Notre Dame Grinds Out 28-7 Win Over Boise State
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Oct. 4, 2025 — Notre Dame extended its winning streak to three games Saturday, overcoming a sloppy, penalty-filled performance to beat Boise State 28-7 at Notre Dame Stadium.
The 21st-ranked Fighting Irish improved to 3-2 on the season, but the win didn't come easily against a Boise State team that entered the day on a three-game winning streak of its own.
Turnovers Bail Out a Penalty-Plagued Offense
Notre Dame's defense was the story of the day, intercepting Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen four times and sacking him four more, completely stifling a Broncos offense that had been averaging over 500 yards per game. Malachi Fields and Will Pauling combined for two receiving touchdowns from CJ Carr, while Jadarian Price broke off a 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
The offense, however, struggled with penalties, committing 11 for 112 yards and repeatedly stalling drives with self-inflicted mistakes. Notre Dame managed only 389 total yards despite dominating time of possession for stretches, and needed its takeaway-heavy defense to control the game.
Freeman on Officiating and a Tough Opponent
Marcus Freeman was visibly frustrated in his postgame press conference, taking issue with several penalty calls — including a roughing-the-passer flag that wiped out a Notre Dame interception.
"I know Justin. He did our Virginia game last year. He's a good guy, works hard," Freeman said of the officiating crew. "They've called throughout the season that they're going to protect the quarterback, and I talked to him before the game. I said, 'You protect our quarterback.' But I've got some questions about some of the penalties you called."
Despite the frustration, Freeman gave credit to Boise State as a quality opponent and explained why the win, while unconvincing at times, still mattered.
"We knew that was going to be a tough team. They've just shown it," Freeman said. "They're not the second-winningest program since 2000 for no reason. That was a fundamentally sound, aggressive football team, and we knew they were going to be tough to beat."
What's Next
At 3-2 and winners of three straight, Notre Dame hosted NC State the following week, looking to clean up the penalty issues that threatened to derail an otherwise dominant defensive performance.
Lucky Lefty Top Play and Performers
Key Play: Jadarian Price's 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game away after a penalty-filled afternoon had kept Boise State within striking distance.
Offensive Performer: CJ Carr — 15-of-23 passing for 189 yards and two touchdowns, spreading the ball to Will Pauling and Malachi Fields for scores.
Defensive Performer: Notre Dame's defensive front, led by pressure off the edge from Jason Onye, held Boise State's high-powered offense to just 315 total yards and forced four interceptions of quarterback Maddux Madsen.
Box Score
Notre Dame 28, Boise State 7 — Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind.
SCORING BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 F Boise State 0 7 0 0 — 7 Notre Dame 6 8 7 7 — 28
SCORING PLAYS Q1 4:52 — C. Carr 19-yd TD pass to W. Pauling (ND 6-0) Q1 4:47 — PAT blocked (ND 6-0) Q2 4:07 — M. Madsen 1-yd TD run (ND 6-6) Q2 4:03 — C. Boomer PAT good (ND 6-7) Q2 0:50 — J. Love 4-yd TD run (ND 12-7) Q2 0:48 — Two-point conversion good, C. Carr to W. Pauling (ND 14-7) Q3 5:53 — C. Carr 6-yd TD pass to M. Fields (ND 20-7) Q3 5:49 — M. Diomede PAT good (ND 21-7) Q4 8:08 — J. Price 49-yd TD run (ND 27-7) Q4 7:54 — M. Diomede PAT good (ND 28-7, Final)
TEAM STATS Boise State Notre Dame Total Yards 315 389 Passing Yards 215 189 Rushing Yards 100 200 First Downs 23 19 Penalties-Yards 13-112 11-112 Turnovers 4 0 Time of Possession 35:46 24:14
PASSING Maddux Madsen (BSU) — 22/37, 215 yds, 0 TD, 4 INT CJ Carr (ND) — 15/23, 189 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
RUSHING Boise State — 34 att, 100 yds, 2.9 avg, 1 TD, long 20 Notre Dame — 31 att, 200 yds, 6.5 avg, 2 TD, long 49
RECEIVING Boise State — 22 rec (36 targets), 215 yds, 0 TD, long 28 Notre Dame — 15 rec (21 targets), 189 yds, 2 TD, long 24
KICKING Boise State — 0/0 FG attempted Notre Dame — 0/0 FG attempted
DEFENSE Boise State Notre Dame Total Tackles 47 76 Sacks 0.0 4.0 Interceptions 0 4 Forced Fumbles 1 1 QB Hits 0 6
what we learned: Arkansas
A day after Notre Dame's 56 to 13 demolition of Arkansas, this feels like the moment the Fighting Irish's season actually turned the corner. This was the first time all year that both sides of the ball looked like the team many had expected before the season began.
The Positives
Everything clicked in Fayetteville. CJ Carr had the best game of his young career, going 24 of 32 for 431 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with Jeremiyah Love three separate times through the air. Notre Dame scored touchdowns on six of its first six possessions and finished with 641 total yards, an obscene number against a Power Four opponent on the road. Guerby Lambert and Aamil Wagner controlled the line of scrimmage from the opening snap, and the entire offensive line did not allow a single sack against a defensive front that had been considered one of the more athletic units in the SEC.
But the more important story is the defense, which forced an interception, held Arkansas to 365 total yards, and, for the first time all season, did not allow a single turnover of its own. Christian Gray's interception in the second quarter was the individual highlight of the day defensively, and Jaylen Sneed looked far more comfortable in his run fits than he had in either of the first two games, consistently beating blockers to the point of attack.
Marcus Freeman's postgame comments captured exactly why this game matters so much. He talked about his team's ability to handle both praise and criticism, and pointed specifically to the defense cutting down on the explosive plays that had plagued it in the first three weeks. If that trend holds up over the next several games, it will look like the turning point of the entire season.
The Negatives
There is genuinely little to complain about from a performance standpoint, though Notre Dame's decision to run a fake punt with a commanding lead in the third quarter drew some outside criticism as an unnecessary risk given the score. Freeman defended the call afterward, saying he did not want his team to relax, and given how well everything else went on Saturday, it is hard to argue with the aggressive mentality even this morning.
One other wrinkle from Saturday is worth flagging even in a blowout win. Arkansas was able to run the ball with real success in the opening quarter, finding creases between the tackles that had nothing to do with the score and everything to do with fits up front that were a step slow off the snap. It was a genuinely concerning start for a Notre Dame front seven that had been picked apart on the ground in stretches through the first two weeks of the season. The silver lining is that Arkansas never got the chance to lean on it, since Notre Dame's own offense raced out to such a big lead that the Razorbacks were forced to abandon the run and start throwing to catch up. That masked the issue rather than fixed it, and it is something the coaching staff will need to clean up before facing an opponent that can stay committed to the run even while trailing.
Who Shined
CJ Carr's career day headlined the performance, but Jeremiyah Love's three touchdown catches and the defense's zero turnover, one interception effort were just as important to the final result. Christian Gray, Jaylen Sneed, and the interior offensive line pairing of Lambert and Wagner were the standout individual performers on a day where almost everyone in a Notre Dame uniform played well. This was the first time all season that Notre Dame's roster has looked like the team many preseason evaluators expected, and it comes at exactly the right moment, one week before a home matchup with Boise State.
Who Disappointed
It is difficult to find a Notre Dame player who had a bad day in this one. The one real disappointment, even in a lopsided win, is the run fits up front in that first quarter, when Arkansas moved the ball on the ground with a level of ease that should not have been possible against this front seven. If anything, the only lingering question this morning is whether this level of performance, particularly on defense, can be sustained against tougher competition than Arkansas provided, and whether that early run defense issue gets fixed before an opponent can actually stay committed to it.
Notre Dame Dominates Arkansas 56-13 in Statement Road Win
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sept. 27, 2025 — No. 22 Notre Dame delivered its most complete performance of the season Saturday, throttling Arkansas 56-13 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium behind a career day from quarterback CJ Carr and a suddenly opportunistic defense.
The Fighting Irish improved to 2-2 with the win, bouncing back from a rocky 0-2 start with back-to-back blowout victories.
Carr and the Offense Put on a Clinic
Notre Dame scored touchdowns on six of its first six possessions, racking up 420 yards of offense in the first half alone en route to 641 total yards for the game. Carr was nearly perfect, finishing 24-of-32 passing for 431 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with Jeremiyah Love three times through the air in addition to Love's rushing production. Jadarian Price added a 16-yard touchdown run, and Aneyas Williams capped the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Irish defense also turned in its best performance of the year, intercepting Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green once and holding the Razorbacks to just 365 total yards. Notre Dame committed zero turnovers on the day, a sharp turnaround after giving the ball away in each of the team's first three games.
The one hiccup came in the third quarter, when Notre Dame attempted a fake punt with a big lead, drawing criticism afterward despite the lopsided final score.
Freeman: "The Ability to Handle Success Is a Challenge"
Head coach Marcus Freeman opened his postgame press conference by praising his team's response to a difficult start to the season, framing the win as proof of the program's growth on both sides of the ball.
"As I told the group, I'm extremely proud of just the way they prepared," Freeman said. "They were able to really kind of block out a lot of noise and go to work, and that's both sides of the ball, right? The ability to handle success is a challenge, and the ability to handle criticism is always a challenge. And so I'm proud of both sides of the ball really being able to do that — handle praise and handle criticism — and today was a really good three-phase effort, team win."
Freeman also credited the defense for cutting down on the explosive plays that had haunted Notre Dame in its first three games.
"I think it's the ability of them to not give up so many explosive plays," Freeman said. "There was a couple of explosive plays that Arkansas converted. They're a good offense — they're coming into this game in the top five in the country — but I think it was a step in the right direction."
Asked about the controversial third-quarter fake punt that drew criticism despite the blowout score, Freeman defended the aggressive call.
"In terms of the fake punt, I didn't want to relax," Freeman explained. "We had to come out of that locker room with an aggression no different than the first half."
Freeman closed his opening statement with a simple directive for his team moving forward. "I told them after, enjoy it. This is what it's about, but let's get back to work and keep getting better."
What's Next
Notre Dame carried its two-game winning streak into a home matchup with Boise State the following week, looking to build consistency after erasing an 0-2 start.
Box Score
Notre Dame 56, Arkansas 13 — Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark.
SCORING BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 F Arkansas 3 10 0 0 — 13 Notre Dame 14 28 7 7 — 56
SCORING PLAYS Q1 12:59 — S. Starzyk 39-yd FG (ND 3-0) Q1 8:23 — J. Love 1-yd TD run (ND 3-6) Q1 8:16 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 3-7) Q1 4:21 — C. Carr 7-yd TD pass to J. Love (ND 3-13) Q1 4:14 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 3-14) Q2 11:27 — S. McRoy 1-yd TD run (ND 9-14) Q2 11:19 — S. Starzyk PAT good (ND 10-14) Q2 8:36 — C. Carr 23-yd TD pass to W. Pauling (ND 10-20) Q2 8:26 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 10-21) Q2 6:16 — C. Carr 34-yd TD pass to J. Love (ND 10-27) Q2 6:04 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 10-28) Q2 3:53 — S. Starzyk 49-yd FG (ND 13-28) Q2 0:40 — J. Love 3-yd TD run (ND 13-34) Q2 0:35 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 13-35) Q2 0:18 — C. Carr 35-yd TD pass to J. Price (ND 13-41) Q2 0:09 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 13-42) Q3 1:05 — J. Price 16-yd TD run (ND 13-48) Q3 1:01 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 13-49) Q4 9:19 — A. Williams 17-yd TD run (ND 13-55) Q4 8:54 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 13-56, Final)
TEAM STATS Arkansas Notre Dame Total Yards 365 641 Passing Yards 207 431 Rushing Yards 158 210 First Downs 15 32 Penalties-Yards 6-60 5-42 Turnovers 2 0 Time of Possession 27:13 32:47
PASSING Taylen Green (ARK) — 17/32, 207 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT CJ Carr (ND) — 24/32, 431 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT
RUSHING Arkansas — 30 att, 158 yds, 5.3 avg, 1 TD, long 54 Notre Dame — 40 att, 210 yds, 5.3 avg, 4 TD, long 24
RECEIVING Arkansas — 17 rec (32 targets), 207 yds, 0 TD, long 33 Notre Dame — 24 rec (32 targets), 431 yds, 4 TD, long 40
KICKING Sam Starzyk (ARK) — 2/2 FG, long 49 Notre Dame — 0/0 FG attempted
DEFENSE Arkansas Notre Dame Total Tackles 80 54 Sacks 1.0 3.0 Interceptions 0 1 Forced Fumbles 0 1 QB Hits 1 3
what we learned: purdue
A day after Notre Dame's 56 to 30 win over Purdue, this was exactly the kind of performance an 0 and 2 team needed, a lopsided offensive showcase that reminds everyone what this roster is capable of. But a closer look at the game reveals that not everything has actually been fixed.
The Positives
CJ Carr was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 20 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns, including a 66 yard connection with Malachi Fields on the opening drive that set the tone immediately. Notre Dame scored touchdowns on seven of its first eight possessions and finished with 535 total yards, the kind of offensive explosion that had been missing through the first two weeks of the season. Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love combined for four rushing touchdowns, and Price's 100 yard kickoff return score was the kind of explosive, game changing play this team can lean on going forward.
Anthonie Knapp had his best game of the young season at left tackle, giving Carr a clean pocket on nearly every dropback and sealing the edge on several of the long runs that broke Purdue's defense open in the second quarter. For a program that desperately needed a win, both for its record and for its psyche, this was as complete an offensive performance as Notre Dame has put together this season, and it snaps the growing sense of panic that had followed the 0 and 2 start.
The Negatives
The defense, unfortunately, did not turn the corner in this game, even against a clearly overmatched Purdue team playing without its starting quarterback for stretches. Purdue's backups combined to throw for 303 yards and three touchdowns, and the Boilermakers held the ball for 28 minutes and converted 21 first downs, numbers that would have been alarming against a ranked opponent and are still concerning against a rebuilding Big Ten team picked near the bottom of its conference.
Karson Hobbs continued to struggle in coverage, getting turned around on a double move that led to one of Purdue's second half touchdowns, and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa was slow to diagnose several screen passes that turned modest gains into first downs. Jason Onye and Boubacar Traore combined for only one hurry between them against a Purdue offensive line that had allowed pressure at one of the highest rates in the conference entering the game, a troubling sign about Notre Dame's ability to generate a rush without blitzing.
Marcus Freeman was blunt about it afterward, telling reporters the defense was not confused, they simply were not executing. That is a fair diagnosis this morning, but it is one the coaching staff will need to prove correct over the coming weeks, starting with next week's road trip to Arkansas.
Who Shined
CJ Carr and Jadarian Price were the headline performers, with Carr's efficiency and Price's dual threat scoring, on the ground and on special teams, powering the offensive explosion. Malachi Fields also emerged as a legitimate downfield threat with his 66 yard touchdown catch, and Anthonie Knapp's clean protection up front deserves real credit.
Who Disappointed
Karson Hobbs and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa were both beaten repeatedly in coverage, and Jason Onye and Boubacar Traore were unable to generate consistent pressure without extra rushers, allowing a backup quarterback rotation to move the ball with far too much ease. This was a game the offense won largely on its own, and that will not always be enough against better competition later in the schedule.
