Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr has earned reverence from teammates and coaches for his football intelligence and leadership. Through eight games, Carr ranks No. 8 nationally in QBR with 18 touchdown passes, one interception and 66.7% completions. He has 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions since the start of the 2025 season. Still, the Irish need a supporting cast of lesser-known players to help them reach the College Football Playoff and win their first national title since 1988.
Carr's top target, Jordan Faison, originally came to Notre Dame to play lacrosse before earning a football scholarship and becoming the team's leading receiver and a captain. The running back room replaces two NFL first-round draft picks with an inexperienced rotation, while the tight end group has produced seven NFL draft picks since 2018 but no player with more than six receptions this season.
Beyond Carr, Notre Dame's headliners are mostly on defense, including All-America cornerback Leonard Moore and pass rusher Boubacar Traore. No. 4 Notre Dame hosts top-ranked Miami on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The Irish offense must elevate against Miami's nation-leading 47.6 points per game to keep playoff hopes alive.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing