Notre Dame aims to reclaim national championship glory in 2025 as Marcus Freeman starts his fifth season guiding the Fighting Irish.
After coming up just one win short of a title last year, Notre Dame enters 2025 with high expectations and sights set on returning to the College Football Playoff. Freeman is back for his fifth season, looking to push the program back into the national spotlight after a near-miss in the previous campaign.
Quarterback competition dominates the narrative with high stakes and high potential. Last year’s starter Riley Leonard is with the Indianapolis Colts, leaving a fresh but heated battle in South Bend. Redshirt freshman CJ Carr, a four-star recruit in the 2024 class, appears to lead the race for the starting job, but redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey, another four-star prospect from the 2023 cycle, isn’t going quietly. The winner will quickly have to adapt, as the schedule opens with two tough road tests before a challenging stretch.
Notre Dame’s offense hopes to lean on a dynamic backfield of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price to ease the transition at quarterback, while a stout defense that returns several key starters should help keep opponents in check during the early tests. The combination of a talented backfield and experienced defenders gives the Irish a solid foundation as they seek consistency at a crucial position.
The 2025 schedule sets up a demanding start. The Irish open with a road game at Miami, a top-10 foe, followed by a home clash with Texas A&M, ranked in the top 25. September also includes a meeting with Purdue. Beyond September, Notre Dame faces a slate that features Arkansas, Boise State, NC State, USC, and a mix of other regional and national tests. Some dates are listed as TBD, but the calendar emphasizes a return to primetime and high-profile matchups that will test the team’s depth and resilience.
Broadcasting and coverage remain strong for fans looking to catch every snap. Notre Dame’s football radio broadcasts can be heard locally on the South Bend flagship WSBT, 960 AM/96.1 FM. National listeners can tune in via SiriusXM. Tony Simeone returns as the play-by-play voice, joined by analyst Ryan Harris and studio host Johnny Sopher for a complete game-day experience.
Summary: Notre Dame enters 2025 with Esperance to reassert itself as a national player, led by a quarterback competition that will define the offense, a potent backfield, and a defense that can anchor a playoff push. With a challenging early slate and a mix of marquee games, the Irish have an opportunity to prove they belong among the sport’s elite and to chase the program’s first national title since 1988.
What to watch this season
– Quarterback decision: Can CJ Carr win the job early and stabilize the offense, or does Kenny Minchey push for a late-season surge?
– Offense vs. defense balance: How quickly the offense harmonizes with a new quarterback while the defense anchors the program.
– Early tests: The Miami and Texas A&M games will set the tone for the season and reveal how well the team handles pressure.
– Playoff trajectory: With a rigorous start and a big-pressure schedule, every win counts toward CP playoff contention.
Note: The article reflects Notre Dame’s publicly shared plans for 2025, including the quarterback competition, the presence of a strong backfield, and the defensive returnees, as well as the broadcasting arrangements and the initial slate of opponents.