Notre Dame Breaks Through, Routs Purdue 56-30
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Sept. 20, 2025 — Notre Dame found its first win of the 2025 season in emphatic fashion Saturday, dismantling in-state rival Purdue 56-30 at Notre Dame Stadium behind a career day from quarterback CJ Carr and a dominant offensive performance.
The Fighting Irish, who entered the day 0-2 after excruciating one-score losses to Miami and Texas A&M, exploded for 535 total yards and never trailed after the first quarter.
Offense Explodes, Defense Still a Work in Progress
Carr was nearly flawless, completing 17 of 20 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns, including a 66-yard connection with Malachi Fields on Notre Dame's opening drive. Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love combined for four rushing touchdowns, and Price added a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown for good measure. Notre Dame scored touchdowns on seven of its first eight possessions.
But the same issues that plagued Notre Dame in its first two games resurfaced defensively. Purdue quarterback backups combined to throw for 303 yards and three touchdowns, and the Boilermakers held the ball for 28 minutes, converting 21 first downs against a Fighting Irish defense that has now allowed at least 30 points in three straight games.
Freeman: "We Can't Panic"
Speaking to reporters after the win, head coach Marcus Freeman celebrated the program's first win of the season while also emphasizing there was still significant work to be done.
"This is why you work hard," Freeman told his team, relaying the message postgame. "This is why you spend a lot of hours trying to come up with a plan that you're able to find a way to be victorious. You got to enjoy it and celebrate it. If you don't, it's going to be a miserable, miserable profession for coaches, but also the game for young people."
Freeman was quick to temper the celebration, however, reminding his group that one win doesn't erase the process still ahead.
"Let's enjoy this thing, but it's momentary gratification," Freeman said. "We understand this isn't the only reason we work for. We enjoy it in the moment, but the things that we desire are going to take delayed gratification. Got to keep working and find ways to improve — areas to improve, and there are plenty of them — and get back to work for the next opponent here before we know it."
On the continued defensive breakdowns, Freeman defended his unit's preparation while acknowledging the execution simply wasn't there.
"I don't think they're confused," Freeman said. "We just aren't executing. But it isn't like our guys don't know what they're doing. They know what they're doing." Freeman added that the defense is "getting better," pointing to a need for the pass rush and secondary coverage to work in sync. "We have to do a better job marrying up our coverage and our front."
What's Next
At 1-2, Notre Dame took its first bit of momentum into a road trip to Arkansas the following week, looking to build off its most complete offensive performance of the young season while continuing to search for answers on defense.
Box Score
Notre Dame 56, Purdue 30 — Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind.
SCORING BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 F Purdue 7 16 0 7 — 30 Notre Dame 14 21 21 0 — 56
SCORING PLAYS Q1 13:49 — C. Carr 66-yd TD pass to M. Fields (ND 6-0) Q1 13:40 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 7-0) Q1 11:03 — D. Mockobee 14-yd TD pass to R. Browne (ND 7-7) Q1 10:58 — S. Porath PAT good (ND 7-7) Q1 5:57 — J. Love 1-yd TD run (ND 14-7) Q1 5:54 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 14-7) Q2 14:54 — S. Porath 48-yd FG (ND 14-10) Q2 10:06 — J. Price 21-yd TD run (ND 20-10) Q2 10:00 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 21-10) Q2 6:40 — J. Price 9-yd TD run (ND 27-10) Q2 6:33 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 28-10) Q2 1:49 — S. Porath 26-yd FG (ND 28-13) Q2 1:16 — S. Porath 35-yd FG (ND 28-16) Q2 1:13 — J. Price 100-yd kickoff return TD (ND 34-16) Q2 1:00 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 35-16) Q2 0:13 — R. Browne 24-yd TD pass to N. Tuggle (ND 35-22) Q2 0:07 — S. Porath PAT good (ND 35-23) Q3 13:07 — J. Love 46-yd TD run (ND 41-23) Q3 12:54 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 42-23) Q3 9:59 — C. Carr 48-yd TD pass to J. Faison (ND 48-23) Q3 9:52 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 49-23) Q3 3:49 — J. Price 1-yd TD run (ND 55-23) Q3 3:46 — E. Schmidt PAT good (ND 56-23) Q4 2:00 — M. Singleton 24-yd TD pass to J. Watson (ND 56-29) Q4 1:53 — S. Porath PAT good (ND 56-30, Final)
TEAM STATS Purdue Notre Dame Total Yards 369 535 Passing Yards 303 281 Rushing Yards 66 254 First Downs 20 27 Penalties-Yards 7-75 3-30 Turnovers 2 1 Time of Possession 28:00 32:00
PASSING Purdue (Mockobee/Browne/Singleton combined) — 25/40, 303 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT CJ Carr (ND) — 17/20, 281 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
RUSHING Purdue — 28 att, 66 yds, 2.4 avg, 0 TD, long 12 Notre Dame — 43 att, 254 yds, 5.9 avg, 5 TD, long 46
RECEIVING Purdue — 25 rec (39 targets), 303 yds, 3 TD, long 31 Notre Dame — 17 rec (20 targets), 281 yds, 2 TD, long 66
KICKING Sam Porath (PUR) — 3/3 FG, long 48 Erik Schmidt (ND) — 0/1 FG
DEFENSE Purdue Notre Dame Total Tackles 59 59 Sacks 1.0 2.0 Interceptions 0 2 Forced Fumbles 1 1 QB Hits 1 3
what we learned: texas A&M
A day after Notre Dame's 41 to 40 defeat to Texas A&M, the questions raised in Week 1 have their answer, and it is not a good one. This was the game that made clear Notre Dame's issue is not talent or effort. It is a defense that cannot get off the field when it matters most.
The Positives
It is difficult to find much comfort in a loss where a team blows a 40 to 34 lead with under three minutes to play, but the offensive explosion was real and should matter for the rest of the season. CJ Carr threw for 293 yards and a touchdown and added three more scores on the ground, and Notre Dame racked up 429 total yards against a Texas A&M defense that was considered one of the better units in the country entering the season. Jeremiyah Love's 12 yard touchdown run with under three minutes left should have been the game winning score, and the fact that Notre Dame's offense could manufacture that kind of response against a ranked opponent is a real sign of what this group is capable of once its execution catches up to its talent.
Up front, Guerby Lambert and Aamil Wagner had their best half of the season in the third quarter, opening consistent creases for Jadarian Price's 17 yard touchdown run and giving Carr a clean pocket on several of his best throws of the night. Individually, Christian Gray was one of the lone bright spots in Notre Dame's secondary, breaking up two throws in the red zone and playing with the kind of physicality the rest of the unit lacked for most of the evening.
The Negatives
Everything else about this game is a five alarm fire for the Notre Dame program this morning. The defense allowed 488 total yards, including a backbreaking 86 yard touchdown pass on the game's very first possession, and then, most damning of all, allowed Texas A&M to drive the length of the field and score the game winning touchdown with just 13 seconds remaining. A missed two point conversion attempt after Love's go ahead score looms enormous in hindsight, since a successful conversion would have made Texas A&M's final touchdown only good enough to tie.
Karson Hobbs was beaten badly on that opening 86 yard touchdown, biting on a double move that Marcel Reed and his receiver had clearly scouted, and he never fully recovered his confidence in coverage the rest of the night. The linebacker group did not fare much better. Jaylen Sneed and Drayk Bowen were consistently a half step slow in their run fits, allowing Texas A&M's backs to find soft spots on the game tying and game winning drives, and neither was able to disrupt the underneath passing game that Reed leaned on to move the chains on third down. Notre Dame also failed to convert a fourth and one on offense in the third quarter, a short yardage stop where the interior of the offensive line, including Sam Pendleton at center, could not get the necessary push, handing Texas A&M a short field it converted into points.
