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ESPN Predicts Notre Dame's Starting Quarterback For 2025

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Jan 14, 2025 11:37 AM ET

The Fighting Irish have yet to put a bow on their potential national championship-winning season but it's never too early to look ahead in the world of college football.

Six days from now, Notre Dame will kickoff against Ohio State in the final game of the CFP. And with Riley Leonard off to the NFL after exhausting his NCAA eligibility, ESPN has decided to assess who Marcus Freeman's QB1 will be in 2025.

In an exclusive piece published to the network's site on Tuesday, multiple members of the ESPN staff collaborated to predict the starting quarterbacks for every Power 4 team next season — highlighted by the Irish — and it sounds like they already have Riley's replacement in-house.

From Arch Manning to five-star freshmen

Predicting 68 starting quarterbacks for 2025 on ESPN+ https://t.co/AXlOPoTCft
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 14, 2025

Writes the Worldwide Leader:

2025 starter: CJ Carr, redshirt freshman

Notre Dame's situation could go in a lot of different ways, but if Carr is healthy, he should get a chance to end the team's run of transfers and lead the offense for multiple seasons. Carr looked like the team's most talented quarterback in April's spring game, and the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr came to Notre Dame as ESPN's No. 2 pocket passer and No. 36 overall recruit in the 2024 class. Although backup Steve Angeli has waited patiently and been effective when given opportunities, Carr is seen as having a higher talent ceiling. The question is whether Carr's throwing elbow injury, which surfaced during practice in September, is fully healed.

Carr should face some stiff competition from veteran backup Steve Angeli, who stepped in for Leonard in the Playoff semifinal after Riley was forced to leave for a few plays to be evaluated for a concussion.

The junior QB completed six of his seven pass attempts for 44 yards in his brief stint but also saw action against Purdue, Miami (OH), Stanford, Navy, Florida State and Army earlier in the year.

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 21: Notre Dame Fighting Irish QB CJ Carr (12) warms up prior to a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami RedHawks on September 21, 2024 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

It's still possible Notre Dame goes the transfer route if Carr isn't fully healed up. With ESPN wondering: "Could the Irish take a big swing at someone like Quinn Ewers?"

Who do you think will lead the Irish's offense in their (possible) title defense?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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