The pursuit of a college football national championship is an arduous journey, fraught with unforeseen challenges and razor-thin margins. For the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who are widely projected to be a legitimate contender in 2025 after a 14-win season and a national title appearance in 2024, the path to ultimate glory is complicated by a unique set of circumstances, including some internal “changes” that, while intended for good, could inadvertently make their quest more difficult.
Under Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has undeniably made significant strides. His relentless recruiting, a newfound willingness to engage with the transfer portal (albeit with academic stipulations), and a palpable sense of renewed energy have transformed the program’s outlook. The recent physical gains reported across the roster further fuel the optimism for the upcoming season. However, even with all these positives, certain inherent “Notre Dame changes” or characteristics could prove to be formidable hurdles.
Perhaps the most glaring “change” that could impact Notre Dame’s 2025 national title hopes is the transition at starting quarterback. After Riley Leonard’s departure for the NFL, the Irish will likely turn to a new starter, with rising sophomore C.J. Carr and rising junior Kenny Minchey reportedly battling for the role. While both are talented, neither has extensive starting experience at the collegiate level.
- The Learning Curve: Even the most talented young quarterbacks face a steep learning curve. The speed of the game, reading complex defenses, making split-second decisions, and managing the pressure of a national championship contender are all immense challenges.
- Offensive Rhythm: A new quarterback often means a period of adjustment for the entire offense. Timing with receivers, developing chemistry with the offensive line, and getting comfortable with the play calls take time. In a playoff era where every game matters, early season stumbles can be costly.
- Lack of Tier 1 Continuity: As noted by some analysts, Notre Dame falls into a “Tier 2” for continuity, having a returning head coach (Freeman) and offensive coordinator (Mike Denbrock), but a new defensive coordinator (Chris Ash) and a new starting quarterback. This contrasts with “Tier 1” teams that return continuity in all four critical spots. This shift, particularly at quarterback, is a significant variable.
Marcus Freeman has shown a greater willingness to utilize the transfer portal than previous Notre Dame regimes. They’ve brought in impactful players like wide receiver Beaux Collins (from Clemson), defensive tackle R.J. Oben (from Duke), and nickelback DeVonta Smith (from Alabama), among others, for the 2025 season. However, Notre Dame’s rigorous academic standards, which are a point of pride, also create a unique challenge in the portal era.
- Undergraduate Transfer Limitations: Unlike many other major programs, Notre Dame has historically made it more difficult for undergraduate transfers, particularly those who haven’t completed a certain number of credits or courses that align with Notre Dame’s curriculum. This can restrict their access to a larger pool of immediate impact players, especially sophomores and juniors who might be looking for a new home. While they’ve made some inroads, the process remains more selective.
- “Top-Up” Talent vs. Roster Overhaul: Many successful programs in the NIL and transfer portal era have effectively “bought” and retooled entire position groups or even full rosters through the portal. While Notre Dame has used the portal strategically to “top up” specific needs (like wide receiver, defensive line, and secondary), they are not engaging in the wholesale roster overhauls seen at some other schools. This commitment to developing homegrown talent, while admirable, might leave them at a slight disadvantage against teams that can instantly plug and play multiple elite transfers at any given time.
- NIL Competition: While Notre Dame has developed its NIL collectives (like “4 For Forever”), they are generally perceived to be more focused on community service and academic alignment rather than direct “pay-for-play” inducements. In a landscape where some programs are reportedly offering millions for top portal quarterbacks or defensive linemen, Notre Dame’s approach, while ethical, could limit their ability to land certain “rental” players who prioritize immediate financial gain over the full Notre Dame experience.
Notre Dame’s fierce dedication to its independent status, while deeply ingrained in its identity, presents a unique set of challenges in the rapidly evolving landscape of college football, especially with the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP).
- Strength of Schedule Scrutiny: While Notre Dame’s 2025 schedule is undoubtedly challenging (featuring road games at Miami, and home games against Texas A&M, USC, and a playoff-contending Boise State), maintaining a consistent strength of schedule without conference affiliation can be a tightrope walk. In the 12-team CFP era, a single bad loss or a perceived “weak” opponent could still impact their seeding or even inclusion, especially if other one-loss Power Four champions exist.
- No Conference Championship Game Boost: Every other major contender benefits from playing a high-stakes conference championship game. This provides an additional opportunity for a marquee win, a chance to impress the committee, and often, a boost in strength of schedule. Notre Dame lacks this crucial opportunity. While their 2024 national title appearance shows they can overcome this, it remains a unique hurdle.
- Scheduling Pressure: As conferences grow and consolidate, finding quality opponents who are willing to play independent Notre Dame becomes increasingly complex. This could potentially lead to a less optimal schedule in future years, reducing their margin for error.
While Marcus Freeman remains as head coach, the change at defensive coordinator from Al Golden to Chris Ash is another significant transition.1
- Scheme Adaptation: While the core defensive philosophy may remain similar, a new coordinator always brings subtle changes to scheme, terminology, and play-calling tendencies. Players, especially new transfers or younger contributors, will need time to fully adapt.
- Building Rapport: The relationship between a defensive coordinator and his players is crucial. Ash will need to quickly build rapport and trust with his unit to ensure they execute at the highest level, particularly in high-pressure situations.
The 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish enter the season with legitimate national championship aspirations, backed by a strong recruiting class (including a potentially historic 2026 class), visible offseason gains, and a deeply committed coaching staff led by Marcus Freeman.2 The experience of making the national title game in 2024 will also undoubtedly serve them well.
However, the “changes” outlined – particularly the transition at quarterback, the unique challenges of the transfer portal under Notre Dame’s academic model, and the inherent complexities of maintaining independence in a rapidly shifting landscape – present significant hurdles. These aren’t necessarily weaknesses, but rather built-in complexities that other top programs may not face to the same degree.
For the Irish to truly contend for and win a national championship in 2025, they will need their new quarterback to acclimate quickly, their strategic use of the transfer portal to pay immediate dividends, and their strong culture to overcome the unique pressures of their independent schedule. The talent is there, the coaching is motivated, and the “Choose Hard” mentality is ingrained. But navigating these specific “Notre Dame changes” will be the ultimate test of their championship mettle.
