Notre Dame’s CJ Carr Must Conquer Two Major Challenges Immediately as Freshman Quarterback With High Expectations and Heavy Pressure
For most true freshmen, college football begins with learning the playbook, adjusting to the speed of the game, and acclimating to campus life. For Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, it begins with pressure, spotlight, and two brutal conflicts that will define the early part of his career before he ever takes a meaningful snap. Carr, the highly-touted five-star recruit and grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, didn’t come to South Bend to sit quietly or ease into the moment. He arrived with expectations to be the face of the Fighting Irish and potentially the player who can finally elevate Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff and beyond. But standing in his way immediately are two towering conflicts—an intense quarterback battle within his own locker room and a brutal season-opening road clash against Miami that offers no margin for error.
The first conflict Carr must navigate is internal—the competition for Notre Dame’s starting quarterback job. While Carr entered spring ball and summer workouts as the most hyped quarterback prospect to commit to Notre Dame in nearly a decade, he is by no means guaranteed the starting role. Sophomore Kenny Minchey and junior Steve Angeli both have experience in the system and have earned trust in the locker room. Angeli in particular is viewed as the “safe choice”—a steady, mistake-free signal caller who understands the offense and doesn’t get rattled. Minchey, on the other hand, is a dynamic playmaker with a strong arm and good athleticism but has shown inconsistency.
Carr’s challenge is proving he not only possesses superior talent, but also the poise, leadership, and decision-making that the staff can trust in high-leverage situations. And that’s easier said than done. Head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Gerad Parker are under pressure to deliver results now. The 2025 schedule is unforgiving, and the Irish can’t afford to “develop on the fly” if it costs them key games in September. So for Carr to win the job, he must demonstrate quickly that his ceiling outweighs the growing pains of youth. That means commanding the huddle, building chemistry with veterans, showing pocket presence under pressure, and protecting the football in high-speed live situations.
This kind of pressure would be immense for a seasoned college quarterback, let alone a teenager still adjusting to the demands of Division I football. And yet, Carr’s presence alone has already shifted the dynamics of the program. Teammates and coaches talk openly about his maturity, his football IQ, and his ability to elevate others. He’s been praised for how quickly he’s learned the playbook and how comfortable he looks going through progressions. But practice and 7-on-7 drills are not the same as standing in front of 80,000 screaming fans, trying to read a blitz on 3rd-and-9 with playoff hopes hanging in the balance.
Carr’s ability to win the locker room will matter just as much as winning reps in practice. Veteran teammates want a leader they can rally behind, not just a name with recruiting stars attached. He must walk the line between confidence and humility, assertiveness and respect. If he can lead authentically and perform consistently, he may emerge from this battle not just as the starter, but as the heartbeat of Notre Dame’s offense for the next three seasons.
But even if Carr does win the starting job, he will have no time to ease into it. The second conflict is external—his likely first career start will come against the Miami Hurricanes in South Florida, a season-opening blockbuster that revives one of the most storied rivalries in college football. This isn’t a tune-up game. It’s a prime-time national showcase against a fast, physical defense and an aggressive crowd desperate to see Notre Dame fall. The Hurricanes are coming off a strong 2024 season, returning a veteran-led defensive unit and one of the best pass-rushing groups in the ACC.
If Carr starts that game, he will face immediate pressure—literally and figuratively. Miami’s defense thrives on disguising coverages, bringing heat from the edges, and forcing quarterbacks into hurried throws. Even experienced QBs struggle to keep their composure under that kind of duress. For Carr, the challenge will be even more complex. He’ll need to make protection calls, read defensive shifts pre-snap, identify blitz pickups, and deliver the ball accurately under fire—all while managing the nerves and adrenaline of his collegiate debut.
The potential for a rough outing is real, and critics will be quick to pounce if he struggles. A few turnovers or stalled drives early on could have ripple effects—not just on the game itself, but on his confidence and the team’s overall momentum to start the season. On the flip side, if Carr handles the moment and leads Notre Dame to victory in that environment, it could be a career-launching moment. It would establish him immediately as a star and validate the staff’s decision to trust a true freshman from the jump.
Notre Dame’s coaching staff will need to be smart in how they manage Carr’s debut. The game plan should simplify reads, lean on the running game, and allow Carr to make quick, confidence-building throws early. The Irish have a deep offensive line and two explosive backs in Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love. Using play-action, screen passes, and RPOs can help settle Carr in while keeping Miami’s defense off balance. The defense, expected to be one of the best in the country, will also need to do its part—creating short fields, forcing turnovers, and minimizing the pressure placed on the offense to win a shootout.
But no matter how well Carr is supported, there’s no way to fully shield a quarterback from the demands of the position—especially not at Notre Dame, where scrutiny is relentless and expectations are sky-high. Carr is expected to be the next great Irish quarterback, the one who finally pushes the program beyond the glass ceiling that’s held them out of serious national title contention for years. And that expectation brings its own weight. Every throw, every mistake, every win or loss will be dissected in the media, on message boards, and among a passionate fan base that’s grown tired of “almost” seasons.
How Carr handles that scrutiny may be his most important challenge of all. The modern college football environment—driven by NIL, media attention, and constant analysis—can overwhelm young players who aren’t mentally prepared. But Carr has shown a rare level of focus and calm. He was groomed from an early age for this moment, not just because of his family lineage but because of how he approaches the game. He studies relentlessly, embraces coaching, and carries himself with the quiet authority of someone who knows what’s expected.
The path ahead is undoubtedly difficult. Few true freshmen face such a steep initial climb: a heated quarterback competition against more experienced players and a season opener against a top-15 team in one of the loudest environments in the sport. But Carr didn’t choose Notre Dame because it was easy. He chose it because of what it represents—the tradition, the challenge, and the opportunity to do something truly special.
And that’s the reality Carr now lives in. There’s no easing into the spotlight. There’s no ramp-up period or grace window. The moment is here. The pressure is real. But so is the opportunity.
If Carr can emerge from these two immediate conflicts with poise and success, the road ahead becomes infinitely more promising. He would gain not just the starting job, but the unwavering belief of his teammates, the respect of the fanbase, and the chance to etch his name into the long, illustrious history of Notre Dame quarterbacks. But to do that, he must first conquer two of the toughest challenges any freshman has faced in recent Notre Dame history—and do it under the brightest lights imaginable.
The Irish are betting big on CJ Carr’s future. Whether that future begins with triumph or turbulence will be determined not in theory or potential, but in live action, where legends are made—or broken. Either way, the journey begins now.
