Notre Dame’s Offense Took a Big Step Forward in 2025 - But Consistency Is the Key to Unlocking Its Full Potential
Notre Dame’s offense in 2025 didn’t just evolve - it exploded. And for the first time in a while, it wasn’t just the run game doing the heavy lifting.
Sure, the Irish backfield delivered as expected. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price each had their moments, and freshman Aneyas Williams showed flashes of brilliance with a few long touchdown runs.
But the real story of this season? Redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr stepping into the spotlight and showing he can stretch the field with confidence and precision.
Carr’s emergence gave the Irish a true vertical threat, and the numbers back it up. Notre Dame finished the season ranked 4th nationally in plays of 30 yards or more and 9th in plays of 20 yards or more.
That’s not just explosive - that’s elite territory. The coaching staff defines explosive plays as 20+ yards through the air and 10+ yards on the ground, and by that metric, the Irish were one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
But as exciting as those highs were, there’s another side to this story: inconsistency. And that’s the hurdle Notre Dame will need to clear if it wants to return to the College Football Playoff in 2026.
A Season of Peaks and Valleys
Let’s break it down.
In the early part of the season - August and September - Notre Dame was humming. They racked up 30 plays of 20+ yards, good for 11th in the country during that stretch.
The offense was balanced, unpredictable, and explosive. But then came October, and the production dipped.
In just three games that month, the Irish managed only 18 plays of 20+ yards, dropping them to 22nd nationally in that category. That’s not a disaster, but it’s a noticeable drop-off.
Then came November - and the bounce back. Notre Dame closed the regular season with 28 plays of 20+ yards, the 6th-best mark in the country for that month. It was a reminder of what this offense is capable of when it’s clicking.
But these fluctuations aren’t just statistical quirks. They reflect a deeper issue: predictability. As the season wore on, defenses began to get a better read on what Notre Dame was trying to do - and when you’re trying to compete at the highest level, that margin for error can be the difference between a New Year’s Six bowl and sitting at home in December.
Air Attack: Carr’s Growth and the Vertical Game
Through the air, the Irish made real strides. They ended the season with 50 pass plays of 20+ yards, ranking 16th nationally.
That’s a massive jump from the 36 they logged in 2024 - and they did it in four fewer games. That’s the kind of leap that should have fans excited about CJ Carr’s future.
In the early going, the passing game was electric. Against Miami, Texas A&M, and Arkansas in August and September, Notre Dame logged 27 explosive pass plays, ranking 7th nationally during that window.
But October told a different story. Just 10 such plays in three games - against Boise State, NC State, and USC - dropped them to 59th in the country for the month.
Now, it’s worth noting that the Irish only played three games in October and five in November, so the per-game rate of explosive pass plays between those months was actually pretty similar. Still, the drop-off in raw production points to a need for more adaptability in the passing game.
Ground Game: Reliable, But Also Subject to Swings
The run game wasn’t immune to the midseason dip either. In August and September, Notre Dame posted 27 runs of 10+ yards - ranking 36th nationally.
October saw a slight dip to 22 such plays, but that was still good for 13th in the country. Then came a strong November finish: 31 explosive runs, ranking 10th nationally.
That’s a solid progression, but again, the inconsistency stands out. Some weeks, the ground attack looked like a well-oiled machine - like it did against USC. Other weeks, the game plan felt overly simplified, like against NC State, where the offense seemed to rely on just a handful of concepts.
The Path Forward: Creativity and Consistency
So, what’s the fix?
It starts with creativity. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has a talented roster at his disposal, but at times, the play calling lacked variety.
By midseason, defenses had started to key in on tendencies. Field receiver Jordan Faison was often isolated on deep comebacks and outs - and it became predictable.
Boundary receiver Malachi Fields was rarely moved around, which limited his impact and made it easier for defenses to scheme against him.
More pre-snap motion, post-snap misdirection, and diverse route combinations could go a long way in keeping defenses off balance. The pieces are there - now it’s about using them in more dynamic ways.
And then there’s consistency. The Irish don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
They’ve already shown they can be one of the most explosive offenses in college football. But if they want to take the next step - if they want to be back in the playoff mix in 2026 - they need to deliver that level of execution week in and week out.
Because this isn’t a rebuilding team. This is a program with the talent, coaching, and quarterback play to compete for a national title.
The foundation is strong. The flashes of brilliance are there.
Now it’s about stringing those moments together, game after game, month after month.
If they can do that, this Notre Dame offense won’t just be explosive - it’ll be unstoppable.