Marcus Freeman did not sugarcoat any of it afterward, telling reporters plainly that it was not good enough, not good enough in the run and pass, not good enough getting pressure on the quarterback. Two straight losses by a combined four points drop Notre Dame to 0 and 2, a start that puts the program's entire season, and any hope of a College Football Playoff berth, in serious jeopardy heading into next week's home game against Purdue.
Who Shined
CJ Carr took a significant step forward in just his second career start, and Jeremiyah Love was the best player on the field for either team, scoring what looked like the eventual game winning touchdown before the defense let the moment slip away. Christian Gray and the interior push from Lambert and Wagner were the rare individual bright spots on an otherwise difficult night.
Who Disappointed
This was a defensive collapse from top to bottom. Karson Hobbs' blown coverage on the opening touchdown set the tone for a rough night in the secondary, and Jaylen Sneed and Drayk Bowen struggled to fill run lanes on the drives that decided the game. The unit allowed 41 points and 360 passing yards to Marcel Reed, could not get consistent pressure, and, most critically, could not get a single stop in the final three minutes of the game when the season's first two wins were sitting right there for the taking. This loss, at 0 and 2, is the low point of Notre Dame's season so far, and there is no way to sugarcoat how much work lies ahead if this program wants to salvage its year.
Texas A&M Stuns Notre Dame 41-40 on Late Touchdown
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Sept. 13, 2025 Notre Dame Stadium witnessed one of the wildest finishes in recent memory Saturday night, as No. 16 Texas A&M scored a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining to stun the Fighting Irish 41-40, dropping Notre Dame to 0-2 on the season.
The Irish led for much of the second half after erasing a 14-point deficit, but their defense couldn't hold in crunch time as the Aggies drove down the field in the final minutes to steal the win.
A Back-and-Forth Shootout
The two offenses traded blows all night. Notre Dame jumped out to a 14-7 first-quarter lead behind a blocked-punt touchdown and a CJ Carr touchdown run, but Texas A&M answered with three straight touchdowns to take a 28-24 lead into the third quarter.
Notre Dame surged back in front, 34-31, on a Jadarian Price touchdown run and a Ricardo Bond field goal answer, before Noah Burnette's 39-yard field goal put the Irish up 34-31. Texas A&M tied it again with a field goal, but Jeremiyah Love's 12-yard touchdown run gave Notre Dame a 40-34 lead with less than three minutes to play. A failed two-point conversion loomed large: Texas A&M drove the length of the field and connected on a touchdown pass with 13 seconds left, then converted the extra point to win it, 41-40.
Carr finished 20-of-32 passing for 293 yards and a touchdown, adding three rushing touchdowns as Notre Dame racked up 429 total yards. But it wasn't enough to overcome a Texas A&M offense that piled up 488 yards of its own, including an 86-yard touchdown strike from Marcel Reed to Mario Craver in the first quarter.
Freeman: "It's Not Good Enough"
Head coach Marcus Freeman didn't mince words in his postgame press conference, placing the blame for Notre Dame's 0-2 start squarely on his coaching staff and defense.
"It's not good enough," Freeman said. "Not good enough in the run and pass, not good enough getting pressure on the quarterback. We had some unexpected injuries but it doesn't matter. You're on the field, we've got to put you in position to make plays."
Freeman broke down the fatal sequence in the second half that allowed Texas A&M back into the game.
"We didn't convert the fourth-and-one offensively," Freeman explained. "They got the ball, I think at the minus 49, and ended up getting a field goal. But then the last three — that series and the two series after that — you give up another field goal, and then [a] TD at the end of the game. So it's a lot of work. It's not good enough."
Freeman took ownership rather than pointing fingers at individual players, a message he had delivered to his team all season regardless of results.
"You can say this guy didn't have his eyes where they needed to be," Freeman said. "Well, you can say it's the player's fault, or you can say, 'OK, were there times in practice that maybe your player didn't have his eyes in the right spot, and the outcome might have been different, but we tolerated it?' If a guy had a mental error on a play, he went the wrong way — you can make yourself feel better and say, 'Well, that's his fault, we did it right one time in practice.' Or you can say, 'Did we do it enough until we couldn't get it wrong?'"
What's Next
Notre Dame moved to 0-2 for the first time under Freeman, with the Fighting Irish's College Football Playoff hopes suddenly in serious jeopardy after two heartbreaking losses by a combined four points. Notre Dame hosted Purdue the following week looking to find its first win of the season.
Box Score
Texas A&M 41, Notre Dame 40 — Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind.
SCORING BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 F Texas A&M 7 21 3 10 — 41 Notre Dame 14 10 7 9 — 40
SCORING PLAYS Q1 13:14 — Blocked punt recovered by T. Johnson, TOUCHDOWN (ND 6-0) Q1 13:06 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 7-0) Q1 9:47 — M. Reed 86-yd TD pass to M. Craver (ND 7-6) Q1 9:33 — R. Bond PAT good (ND 7-7) Q1 6:32 — J. Price 7-yd TD run (ND 13-7) Q1 6:30 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 14-7) Q2 14:56 — N. Burnette 22-yd FG (ND 17-7) Q2 12:27 — L. Moss 1-yd TD run (ND 17-13) Q2 12:23 — R. Bond PAT good (ND 17-14) Q2 9:51 — C. Carr 36-yd TD pass to J. Love (ND 23-14) Q2 9:43 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 24-14) Q2 5:37 — L. Moss 2-yd TD run (ND 24-20) Q2 5:32 — R. Bond PAT good (ND 24-21) Q2 1:14 — L. Moss 1-yd TD run (ND 24-27) Q2 1:11 — R. Bond PAT good (ND 24-28) Q3 8:23 — J. Price 17-yd TD run (ND 31-28) Q3 8:17 — N. Burnette PAT good (ND 31-28) Q3 0:49 — R. Bond 43-yd FG (ND 31-31) Q4 14:06 — N. Burnette 39-yd FG (ND 34-31) Q4 9:11 — R. Bond 45-yd FG (ND 34-34) Q4 2:59 — J. Love 12-yd TD run (ND 40-34) Q4 2:55 — Two-point attempt fails (ND 40-34) Q4 0:19 — M. Reed 11-yd TD pass to N. Boerkircher (ND 40-40) Q4 0:13 — R. Bond PAT good (ND 40-41, Final)
TEAM STATS Texas A&M Notre Dame Total Yards 488 429 Passing Yards 360 293 Rushing Yards 128 136 First Downs 24 23 Penalties-Yards 13-86 5-31 Turnovers 1 1 Time of Possession 26:53 33:07
PASSING Marcel Reed (TXAM) — 17/37, 360 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT CJ Carr (ND) — 20/32, 293 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
RUSHING Texas A&M — 32 att, 128 yds, 4.0 avg, 3 TD, long 14 Notre Dame — 39 att, 136 yds, 3.5 avg, 3 TD, long 24
RECEIVING Texas A&M — 17 rec (37 targets), 360 yds, 2 TD, long 86 Notre Dame — 20 rec (32 targets), 293 yds, 1 TD, long 43
KICKING Ricardo Bond (TXAM) — 2/3 FG, long 45 Noah Burnette (ND) — 2/2 FG, long 39
DEFENSE Texas A&M Notre Dame Total Tackles 69 54 Sacks 2.0 0.0 Interceptions 1 1 Forced Fumbles 0 0 QB Hits 2 0
What we learned: miami
A day after Notre Dame's 27 to 24 loss to Miami, the kind of season opener that leaves a program feeling both encouraged and deeply concerned at the same time, both reactions feel justified this morning.
The Positives
The biggest takeaway from Sunday night is that CJ Carr, making his first career start in one of the most hostile road environments in college football, did not look overwhelmed by the moment. He finished 19 of 30 for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and he made winning plays with his legs, including the touchdown run that tied the game at 24 with 3 minutes and 21 seconds left. For a first time starter walking into Hard Rock Stadium against a ranked opponent, that kind of poise matters more than the final scoreboard this morning.
