite programs and proved the media wrong. Notre Dame football program solidified a spot in the elite category and thought they were finally gaining respect from the media. However, four major news outlets, USA Today, Yahoo Sports, CBS and Joel Klatt from FOX Sports all have the Irish at six or eight.
These news outlets put teams like Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, and even Brian Kelly and his LSU Tigers in front of the Irish. Ohio State, Texas and Penn State are understandable and reasonable, but USA Today putting LSU and Clemson, and others ahead the Irish is foolish and unwise.
It is a slap to the face for Marcus Freeman and this elite Notre Dame football program. The Irish are returning nearly their entire offense, besides Riley Leonard. Irish lost Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler, Jr., but they weren’t starters at the beginning of the season. The Irish offensive line will be angry and will return all their starters from week 1, as they will have Ashton Craig and Sam Pendleton that will replace these two linemen.
The Irish will have one of the best rushing attacks in the country, as all three running backs return in Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Jr. and Aneyas Williams. Irish averaged 210.8 rushing yards per game last year, which was 14th best in the country in 2024-2025 and fifth best in power four. Irish led the power four with 4.2 yards after contact and were one of the most explosive rushing teams in the country, as they had 11 rushing plays that went for 40 yards or more which was 4th in FBS, and they had the second most 50 plus rushing yard plays in FBS with 8.
Their biggest loss on offense is Riley Leonard, but some believe CJ Carr is "super-freaky talented." Kirk Herbstreit stated “He is a put the franchise on your back type of quarterback” on the Pat McAfee show. Carr will have major weapons on the perimeter in Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison and Malachi Fields, who transfers from Virginia. Last year Fields had 55 catches for 808 and five touchdowns, which would have all led Notre Dame wide receivers this year.
Irish lose key defensive players like Rylie Mills, Xavier Watts, Benjamin Morrison and Howard Cross, but Freeman’s secondary is lethal and they gained key players in transfer portal.
Irish will add Jared Dawson, Elijah Hughes and safeties in DeVonta Smith and Jalen Stroman. Smith comes from Alabama and will play alongside Adon Shuler, Leonard Moore and Christian Gray. Dawson will join the Irish front line, as he had four sacks last season with Louisville.
Whether the media wants to admit it or not, this Notre Dame football team is here to stay, and they aren't going anywhere. Marcus Freeman has built a strong culture in South Bend, and with the players returning or the players they brought in, this Irish football team is set up for another successful season and a deep playoff run.