Notre Dame’s CJ Carr has landed in elite company before the 2026 season even gets rolling.
The Athletic recently ranked all 138 FBS quarterbacks into seven tiers, and the Irish starter checked in as a Tier 1 quarterback, the highest level in the evaluation by Antonio Morales and Sam Khan Jr. Their definition of that group leaves little room for doubt: "The best of the best.
They have a strong combination of proven production and elite traits and are among the Heisman Trophy frontrunners. Coaches want to build their teams around them."
Carr’s rise into that category tracks with what showed up on the field in 2025. The redshirt sophomore flashed the kind of ceiling that can carry an offense, starting with a road comeback against Miami in the opener.
In that game, he threw for more yards, averaged more yards per attempt and accounted for more total touchdowns than Carson Beck. He followed that up with 293 passing yards and a touchdown in Notre Dame’s 41-40 home loss to Texas A&M.
Now the challenge gets bigger. With Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price gone, Carr is no longer just a promising piece of the offense - he’s the centerpiece. The Saline, Michigan native enters the season with plenty of attention on him, including preseason Heisman buzz and a reputation as one of the top returning quarterbacks in college football.
If 2025 was the preview, 2026 could be the breakout. Notre Dame is going to need Carr to be the driver, especially in the biggest games on October 17, November 7 and November 21. The Irish believe he can handle that load, and plenty of observers are already treating him like a quarterback built for the moment.
There are still areas to sharpen. His decision making, deep-ball accuracy outside the hash and leadership all have to take a step forward if Notre Dame is going to reach its ultimate goal and win a national title. But at 6-2, 215 pounds, Carr is already moving in that direction.
In Other News...
Ohio State Is Still Recruiting Like A National Title Contender
Eli Ledermans latest tiered look at the 2027 cycle puts Notre Dame right where it wants to be in the national recruiting conversation, among the programs still stacking elite talent while the class takes shape. Texas A&M sits atop the consensus board, but the Irish are grouped with the likes of Texas, Ohio State and Oregon, a reminder that the race for top-end talent is already being treated like a title chase.
For Notre Dame, the most encouraging part is how much of the class has come together lately. Fifteen of its 19 blue-chip commits have arrived since the beginning of March, giving the Irish a late-cycle surge that has helped them stay in the hunt with the sports heavyweights. The class has also built real depth in the trenches and on defense, with several key additions coming out of the Chicago area, even as the board still leaves room for more movement before signing day. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Defense Faces One Frustrating Year Two Question
Notre Dames defense spent last season trying to find its footing, and after a shaky opening stretch it eventually settled in and started looking much more like the unit the Irish expected. The early numbers were ugly enough to raise real concerns, but the back half of the year brought a clear turnaround as the group tightened up, played with more confidence and kept opposing offenses from piling up points the way they did in September.
Even so, the next step is less about survival than style. Under Chris Ash, the Irish have leaned more heavily into zone looks, and the question now is whether the secondary can be more disruptive within that framework instead of giving receivers too much space on crucial downs. Notre Dame also needs its front seven to play with a little more force in the moments that decide games, because last seasons improvement still left one frustrating issue hanging over the defense heading into year two. [Read more 🡒]