The other genuine positive was the fourth quarter comeback itself. Down 21 to 7 entering the final period, Notre Dame scored 17 unanswered points before Miami's final field goal, a sign that this team, whatever its flaws, was not going to fold when things got difficult. Jordan Faison's touchdown catch and Noah Burnette's 39 yard field goal were exactly the kind of plays a team needs when facing a deficit on the road, and Carr's touchdown run to tie the game showed real composure under pressure.
There was real promise on defense once the second half started, too. The unit that looked passive and a step slow for most of the first two quarters came out of the locker room playing noticeably more physical and faster, closing throwing and running lanes that had been wide open earlier in the game. Leonard Moore was the clearest example of that shift. He was used all over the field rather than in one fixed spot, and his spot duty covering Miami's talented true freshman wide receiver on third down situations was a genuine standout, holding up in man coverage on multiple money down snaps that Miami's staff clearly expected to be more favorable matchups. If Notre Dame can find a way to start games playing with that same speed and physicality, this defense has a real foundation to build on.
The Negatives
The concerns are significant this morning. Notre Dame's defense allowed 339 total yards, including a 205 yard, 2 touchdown performance from Georgia transfer Carson Beck in his Miami debut, and could not get consistent pressure on a quarterback who was seeing a new system for the first time. The Irish also lost the time of possession battle badly, 33 minutes and 57 seconds to 26 minutes and 3 seconds, which meant Carr's offense was constantly playing from behind the sticks in terms of rest and rhythm.
The secondary play was spotty from the opening series and never fully settled. The clearest example came right before halftime, when Adon Shuler took a poor angle on Carson Beck's touchdown pass to C. Daniels, giving up the outside shoulder and allowing a catchable ball to turn into an untouched score that pushed Miami's lead to 14 to 7 heading into the locker room. Shuler was far from alone. Karson Hobbs struggled in coverage out of the nickel for most of the first half, repeatedly getting beaten on underneath routes that Beck and his receivers were able to convert into first downs and extend drives that should have ended sooner. Tackling in the open field was a problem for the entire unit in the first half as well, with multiple missed wraps allowing Miami skill players to turn short completions into chunk gains. To the defense's credit, the tackling did improve in the second half, and it was that improvement, along with the offense's response, that allowed Notre Dame to climb back into the game.
Some of the blame also belongs to the scheme itself. New defensive coordinator Chris Ash called a first half that felt far too conservative given the talent Miami had on the perimeter, sitting back in coverage shells that gave Beck easy reads rather than dialing up pressure to disrupt his first career start in the new offense. It was not until the second half, when Ash began mixing in more aggressive looks and getting the pass rush home more consistently, that the defense looked anything like the unit Notre Dame is expected to field.
Most costly of all were the two turnovers Notre Dame committed, including Carr's interception, in a game that came down to a single field goal. A team playing a true first time starter on the road against a ranked opponent cannot expect to overcome those kinds of mistakes and still come away with a win.
The offensive line's struggles up front were just as concerning, and they surfaced at the worst possible time. Reuben Bain and Akeem Mesidor spent the entire second half working over Notre Dame's tackles, and that pressure came to a head on the final drive, when Carr had a real chance to lead a game winning response and instead found himself under duress on nearly every dropback. Bain in particular beat his man off the edge repeatedly in that final sequence, forcing Carr into rushed throws and abandoning any rhythm the passing game had found earlier in the fourth quarter. A line that cannot hold up for even a handful of snaps when the game is on the line is not going to be good enough against the rest of this schedule.
Who Shined
CJ Carr was clearly the standout, given the circumstances of his first career start. Jordan Faison and Jeremiyah Love also made winning contributions, with Faison's touchdown catch and Love adding value in the passing game as an outlet for Carr under pressure.
Who Disappointed
Notre Dame's secondary is the unit that comes away from Miami with the most questions to answer this morning. Adon Shuler's poor angle on the C. Daniels touchdown right before halftime was the single most costly individual breakdown of the night, and Karson Hobbs' struggles at nickel throughout the first half made it far too easy for Beck to move the chains on third down. The tackling issues that plagued the entire back seven for a half, even though they cleaned up somewhat after the break, allowed Miami to turn ordinary completions into explosive plays. Add in a first half game plan from Chris Ash that looked passive rather than aggressive for a defense with this much talent, and allowing Carson Beck to go 20 of 30 for 205 yards and two touchdowns without recording a single sack is a poor sign one week before the Irish host Texas A&M. It is the first thing Marcus Freeman and his defensive staff will need to address this week.
Miami Holds Off Notre Dame 27-24 in CJ Carr's First Career Start
Notre Dame's season opened with heartbreak Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium, as Miami's Carson Beck-led Hurricanes escaped with a 27-24 win over the No. 6 Fighting Irish, sealed by a 47-yard Carson Davis field goal with 1:08 remaining.
The loss dropped Notre Dame to 0-1, but the story of the night was the debut of redshirt sophomore quarterback CJ Carr, who made his first career start in one of the toughest environments in college football and nearly rallied the Irish to an upset road win.
A Rocky Start, A Furious Finish
Notre Dame trailed 21-7 entering the fourth quarter after Miami controlled much of the game, riding two Beck touchdown passes and a five-yard touchdown run from Mark Fletcher Jr. The Irish struggled early to establish rhythm, leaning heavily on short screen passes rather than getting the ball to All-American running back Jeremiyah Love.
But Carr and the offense came alive in the final period. He found Jordan Faison for a touchdown to cut the deficit, then Noah Burnette connected on a 39-yard field goal to make it a one-score game. With the season on the line, Carr capped the comeback himself, scrambling in for a 7-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left to tie the game at 24-24.
It wasn't enough. Miami answered with a methodical drive, setting up Davis for the game-winning kick as time bled off the clock.
Carr finished his debut 19-of-30 passing for 221 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, adding the game-tying score on the ground. Miami's Beck, a Georgia transfer making his own Hurricanes debut, was efficient in the win, completing 20 of 30 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
Freeman on Carr: "His Ceiling Is So High"
Speaking to reporters after the game, head coach Marcus Freeman made clear he walked away encouraged by what he saw from his first-year starter, despite the result.
"He's going to be a really good quarterback," Freeman said of Carr. "Everything that I thought he was going to be."
Freeman pointed to Carr's growth as the game progressed, particularly in the fourth quarter when the Irish trusted him to push the ball downfield instead of relying on the short passing game that had defined the first three quarters.
"His ceiling is so high," Freeman continued. "He's going to have to learn to take this loss and not let it beat him up too much, because he's an ultra competitor."
The head coach also praised the mentality Carr showed under pressure in a hostile road environment against a ranked opponent.
"He's a gamer, man," Freeman said. "He performs when the lights are on. He prepares his tail off."
Freeman was also asked about Notre Dame's early offensive game plan, which leaned on a heavy dose of screens and RPOs before opening up in the second half.
"It was creating some easy throws, some easy decisions," Freeman explained. "Obviously some RPOs and hey, you can hand the ball off or, depending on what the defense does, pull it and throw it. We started to say later in the game, 'Stop reading it, hand the ball to J-[Jeremiyah] Love, and we need to establish this run game.'"
What's Next
Despite the disappointing start, Freeman struck a defiant tone in the locker room afterward, telling his team to stay unified as they turn the page. Notre Dame returned home to host No. 19 Texas A&M on September 13, looking to bounce back from the season-opening setback and begin building toward its College Football Playoff aspirations behind its first-year starting quarterback.
Box Score
MIAMI 27, NOTRE DAME 24 Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Fla.
