“Loyalty Over Hype: Notre Dame Running Back Reveals Powerful Reason for Staying Put Amid Swirling Transfer Rumors”
Notre Dame football carries with it one of the most iconic traditions in all of college sports—a gold helmet, a national following, and an expectation of greatness that never wanes. Year after year, the Fighting Irish find themselves under the harsh glare of the spotlight, measured not just by wins and losses, but by how closely they resemble the legends of old. As the 2025 season looms, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has weighed in with his own assessment, placing Notre Dame just behind college football’s top-tier programs. That positioning, according to Klatt, isn’t a slight—it’s a sign of how dangerously close the Irish are to cracking the sport’s most elite circle, and how the program has restructured itself in ways that demand national attention. His analysis offers a mix of optimism, critical insight, and pointed commentary on where Marcus Freeman and the Irish stand in today’s college football landscape.
Klatt’s national rankings and tier breakdowns are often conversation starters in the college football world, and his 2025 preseason analysis is no different. When Joel Klatt speaks on the state of a program, fans, analysts, and insiders pay attention—not because he panders, but because his evaluations are steeped in tape study, deep-dive analytics, and candid honesty. So when he placed Notre Dame just outside of the top-tier alongside programs like Georgia, Michigan, and Texas, it was a moment that stirred both pride and frustration among the Fighting Irish faithful. But digging into Klatt’s rationale paints a much clearer—and more encouraging—picture of where the team is heading.
Klatt’s argument begins with head coach Marcus Freeman. He praises Freeman’s impact on the program, calling him a “transformational figure” who has redefined Notre Dame’s recruiting strategy and locker room identity. Freeman’s youth, energy, and relatability have made waves in recruiting circles, and Klatt points to the last two recruiting classes as evidence that Notre Dame is building with a long-term vision. The 2024 and 2025 classes are loaded with blue-chip prospects, including skill-position players and trench monsters who can compete with the SEC’s best. Klatt emphasizes that Notre Dame is no longer just recruiting “Notre Dame guys”—they’re going after the same players as Alabama and Ohio State, and they’re winning some of those battles.
But recruiting alone doesn’t earn a spot in the top tier. Klatt points to quarterback play as a key separator. He mentions that Notre Dame’s inability to secure or develop an elite quarterback in recent years has limited the team’s ceiling. That’s not a unique observation, but it’s one that Klatt frames with urgency. He praises Riley Leonard’s arrival from Duke as a significant development. Leonard, known for his mobility, toughness, and leadership, gives the Irish their most promising signal-caller since Ian Book. Klatt notes that while Leonard might not be a Heisman contender out of the gate, he brings experience, stability, and upside—three things Notre Dame has sorely needed behind center.
Additionally, Klatt singles out offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, brought in from LSU, as a game-changing hire. Denbrock’s recent success developing quarterbacks and orchestrating explosive offenses could be the missing piece for an Irish program that’s often looked outdated in big games. Klatt highlights how Denbrock’s play-calling could unlock Notre Dame’s offensive weapons in a way fans haven’t seen in years. He mentions that Denbrock’s LSU offense was among the most dynamic in college football, and though Notre Dame doesn’t have a Jayden Daniels or Malik Nabers just yet, the building blocks are there—especially with returning talent like running back Jadarian Price, tight end Mitchell Evans, and wideout Jayden Thomas.
Klatt also delves into Notre Dame’s defense, which he describes as “fast, physical, and quietly elite.” While teams like Georgia and Michigan have earned their reputations with suffocating defenses, Klatt believes the Irish are not far off. He applauds defensive coordinator Al Golden for building a unit that plays with aggression and discipline, noting that Notre Dame’s secondary is among the most underrated in the country. With veterans returning in the back end and a fearsome pass-rushing duo up front, Klatt sees Notre Dame as a team that can win games in multiple ways—not just by outscoring opponents, but by grinding them down and forcing mistakes.
Yet, for all the praise Klatt dishes out, he makes it clear that there are still hurdles. Consistency is one of them. In his view, Notre Dame’s pattern of winning big games one week and faltering against lesser opponents the next has prevented them from reaching true elite status. Klatt recalls last season’s rollercoaster performances—dominant against USC, yet bafflingly inefficient against Louisville and Clemson. To make the jump, Klatt argues, Notre Dame must develop a championship mentality that shows up every week. It’s not about talent anymore—it’s about execution, focus, and killer instinct.
Another hurdle is schedule strength, and Klatt doesn’t mince words when talking about the gauntlet that awaits Notre Dame in 2025. Matchups against Texas A\&M, USC, and a resurgent Miami team could make or break their playoff hopes. But Klatt spins this challenge into an opportunity. If Notre Dame can run that gauntlet or even finish with one loss while looking the part of a top-tier team, they’ll not only be in the playoff discussion—they’ll be dangerous once they get there. He notes that in the new 12-team College Football Playoff era, the Irish no longer need to be perfect. They just need to be peaking at the right time, and they need to have a roster and identity built for January.
Klatt’s assessment also dives into cultural factors. He admires how Notre Dame has adapted to the new realities of college football—NIL, the transfer portal, and modern branding—without losing its core identity. He notes that Marcus Freeman has embraced NIL in a way that feels authentic, helping players maximize their value while still holding them accountable to the program’s standards. This balance, Klatt says, is what makes Notre Dame uniquely positioned for long-term success. They’re not trying to become something they’re not—they’re simply evolving to stay competitive, and that evolution is paying off.
Klatt’s breakdown resonates because it goes beyond clichés. He doesn’t just say Notre Dame is “close”—he tells you why. He doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges, but he sees the progress. For Notre Dame fans who’ve been waiting for the next leap—a playoff win, a national title appearance, a return to the top of the mountain—Klatt’s analysis is both a validation and a call to arms. The infrastructure is in place. The leadership is strong. The talent is rising. The only question is whether the Fighting Irish will seize the moment when it comes.
As the 2025 season approaches, expectations in South Bend are once again sky-high, and Klatt’s commentary only adds fuel to the fire. There’s a sense that this team, under Marcus Freeman, is about to turn a corner. Joel Klatt didn’t put Notre Dame in the top tier just yet—but he made it clear that they’re in the hallway, hands on the doorknob, ready to kick it down. And when they do, they won’t just join the elite—they’ll remind everyone why they belong.
In a sport that thrives on power shifts and storybook narratives, Notre Dame’s climb is one of the most compelling in college football. Joel Klatt has laid out the blueprint. Now it’s up to the Irish to follow it. With a loaded roster, an ascending coach, and a hunger that hasn’t been fed since the Lou Holtz era, the opportunity is real. The path is clear. And if Notre Dame answers the call, 2025 might finally be the year that glory returns to the Golden Dome—not just in theory, but in reality.
