The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had their best season they had seen in years, but it still didn't end the way they wanted it to. After making it to the National Championship for the first time since 2012, the Fighting Irish were still unable to finish the season on top, hoisting the trophy over all of college football. The Fighting Irish, who made it to the championship in the first-ever 12-team playoff, lost to Ohio State 34-23 to end the season.
After losing some players to the transfer portal and to the NFL, Notre Dame is ready to come back and finish the job in the 2025 season. Head coach Marcus Freeman worked hard in the recruiting game both from high school and out of the transfer portal, but actually, it could be returning players who have a bigger impact for the Fighting Irish in the 2025 season.
So here are the top five returning players for Notre Dame this season that could have the biggest impact in getting the team back to the National Championship.
Jeremiyah Love was one of the top running backs in 2024 as just a sophomore, but what made him so great, even though he had lower rushing yards, was the fact that he battled a knee injury late in the season and still finished with the stats he did. Love had almost 20 rushing touchdowns for Notre Dame in 2025 and two receiving touchdowns.
Averaging 6.9 yards per carry on the ground is definitely not something to scoff at for a running back, and with the Fighting Irish bringing in a new quarterback this season, the run game may be a big crutch early as the offense gets going. Love is coming back as a leader for this team in 2025, and his presence on the field will certainly be known and needed for Notre Dame.
Leonard Moore comes back as a young player in the secondary for Notre Dame, who saw great playing time in 2024. Moore broke out in his freshman season, earning numerous freshman All-American honors after the season, and will be a big part of Notre Dame's defense going forward. Moore was also named the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
Moore also comes in with a great punt return ability, returning 11 punts for the Fighting Irish in 2024, and even had one returned for a touchdown. Notre Dame has the No. 11 total defense in 2024, with Moore contributing to a lot of the Fighting Irish's stops. As a whole, Notre Dame's defense allowed an average of just 169.4 yards per game of opposing offenses and just 14 passing touchdowns to opponents.
Moore has the ability to be even better in his sophomore season with Notre Dame, a real leader and game-changer in the 2025 season.
Jadarian Price worked closely with Jeremiyah Love in the 2024 season as both worked in a two-headed running back room that was very successful. It seems as though Love will probably take more of the load in the 2025 season, but Price can become more of that third-down back who can pick up the first down when needed.
Price could potentially see a decline in his numbers this next season, but with a possibility of Love heading to the NFL after this next season, he can learn even more in the 2025 season from the strong back ahead of him. Price still had a great scoring ability scoring seven rushing touchdowns in the 2024 season. The run game will probably be the focal point of Notre Dame's offense this next season, so two great running backs on the roster won't work anything.
Even though Anthonie Knapp may not have stats to show his importance to this team, he is a cornerstone for this offensive line. The young left tackle started every game as a freshman and was very strong protecting Riley Leonard's blind side during the 2024 season, earning his Freshman All-American honors alongside Leonard Moore.
Knapp, after suffering an injury in the Orange Bowl, will make his return to the Fighting Irish this season and will be a cornerstone piece in this offensive line. With a new quarterback, protection on his blind side will be even more important, making Knapp one of the top returners in the 2025 season for Notre Dame.
Jaylen Sneed, like Moore, is coming back to Notre Dame and will be a big leader for this defense heading into the 2025 season. Sneed comes in after a great 2024 season with 51 total tackles, 22 solo tackles, and 2.5 sacks, helping Notre Dame to be a top defense in college football last season.
Sneed's experience is what makes him so valuable to the Fighting Irish this next season as the defense will see a not of new moving parts in 2025.