SCORING BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 F Notre Dame 0 7 0 17 — 24 Miami 0 14 7 6 — 27
SCORING PLAYS Q2 14:11 — Beck 28-yd TD pass to M. Toney (Miami 6-0) Q2 14:03 — C. Davis PAT good (Miami 7-0) Q2 5:31 — Carr 7-yd TD pass to M. Gilbert (Miami 7-7) Q2 5:21 — N. Burnette PAT good (Miami 7-7) Q2 0:18 — Beck 20-yd TD pass to C. Daniels (Miami 13-7) Q2 0:12 — C. Davis PAT good (Miami 14-7) Q3 7:41 — C. Brown 5-yd TD run (Miami 21-7) Q3 7:23 — C. Davis PAT good (Miami 21-7) Q4 15:00 — Carr 1-yd TD pass to J. Faison (Miami 21-14) Q4 14:55 — N. Burnette PAT good (Miami 21-14) Q4 9:47 — C. Davis 38-yd FG (Miami 24-14) Q4 5:37 — N. Burnette 39-yd FG (Miami 24-17) Q4 3:27 — Carr 7-yd TD run (Miami 24-24) Q4 3:21 — N. Burnette PAT good (Miami 24-24) Q4 1:08 — C. Davis 47-yd FG (Miami 27-24, Final)
TEAM STATS Miami Notre Dame Total Yards 339 314 Passing Yards 205 221 Rushing Yards 134 93 First Downs 19 18 Penalties-Yards 6-51 5-30 Turnovers 0 2 Time of Possession 33:57 26:03
PASSING Carson Beck (MIA) — 20/30, 205 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT CJ Carr (ND) — 19/30, 221 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
RUSHING Miami — 38 att, 134 yds, 3.5 avg, 1 TD, long 18 Notre Dame — 28 att, 93 yds, 3.3 avg, 1 TD, long 30
RECEIVING Miami — 20 rec (30 targets), 205 yds, 2 TD, long 28 Notre Dame — 19 rec (29 targets), 221 yds, 2 TD, long 65
KICKING Carson Davis (MIA) — 2/2 FG, long 47 Noah Burnette (ND) — 1/1 FG, long 39
DEFENSE Miami Notre Dame Total Tackles 54 70 Sacks 3.0 1.0 Interceptions 1 0 Forced Fumbles 2 0 QB Hits 4 1
leonard moore lands on thorpe watchlist
Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore has been named to the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, an award given annually to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Leonard Moore was one of those underrated gems of the 2024 recruiting class that didn’t report until fall camp and quickly showed up in coverage situations. He continued to prepare for his moment that came before the Louisville game, when starting CB Christian Gray was a late scratch due to injury. When the Fighting Irish found out that All-American Benjamin Morrison would miss the remainder of the season due to injury, Moore took full advantage of the opportunity to establish himself as one of the best pass defenders in the country.
He followed it up with another seven-tackle performance, adding a tackle for a loss of 16 yards and two pass breakups at Georgia Tech. He compiled two-consecutive stops to force a turnover on the last drive of the first half, cementing an Irish lead.
Moore enters his true sophomore season already named to the watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Nagurski Trophy, as well as to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team. As a true freshman in 2024, he was named the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the Freshman All-America teams for FWAA, ESPN, The Athletic (First Team), Pro Football Focus, the College Football Network and the 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team.
In 2024, Moore started 10 games and totaled 48 tackles with two interceptions, 2.0 TFL, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry. In the first two starts of his career, he totaled seven tackles in each.
Moore had several moments for the Irish during multiple College Football Playoff wins in the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl and an appearance in the 2025 CFP National Title game. In the regular season finale at USC, he recorded five pass breakups, tied for the second-most in a single game by any FBS player in 2024, becoming the only freshman to achieve the feat.
drayk bowen, jaylen sneed make butkus watchlist
Junior linebackers Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed have earned selection to the 2025 Butkus Award Watch List, an award honoring the nation’s top linebacker. The Fighitng linebacker room is filled with talent and the aforementioned are seen as the best of the bunch heading into the season.
Notre Dame has a rich history of elite linebacker production on the college level, but only three Irish players have been to win the coveted postseason award : Manti Te’o (2012), Jaylon Smith (2015) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2020). Ohter great defenders have fallen short in their efforts including Michael Stonebreaker, who finished third in the voting in 1988 and 1990. Courtney Watson was one of three finalists for the award in 2002, and Smith was one of five finalists for the award in 2014.
Bowen is familiar with a version of the Butkus Award, as he won the high school version during his senior season. He is also a member of the Nagurski Trophy watch list, started all 16 games for the Irish in 2024 and totaled 78 tackles (40 solo), ranking third on the team. He led the team in forced fumbles with three on the season. Head coach Marcus Freeman was adamant this spring about Bowen’s development into a vocal leader on defense last season, and how he’s continued to grow in that area in the offseason.
Sneed had an amazing CFP performance highlighted by his pass rush pressure that led to Christian Gray’s late interception against Penn State to put the Fighting Irish in position to kick a game-winning field goal that propelled them to the a nation championship game berth. The rangy defender played in all 16 games for the Irish in 2024, starting six. He ranked sixth in total tackles on defense with 51, and ranked second in third down stops, also posting 6.0 TFL on the season and two forced fumbles.
Sneed was lauded by coaches this spring for his commitment to getting stronger in the weight room and improvements in his game during practices. His talent has always been undeniable, but there’s an excitement about his game going to the next level under new defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
Both linebackers played key roles on a 2024 Irish defense that was one of the most complete defenses in the country, ranking among the FBS’ top teams. At the end of the season, Notre Dame was first in pass efficiency defense (104.4), first in turnovers gained (33), first in defensive touchdowns (6), first in blocked kicks (6), second in fumbles recovered (14), second in blocked punts (3), fourth in passing yards allowed (169.4), fourth in scoring defense (15.5), fifth in passes intercepted (19) and 11th in total defense (307.4).
Nd set to begin fall camp: carr, minchey look to set the tone
Notre Dame begins fall camp on Thursday and there are several position battles that add intrigue to an already highly anticipated camp, because of the pending quarterback battle between CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. Both quarterbacks have garnered confidence from the staff during the spring that they’re ready to assume the responsibility of being the leader of Notre Dame’s evolving offense under 2nd year offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
1) Who can be the most consistent performer? That is job number one for the quarterbacks, perform on a consistent level. It's not so much about completion percentage as it is moving the offense. Who can lead the offense to points on a more consistent basis. Who can make the best decisions on the most consistent basis, which gets the ball to the playmakers.
CJ Carr showed the ability to do this at a higher level in the Blue & Gold game with Minchey missing a few easy opportunities.
2) Who can command the offense at the highest level? Commanding the offense refers to leadership and also who can handle the system the best. Who commands the most confidence and trust from the rest of the offense? Who can show the best grasp of the offense, which allows the quarterback to get the unit into good looks and out of bad ones? Leadership comes from setting a good example, but it also comes from earning the trust of your teammates that you can set them up for success.
Both quarterbacks have been in Mike Denbrock’s offense for two years and have a good handle of things. Consistency and decision making will be vitally important during fall camp. The spring saw both have moments of greatness, so the more consistent QB will have an advantage.
3) Who can limit the big mistakes? Turnovers are going to happen for all quarterbacks, and that's especially true for first-time starters. Both Minchey and Carr will turn the ball over in fall camp and the winner of the starting job will turn the ball over during the season. The two keys are keeping them to a level you can live with as an offense and also avoiding the really bad turnovers. The bad turnovers are the ones that come from panic, the ones that kill potential scoring drives, the ones that set up the opposition for easier scores and the ones that crush momentum in the biggest moments of the game. Big mistakes aren't just about turnovers, avoiding big mistakes also means not missing out on the opportunities to make big plays and clutch plays when they happen.
No one expects either quarterback to be perfect, and mistakes will be made. The response to those mistakes will be a bigger focus throughout camp.
