Notre Dame’s season opener against Miami ended in frustration, with the Irish falling 27–24 in a game that exposed more questions than answers on offense. In the aftermath, Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back in pointing out what stood out most to him.
Cowherd stressed that Miami’s front gave Carson Beck a clean pocket throughout the night. Notre Dame rarely created pressure, which allowed Beck to look comfortable as he spread the ball around and managed the game with efficiency.
That protection was the difference, and Cowherd suggested it showed the gap between a playoff-ready roster and one still developing. In a recent episode of The Colin Cowherd Podcast, he said:
“I mean, Notre Dame got no pass rush, and so Carson Beck, who I don’t really love as a prospect, but he’s certainly good enough to get you to a playoff and win playoff games in college football. He’s a way above-average college quarterback.” (11:10)
On the other side, CJ Carr found himself in a tough spot. Thrown into a high-stakes road environment, Carr flashed potential but was asked to do too much. He finished with 221 passing yards and two touchdowns, but inconsistency and shaky pass protection slowed the Irish down when it mattered most.
Cowherd emphasized that the situation was a heavy ask for a player still adjusting to the speed and physicality of college football. What really caught Cowherd’s attention, though, was Notre Dame’s distribution on offense. Running back Jeremiyah Love had been effective when given chances, but the workload leaned heavily toward Carr’s arm.
Notre Dame’s CJ Carr Shared His Thoughts After the Loss
The loss wasn’t about effort. Notre Dame fought back to tie the game late, only to watch Miami reclaim control. With a 17-point fourth quarter, they did everything they could, but just couldn’t get past the Miami onslaught.
“I need to continue to get a better feel for what our offense needs in the moment,” Carr said after losing his debut. “A lot of times it’s going to be Jeremiyah Love. On the (fourth quarter) pick, I should have just given him the ball specifically. It cost us a big play.”
Coach Marcus Freeman said that Carr did his part very well. He was following everything that he was told. However, there were other aspects of the game that the Fighting Irish could’ve covered better.
“We have to block better on the perimeter. The one interception, you can’t have. But there’s times we have to take away the read and say, ‘Just hand the ball to your running backs,’ and he’ll do that.”
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play the Texas A&M Aggies on Sept. 13.
Read More:
Calls Mount From Fans For CJ Carr To Get ‘Benched’ As Notre Dame QB Struggles On Debut
Where Did Marcus Freeman Play College Football? Inside the Notre Dame Coach’s Playing Days
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
