Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love endured a brutal championship game, gaining just three yards on four carries.
With him seeking redemption, can his potential Heisman Trophy candidacy coincide with the Irish making the College Football Playoff?
Predicting Notre Dame’s 2025 Season
Love and head coach Marcus Freeman understand the importance of setting the tone early. The team will be tested right away against both Miami and Texas A&M. But despite the early tests, the Irish will make the CFP with a higher seed, winning 11 regular season games. Love finishes in the top four in Heisman voting, center Pat Coogan returns to anchor a line that paved the way for 200.9 yards per game, while Steve Angeli and C.J. Carr will battle for the starting quarterback spot.
2025 Notre Dame Football Schedule
Aug. 31: at Miami
Sept. 13: Texas A&M
Sept. 20: Purdue
Sept. 27: at Arkansas
Oct. 4: Boise State
Oct. 11: NC State
Oct. 18: USC
Nov. 1: at Boston College
Nov. 8: Navy
Nov. 15: at Pitt
Nov. 22: Syracuse
Nov. 29: at Stanford
The Irish start off with their feet firmly into the fire. They’ll head to Miami and face Carson Beck, who looks to improve his draft stock on the back of your defense. After that, they welcome Mike Elko and Texas A&M to South Bend, who spent the entire offseason shoring up the defensive line. Comparatively, after TAMU, it looks like smooth sailing for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, for Love, the only two returning defenses in the Top 25 are Pitt (19th) and Boston College (22nd). The battle at quarterback means that Notre Dame will heavily rely on the run as they aim to collect ten wins for the eighth time since 2015.
KEEP READING: CFB Insider Makes His Pick for Notre Dame QB1 Job in 2025
Expert Picks for Notre Dame’s Season
In the eyes of the experts, where will Notre Dame end up?
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic made the case for a continuation of 2025, stating:
“The Irish shouldn’t fall far, with either Steve Angeli or touted redshirt freshman CJ Carr taking over at quarterback for Riley Leonard. The defense loses a bunch of key veterans, but first- and second-year players such as Moore, Shuler, defensive end Bryce Young and linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa are poised to take over. The schedule is not light: Notre Dame opens at Miami, hosts Texas A&M the following week and visits Arkansas before the end of September.”
The official NCAA website also holds the 2025 Fighting Irish in high regard:
“Running back Jeremiyah Love will enter the year as the top running back in the country and Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse emerged as weapons on the outside during Notre Dame’s playoff run. The offensive line will be experienced with Charles Jagusah, and Anthonie Knapp as possibly the top tackle tandem in the nation if healthy.”
Athlon‘s Steve Lasson sees the defense being the one to stand up and guide the team back to the CFP, writing:
“Also, the receiving corps will get a boost with the continued development of Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison after a strong playoff run, as well as the arrival of transfers Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and Malachi Fields (Virginia). Defensive coordinator Al Golden (if he remains in South Bend after NFL overtures) must replace key seniors at every level, including Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills up front.”
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