There should be a natural order at the quarterback position in any program, and the same holds true with this situation. Kenny Minchey has been around and should be viewed as the lead guy in the race with the snaps shared evenly. Ultimately, this is going to come down to how Mike Denbrock views the offense evolving in the hands of both quarterbacks, and if one can show that they possess the skills to speed up that evolution, then they will separate themselves. This battle will set the tone for everything Mike Denbrock is looking to establish heading into the season.
Malik Zaire
Schrauth, Wagner ON Outland Trophy Watch List
Junior offensive linemen Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner have been selected to the 2025 Outland Trophy Watch List, which recognizes commitment to community service and leadership off the field.
The two Irish players are part of a group of 50 linemen on the watch list. Notre Dame has had three past winners of the Outland Trophy: OT George Connor (1946), OG Bill Fischer (1948) and DE Ross Browner (1976). THe Irish have had four additional finalists: Aaron Taylor (1993), Quenton Nelson (2017), Liam Eichenberg (2020) and Joe Alt (2023) according to the Notre Dame Athletic Department.
The Outland Trophy, which recognizes standout interior linemen, is celebrating its 80th season and this year's preseason list includes 16 offensive tackles, 15 guards, nine centers and 10 defensive tackles. It’s an impressive list of the best lineman in college football, and quite the honor to be included for the two Notre Dame stars.
ND's offensive line is expected to be one of the best units in the country after a bit of an inconsistent 2024 campaign due to injury and the need to play freshman at important positions along the line. The Fighting Irish are poised to make another deep run in the College Football Playoff and that could transition both players into finalists for the award. If Schrauth and Wagner play up to the Outland standard, they’ll both be in the mix to win the award.
Shaun M. Davis
drayk bowen, leonard moore on nagurski watchlist
Notre Dame defenders continue to receive admiration and buzz from the success of the Fighting Irish defense over the past three seasons. The latest recognition is courtesy of the Bronko Nagurski Award, which has linebacker Drayk Bowen and cornerback Leonard Moore on its preseason Watch List.
The Nagurski Trophy goes to the nation’s top all-around defensive player, and the award found it’s way to South Bend in 2023 when it went to Notre Dame star safety Xavier Watts. Bowen and Moore are the two returners getting the most preseason recognition as the Irish look to have another star win that honor.
Bowen excelled as a first-year starter in 2024 and he took control on the Mike linebacker position under now ex-defensive coordinator Al Golden, and became a vocal leader for the defense. He finished third on the Irish defense with 78 tackles while ranking 7th on the defense in snaps. By the end of the season Bowen was a clear leader of the Irish defense. He played his best football of the season during the final stretch, racking up 22 tackles in the final three playoff games, including 8 in both the Orange Bowl win over Penn State and 8 in the title game loss to Ohio State.
Bowen was listed as a preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
Moore is widely considered the best returning cornerback in college football and projects as a future first-round NFL draft pick. He was a star as a freshman earning Defensive Freshman of the Year honors from the Football Writers Association of America. He tallied 48 tackles, picked off two passes and broke up 11 more during his dynamic rookie season. Heading into his sophomore season, Moore is expected to be one of the top defenders in the nation, regardless of position.
Five Notre Dame opponents also made the Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Miami (Fla.) defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee, Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis, Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson and Boise State defensive Jayden Virgin-Morgan all made the list.
Shaun M. Davis
jeremiyah love on maxwell watch list
Today, Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love was named to the Maxwell Award watchlist. The Maxwell is awarded every year to the most outstanding player in college football; it recognizes superb play on the field and outstanding contributions to the game. Historically, this award is typically given to premier quarterbacks in the country, but last season, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty won the Maxwell after a stellar season. Jeanty was the first running back who won the award since Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015.
During the 2024 season, Love racked up 1,125 rushing yards, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, totaled 17 rushing touchdowns, 237 receiving yards and recorded two receiving touchdowns. The versatile back took advantage of being the primary ball-carrier for the first by quickly becoming one of the most dynamic and explosive players in the country after recording touchdown runs of 48, 64, 68, 76 and 98 yards. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Love at 100 percent in the post season due to an injury sustained in the last regular season game. Fortunately that didn’t stop him from rattling off a 98 yard touchdown run to open up the 2024 College Football Playoffs.
This season, Love returns to the Fighting Irish backfield and is expected to be a main focal point of the offense. Notre Dame returns an experienced offensive line and will be breaking in a first time starter under center for the first time since 2022. Love and the rest of new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider’s stable of ball carriers should take the pressure off a first time starter at quarterback earlier in the season.
Notre Dame has found success in receiving the prestigious award with six players winning the award since it’s origin with the most recent player being star linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012. Love has the opportunity to be the first Irish running back to win the award since John Lattner who won the Maxwell in back to back seasons in 1952 and 1953. Love has received a lot of preseason hype and is being coined as one of, if not the best, returning running back in the country and has been named to numerous preseason All-American teams. With renewed energy and the additions at wide receiver via the transfer portal, Love should have even more room to operate and should land on the finalist list during the season.
Nd looks for strong finish to ‘26 class with elijah golden on august 9th
The defensive line recruiting in the 2026 class has been stellar as the Fighting Irish secured commitments from the talented trio of Tiki Hola Bastrop (Texas) Bastrop, Rodney Dunham Charlotte (N.C) Myers Park, and Ebenezer Ewetade Garner (N.C.) South Garner. That early momentum hit a bit of a speed bump when Liberty Hill (Texas) Liberty defensive lineman Alister Vallejo recently chose Michigan over Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish immediately set their sights and energy on adding a familiar target in 6-4 275-pound four-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden of Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney to the class. The explosive defender has been to South Bend several times and returned for his official visit this past weekend, where he got a chance to experience new things.
“The visit was pretty good,” Golden told Irish Breakdown. “I always have a great time there. I was able to see the dorms! The apartments off- campus were nice, too. It was good to see more of South Bend.”
One of the three determining factors that the Florida prep star will be using is finding a place that feels like home. The visit went a long way to answer that for him and his family.
“I felt comfortable there,” Golden said. “I spent time with the recruits, coaches and current players, and we were just vibing. Spent time with Rodney (Dunham) and EB (Ebenezer Ewetade), and we talked about football a little bit, but we talked about life and other things most of the time.
“It was cool being around the current players too,” Golden continued. I had fun with those guys. I can see myself being at Notre Dame and playing there.”
As the visit came to an end, the versatile lineman reflected upon the fun experiences during his visits at Notre Dame and the transition to the more serious aspect of making a final decision. The remaining two factors will be development and coaching for Golden, and he’s aware of what the Fighting Irish offer in both departments, and beyond the football field.
“Notre Dame offers a lot on and off the field,” Golden shared. “I have a good relationship with coach (Al) Washington that’s grown over time, and we talked about life really. coach (Marcus) Freeman talked more about life and the things Notre Dame can do for you outside of football.
“I thought about it being the end of the fun,” Golden continued. “I remember the first time I got pulled out of class to meet Al Golden. Thinking about the camps, spring game, and visits. The fun is about to end and It’s about to get serious.”
The serious part now begins as the 185th nationally ranked player and his family take time before he begins to ramp up preparation for his senior season to sift through information, conversations and emotions from the long process that led to official visits to Virginia Tech, Oklahoma and Alabama before visiting South Bend. His future home will come from that group of finalists along with the Fighting Irish. More than likely, the decision will be made in the coming weeks with a targeted announcement on August 9th.
Momentum was heavily on the side of the Fighting Irish in the aftermath of his official visit, but as time approaches his announcement, the tea leaves are starting to read more like a photo finish. Golden has been diligent in researching the defensive systems of his four finalists along with inquiring about how each staff plans on developing and using him in their schemes. He’s not leaving any stone unturned.
“I’ve always liked Notre Dame,” Golden said. “I’m going to think about everything. All of the schools have good programs, and the visits were good. I’m doing my homework and when the time comes, I’ll feel good about my decision on August 9th.”
