CJ Carr’s First Start Marks New Era at Notre Dame
When CJ Carr stepped onto the field for his very first start at quarterback for Notre Dame, the moment carried the weight of weeks—really, months—of competition, nerves, and preparation. Just two weeks earlier, after the team’s Jersey Scrimmage, he had left Notre Dame Stadium uncertain if he had done enough to win the job. He felt confident in his play throughout camp, but whether that confidence would translate into being named QB1 was something out of his control.
The decision came down to head coach Marcus Freeman, who ultimately trusted his gut and picked Carr over Kenny Minchey. It wasn’t a runaway choice. The battle between the two young quarterbacks pushed the coaching staff, and perhaps Carr himself, to the edge. Every throw in practice felt like it carried life-or-death consequences for the depth chart. And yet, that pressure became a proving ground.
When the word finally came that he had been chosen, Carr described the relief almost as a weight lifted off his shoulders. No longer did he have to play in fear of every mistake costing him his chance. Instead, he could focus on leading the offense, learning from errors, and growing into the role. That shift in mindset freed him.
Also Read:Still, stepping into Hard Rock Stadium against a top-10 Miami team was no small task. For a redshirt freshman with zero collegiate passes to his name, it could have been overwhelming. But Carr didn’t sound like a player new to the job in the days leading up to kickoff. He praised teammates, credited Minchey for pushing him, and spoke with a confidence that was noted by both Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
To prepare, Carr sought out advice from former Irish quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Ian Book. Leonard’s message was simple: be yourself and let it loose. That advice, combined with tweaks in the game plan designed to simplify Carr’s responsibilities, gave him a sense of direction heading into his debut.
When game night arrived, Carr looked the part. Though Notre Dame ultimately fell short against Miami, he showed flashes of why he was such a highly recruited quarterback. His poise stood out—he wasn’t rattled by the bright lights or the pressure of the moment. He executed with the confidence that Freeman had cited as one of the reasons he earned the job in the first place.
It’s true, the Irish haven’t beaten Miami on the road in decades, and history wasn’t rewritten that Sunday night. But something else began instead: the start of CJ Carr’s tenure as Notre Dame’s quarterback. And while the result didn’t end in victory, the performance hinted at what could be a promising future. Carr summed it up simply before kickoff: “Ready to go. Ready to play a really good Miami team, but we’re a really good Notre Dame team.”
For Notre Dame, the loss may sting. But for CJ Carr, it was the beginning of a story that feels far from finished.
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