Notre Dame’s 2025 Turnaround: From 0-2 to College Football Contenders
Not all losses carry the same weight in college football. A stumble in Week 1?
That can be forgiven. A misstep in November?
That’s a different story. Timing is everything when it comes to the College Football Playoff picture, and Notre Dame is proving just how much a season can shift when a team finds its rhythm at the right time.
The Fighting Irish opened their 2025 campaign with back-to-back losses, a start that had many questioning whether Marcus Freeman’s squad was headed for a step back. But since then, Notre Dame has ripped off 10 straight wins, surging back into national relevance and positioning itself firmly in the postseason conversation.
Let’s take a closer look at how those early defeats unfolded-and how they’ve helped shape one of the most compelling comeback stories of the season.
A Brutal Start: Miami and Texas A&M Deliver Early Blows
Notre Dame’s independence gives it a unique scheduling freedom, and in 2025, that meant a challenging slate with no FCS opponents and just two games against non-Power 4 teams. The Irish played six ACC opponents and six non-conference matchups, starting the year with a pair of heavyweight bouts.
Week 1: At Miami
The season opener reignited the historic “Catholics vs.
Convicts” rivalry, and Miami came out swinging. The Hurricanes struck first and never trailed, though Notre Dame managed to claw its way back late in the game.
Quarterback CJ Carr tied things up at 24 with a gutsy seven-yard touchdown run with just over three minutes to go.
But Miami wasn’t done. The Hurricanes responded with a methodical 2:17 drive, capped by a clutch 47-yard field goal from Carter Davis with 1:04 remaining.
Notre Dame’s final possession was a nightmare: an incompletion, a short completion, and back-to-back sacks. A false start with five seconds left led to a 10-second runoff, ending the game in frustrating fashion.
Week 2: vs. Texas A&M
After a bye week to regroup, the Irish returned home to face Texas A&M-and it looked early like they were ready to bounce back. A blocked punt returned for a touchdown helped Notre Dame jump out to a 17-7 lead, but the Aggies didn’t blink.
The game turned into a back-and-forth battle that went right down to the wire.
With under three minutes to play, running back Jeremiyah Love punched in a 12-yard touchdown to give the Irish a six-point edge. Freeman went for two to try and make it a full touchdown lead-but the conversion failed.
That left the door open, and Texas A&M marched down the field. Quarterback Marcel Reed hit Nate Boerkircher for an 11-yard touchdown with just 13 seconds left, and kicker Randy Bond sealed the deal with the extra point.
A heartbreaker in South Bend. Notre Dame was 0-2.
The Bounce Back: 10 Straight Wins and a Statement of Intent
After the Texas A&M loss, Notre Dame didn’t just get better-they flipped the switch. The Irish rattled off 10 straight victories, dominating opponents on both sides of the ball and reasserting themselves as a national force.
Here’s how the turnaround unfolded:
- Sept. 20 vs. Purdue - A 56-30 offensive explosion got the Irish in the win column.
- Sept. 27 at Arkansas - Another 50-burger, this time on the road, with a 56-13 statement win.
- **Oct. 4 vs.
Boise State** - A 28-7 win showed the defense was starting to settle in.
- **Oct. 11 vs.
NC State** - The Irish controlled this one from the jump, cruising to a 36-7 victory.
- **Oct. 18 vs.
USC** - In one of the season’s marquee matchups, Notre Dame took down the Trojans 34-24, a win that turned heads across the country.
- Nov. 1 at Boston College - A 25-10 road win kept the momentum rolling.
- Nov. 8 vs. Navy - The Irish dominated the Midshipmen 49-10, showing no signs of slowing down.
- Nov. 15 at Pittsburgh - A 37-15 win highlighted their growing consistency.
- **Nov. 22 vs.
Syracuse** - A 70-7 demolition job sent a clear message: Notre Dame was locked in.
- Nov. 29 at Stanford - The regular-season finale was another convincing win, 49-20, capping off the comeback.
Looking Ahead: A Team That Refused to Fold
It’s one thing to win games. It’s another to respond to adversity the way Notre Dame has.
After a gut-wrenching 0-2 start, the Irish didn’t unravel-they recalibrated. CJ Carr has grown into the role under center, the defense has tightened up, and Marcus Freeman’s squad is playing with the kind of confidence that only comes from weathering the storm.
The College Football Playoff committee always says it values how teams finish the season. If that’s true, Notre Dame has made its case loud and clear.
This team didn’t just recover-they evolved. And now, with 10 straight wins and a head of steam, the Irish are charging into the postseason picture with purpose.