The buzz around CJ Carr keeps getting louder, and CBS Sports has only added fuel to it. In a new ranking of college football’s top quarterback rooms, Notre Dame landed on the list - but just barely, coming in at No. 10.
That placement says plenty about how highly CBS Sports views Carr. It also points to the one clear issue hanging over the Irish quarterback situation: if Carr goes down, the depth chart gets shaky fast.
Blake Brockermeyer’s writeup made Carr the centerpiece. “CJ Carr made a major jump last season after a difficult two-game start to his career against Miami and Texas A&M,” Brockermeyer wrote about the Notre Dame star.
He didn’t stop there. “Carr looks like a future NFL starter.
He showed the ability to hit all areas of the field and threw only six interceptions all season. Now he will have a tough decision to make after the year: return for another season or leave for the NFL.”
The concern for Notre Dame comes from what sits behind him. Blake Herbert and Noah Grubbs are both highly regarded freshmen, but they have no game experience.
Brockermeyer said, “Behind him, Blake Herbert and Noah Grubbs are talented and highly sought-after freshmen with no experience. Both would benefit if Carr decides to return in 2027, giving them another season to develop.
Still, both should expect to play some this season, especially because Notre Dame's schedule should include multiple blowout opportunities.”
That’s why Notre Dame checks in so low despite the strength at the top. The Irish are being punished less for Carr and more for the untested backups waiting in reserve.
At the top of the list, Oregon claimed No. 1, largely on the strength of starter Dante Moore, with former Nebraska Cornhusker starting QB Dylan Raiola giving the Ducks a major boost behind him. Texas came in at No. 2, led by Arch Manning and backed by veteran quarterback MJ Morris.
The rest of CBS Sports’ top 10 quarterback rooms went like this: Utah at No. 3, Ole Miss at No.
4, Ohio State at No. 5, LSU at No.
6, USC at No. 7, Miami at No.
8, Houston at No. 9, and Notre Dame rounding out the list at No. 10.
In Other News...
Notre Dames Summer OL Riser Is Forcing A Real Fall Debate
Matty Augustine has spent the summer turning a quiet developmental track into something Notre Dame has to pay attention to. The redshirt freshman offensive lineman was already on the radar after holding his own in limited snaps last season, and his spring work at right tackle only strengthened the sense that he is not just filling a camp body role. With offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock noting that Augustine is in the mix for one of the five starting jobs, the Irish suddenly have a legitimate young lineman adding pressure to an already competitive room.
The bigger question now is where that path actually leads. Augustines best route to the field may not be at tackle if those spots stay largely spoken for, which makes the interior worth watching as fall approaches. He has earned the kind of consideration that can force a real conversation, and Notre Dame still has to sort out whether his growth turns into a clearer role when the lineup decisions get real. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Most Important Transfer Isnt The One Fans Expected
Micah Shrewsberrys fourth season at Notre Dame comes with the usual pressure attached to a program still searching for traction, but the offseason churn did not leave the Irish empty-handed. They held onto important pieces like Braeden Shrewsberry and Brady Koehler, added four-star recruit Jonathan Sanderson, and also brought in a transfer who looks positioned to matter more than the headline-grabbing names around him.
That player is Braeden Smith, a 6-foot point guard from Seattle who gives Notre Dame a veteran option in the backcourt and a needed dose of scoring and leadership. His path has already included a strong run at Colgate before a quieter stop at Gonzaga, and for a team that watched Markus Burton, Cole Certa, and Jalen Haralson leave through the portal, Smiths role could end up being central to how far this roster can go. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame May Finally Have Its Freeman-Era Title Edge
For all the turnover that usually comes with a new era, Notre Dame heads into 2026 with a rare kind of stability where it matters most. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy pointed to the combination of continuity at quarterback and offensive coordinator as a major reason the Irish look like a real national title threat, with CJ Carr back as the starter and Mike Denbrock still steering the offense.
McElroy also framed the defense as a major part of the equation, noting the kind of experience Notre Dame is bringing back on that side of the ball, with Leonard Moore among the names setting the tone. Just as important, the Irish still have the memory of being on the outside looking in a year ago despite a strong close, and that kind of unresolved finish can be a powerful edge once preseason arrives. [Read more 🡒]