It's a fact Riley Leonard will lead Notre Dame football to playoffs - analysts
Riley Leonard knows that the Notre Dame football program is a place for champions. He said as much when he first joined the Fighting Irish.
However, the former Duke gunslinger has his doubters. Especially after missing most of spring practice following surgery on an injured ankle he hurt against … Notre Dame last fall.
His injury coupled with the high expectations of the Notre Dame football team this fall has some wondering whether he’s the right man for the job. He was the recent subject of a “fact or fiction” on Rivals and those who are concerned about Riley Leonard should probably breathe a little easier based on what the site’s analysts believe is coming in 2024.
Riley Leonard will lead the Notre Dame football team to the playoffs in 2024 according to analysts
Adam Friedman and Tyler James were the Rivals analysts to play the latest game of “fact or fiction” and took on the question as to whether Riley Leonard can lead the Irish to the promised land. Both men came down on the side of “fact.”
Friedman was especially high on Leonard saying that he’s upgrading the position in South Bend more than it has been in quite a while.
“As it often happens, quarterbacks get too much credit when things are going well and too much blame when things are going poorly,” he wrote. “It seems likely that Leonard will be leading the Notre Dame offense more than managing it this season.”
James agreed to an extent wiht Friedman, though he made it clear he thinks it will be Al Golden’s unit that really does the job.
“With as good as Notre Dame's defense should be,” James said. “Leonard might not need to do much leading for the Irish to get to the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame is returning a lot of experienced talent on defense, and its schedule isn't exactly lined up with a bunch of top-end quarterbacks on the other sideline.”
Whatever the reason for the Notre Dame football getting to the playoffs, it’s clear its the final 12 or bust for Marcus Freeman and company.