Shaun M. Davis
notre dame faces wake forest in 2027 duke’s mayo classic
Notre Dame will face Wake Forest in the 2027 Duke’s Mayo Classic, played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2027. The game is part of Notre Dame’s existing scheduling agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference and will be played as a neutral-site contest. The Irish hold a 6-0 record against the Demon Deacons, winning the last meeting 47-7 in 2023 at Notre Dame Stadium. The two programs have never played a neutral-site game against one another, with Notre Dame owning a 4-0 record against Wake Forest at home, and 2-0 record on the road.
“We are excited for another chance to play in an NFL stadium and against the Demon Deacons,” Notre Dame Deputy Athletics Director for Football Ron Powlus said. “The opportunity to showcase our two great institutions and football programs, while affording our football program and student-athletes an exciting and unique experience in the great city of Charlotte, is one we can’t wait to be a part of.”
The Fighting Irish have enjoyed success playing in NFL stadiums holding a 28-15 record when playing in them since 1980. Notre Dame leads all FBS teams in number of different NFL stadiums played since 2014 with 17. The next closest programs have 10. Since 2016, Notre Dame has played 19 games in NFL Stadiums: eight postseason matchups and 11 regular-season contests.
“We are thrilled to welcome Notre Dame and Wake Forest to Charlotte for what promises to be an unforgettable matchup at Bank of America Stadium,” Will Pitts, CEO of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, said. “This game is a testament to our city’s passion for college football and our continued commitment to hosting premier sporting events. We’re incredibly grateful to both universities for their partnership and to Duke’s Mayo for their unwavering support in making events like this possible.”
Notre Dame and Wake Forest have met six times in history, with the Irish holding a 6-0 advantage in the series. The first game was played in 2011, a game Notre Dame won at Wake Forest by a 24-17 score. Since that game, Notre Dame has won the other five matchups by at least 11 points. The most recent matchup was 2023, a game the Irish won 45-7 on Senior Day.
Notre Dame now has seven games scheduled for the 2027 season, and all now have dates that they will be played. Notre Dame currently has four games scheduled against an ACC opponent (Clemson, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech), two games against a Big Ten opponent (Purdue, Michigan State) and one game against an American opponent (Navy).
Shaun M. Davis
‘27 4-star qb teddy jarrard chooses notre dame
Four-star quarterback Teddy Jarrard committed to Notre Dame over finalists Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State. The talented 6-foot-3, 190-pound signal caller from Kennesaw (Ga) North Cobb, was one of just two quarterbacks offered by the Irish along with Peyton Houston from Shreveport, La. Both participated in the Rivals camp in Indianapolis and things seemed to crystalize for both in the aftermath. Jarrard chose the Irish from amongst other finalists Michigan, Clemson, Penn State, and Georgia, while most experts see Houston choosing between Texas, LSU and Oklahoma moving forward.
2027 4-STAR QB TEDDY JARRARD COMMITS TO NOTRE DAME
“Things began to become more clear,” Jarrard said. “There were a couple of schools standing out and then Notre Dame became the best choice, so I decided to make my decision before the season started.”
After an impressive performance at the Rivals camp, Jarrard jumped to No. 52 overall, and ranked as the 2nd quarterback nationally according to Rivals.
“I gained confidence,” Jarrard shared. “I know who I am as a quarterback. I make good, quick decisions and I have a quick release. My job is to win games. I’m excited to start recruiting other great players and get to a couple of games in the fall.”
Jarrard will now turn to leading his Warriors’ teammates to a deeper run in the Georgia state playoffs after a hot 11-0 start ended with disappointment. They began practicing early in the summer, but the excitement is at fever pitch with the squad going “full pads” starting next week.
“We’re going to be good,” Jarrard declared. “Health is going to be the key. If we can stay healthy, we’re going to be really good. We’ve been practicing, but we’re getting ready to go full pads.”
Jarrard is Notre Dame’s third commitment in the Class of 2027, following linebacker Ellis McGaskin (Mobile, Ala.) and long snapper Sean Kraft (Asheville, N.C.).
Shaun M. Davis
marcus freeman and jeremiyah love talk season, heisman buzz on espn
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and star running back Jeremiyah Love were guests across several show on the ESPN to discuss Notre Dame’s upcoming season, the disappointment of last season’s loss in the national championship game and pre-season buzz.
ESPN has Notre Dame ranked 7th in their pre-season poll and they’ll face the Miami Hurricanes to begin the season on August 31st. The Canes are ranked 21st in the same poll.
Jeremiyah Love was also a guest on College Football Live to discuss the upcoming season and his Heisman aspirations.
Love On The Offseason Attention
“I try to keep the noise just as noise,” Love stated. “I try not to pay attention to a lot of things people say. People’s opinions can change just like that; all that really matters at the end of the day is how I perform and how I see myself doing. When it comes to what other people say, I try not to pay attention. It’s nice to see here and there, but I don’t want to get a big head. I don’t want to come across as cocky or better than everybody. There’s still things I have to grow in. I’m still growing as a person and as a player. I try to keep all of that away from my head and be in my own head space. That’s what I try to do.”
Love On His 2025 Season Expectations
“This season I just want to be better than what I was last season,” Love explained. “I’m not going into this season thinking I have to win a National Championship or I have to win this award or that award. I just want to be better than I was last year; I want to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be. That’s how everybody on the team thinks. Everybody is not too busy focused on material things or individual glory.”
Shaun M. Davis
2027 4-star lb ellis mcgaskin commits to notre dame
Notre Dame is continuing to gain momentum on the recruiting trail, and it seems like that energy has been transferred over to the 2027 class as four-star 6-1 205-pound linebacker Ellis McGaskin of Mobile (Ala.) Williamson became the 2nd commitment of the 2027 class after choosing the Fighting Irish over schools like LSU, Auburn, Florida and Ohio State. His recruitment picked up steam after receiving an offer during the Pot of Gold, but his relationship with linebacker coach Max Bullough goes back to the spring of 2024 when a visit to his school laid the foundation of growing bond.
“Coach is a great guy,” McGaskin told Irish Breakdown. “The connection was there from the start. Getting the offer was a great feeling and he told me that they loved my play style and that I would be a perfect fit for them.”
The Alabama native was anxious to visit after receiving his offer and eventually made his way to South Bend on June 6th. He got an opportunity to experience coach Bullough and staff coaching style and bond with the staff including head coach Marcus Freeman. The visit was impactful in accelerating the talented backer’s affinity for the Notre Dame program.
“The visit was great,” McGaskin shared after his June visit. “There is no place like it. It’s something about the environment that’s different, and I haven’t seen anything like it. I enjoyed the coaching a lot. They coach the way I liked to be coached, and I can definitely see myself playing there.
“It was my first time really connecting with coach Freeman,” McGaskin continued. We talked about why Notre Dame is special and that they would like to have me there.”
His decision to make a commitment amid a flurry of 2026 pledges for the Fighting Irish may not have been the reason for McGaskin pulling the trigger, but it was hard to ignore, and he didn’t need any more time to think about it as he prepares for his junior season.
“It’s the place to be right now,” McGaskin shared. “It’s something I wanted to be a part of, and I’ve known for a while. It just felt like it was the place for me to be, and it honestly felt like home.
“They (Notre Dame) were always at the top,” McGaskin continued. “Coach Bullough made it known that I was his guy and that I was a priority.”
Now that his recruitment is a thing of the past, he turns his attention to improving as a leader and player after compiling an impressive 273 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles in his first two seasons.
“I’m ready to play,” McGaskin declared. “I want to perfect my craft and get better at being uncomfortable. My goals are to win a state championship and win Mr. Football.”
McGaskin ranks 78th nationally according to Rivals.
Shaun M. Davis