Notre Dame Names CJ Carr Starting Quarterback for 2025 Season
After months of speculation and one of the most closely watched position battles in college football, **Notre Dame has named sophomore CJ Carr its starting quarterback** for the 2025 season. Head coach Marcus Freeman confirmed the decision on Tuesday, choosing Carr over junior Kenny Minchey.
The announcement brings clarity to a competition that began in January, when the Irish walked off the field after their loss to Ohio State. Initially, three quarterbacks were in contention: Carr, Minchey, and Steve Angeli. By the end of spring, Angeli had fallen to third in the pecking order and opted to transfer to Syracuse — where he has since been named QB1.
Carr was viewed by many as the slight favorite coming out of spring practices, but reports out of fall camp suggested Minchey had pulled ahead. That led to weeks of uncertainty, but in the end, the Irish coaching staff went with Carr — the player most analysts expected to win the job from the outset.
This marks the **fifth consecutive season** Notre Dame has entered the year with a new starting quarterback. The program hasn’t had a returning full-season starter since Ian Book, who held the job through 2019 and 2020. In recent years, the Irish have leaned heavily on transfers under center; Carr’s promotion signals a return to developing homegrown talent.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli were closely involved in the evaluation process, and the staff is confident Carr is ready to lead.
While some fans may question the long and secretive nature of the competition, the decision underscores a broader transition in South Bend. As Freeman begins his fourth season in charge, Carr’s ascension represents a new era for Notre Dame football — one defined less by stopgap solutions and more by investing in young, high-upside players.
