Legacy QB CJ Carr didn’t need a billboard to remind himself of the current stakes at South Bend—just a black sharpie and the back of his hand. “Keep Football Simple,” his handwritten mantra read during the Notre Dame Irish’s spring practice, a quiet but telling message from the redshirt freshman battling for the most scrutinized job in South Bend. The QB1 hoopla is wide open, with Carr vying against Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey for the starting role. And if this spring is any indication, simplicity will be the last thing about this decision.

The real deal for Irish isn’t just about picking a starter—it’s about unlocking the offense’s full potential. They have spent much of Marcus Freeman’s tenure relying on their defense to keep them competitive, but that’s not a sustainable blueprint for championship aspirations. QB coach Gino Guidugli has been clear about what he wants in a quarterback: “To me, it’s about consistency and building trust with your teammates and the coaching staff.” That’s coach-speak for: don’t just flash talent—prove you can be counted on every snap.

The talents around these three quarterbacks are the best they’ve had in years. The running back room is elite, the young receivers are explosive, and transfer portal additions have rounded out the offensive roster. The missing piece? A quarterback who can elevate, not just manage, this unit.

That’s why ROC Boys Football host rocked with Carr, a rare show of confidence in a legacy freshman over an upperclassman. “I would lean CJ Carr,” Carl Piacelli said. “To me, I think you could have thrown this up as the most impactful quarterback battle because I look at what this Notre Dame offense can be.” The Irish haven’t had a dynamic passing game in recent years, and while last season’s struggles weren’t entirely on the quarterback, it was clear that the offense lacked a true field-stretching threat. “That defense is kind of carrying their weight—the offense has held them back a little bit.” This year, there are no excuses.

With a deep backfield room and a retooled receiving corps, there’s an argument that this Marcus Freeman team could be the best in the country—if they get high-level passing play. Piacelli didn’t mince words on who he’d prefer to see leading the charge. “I think if I’m Notre Dame, I want CJ Carr. Kenny Minchey I wouldn’t sleep on necessarily because he can move, and Mike Denbrock’s always kind of used quarterbacks who can move a little bit. But I’d probably prefer one of those two over Steve Angeli because I just don’t know that he’ll be the type of quarterback even with those guys around him to really have an elite [offense].”

The sentiment echoes a growing belief that CJ Carr, despite his youth, might offer the highest upside. But Marcus Freeman isn’t in a rush to make that call. The Notre Dame head coach shut down any notion that a starter would be named prematurely. “We’ll name a starter when a starter clearly shows that he’s the best quarterback,” Freeman said, standing firm on his decision not to force a timetable. “I don’t want to put a timetable on it, and I refuse to do that. To me, if you don’t have a decision by then, it’ll frustrate you, and there’s no need to put a timetable on it.” Freeman is playing the long game, knowing that this decision could shape not just this season but the trajectory of his tenure.

That measured approach makes sense. Naming a quarterback too early can backfire, especially in an era where transfers are just a portal entry away. Freeman has no reason to rush this, and he’s making sure his three stars understand that. “Let those guys compete,” he said. “When a starter is determined, we’re going to announce it.” The underlying message? No one is being handed the job—it has to be earned. And in a battle this close, every rep matters.

Notre Dame has been here before—quarterback battles are nothing new in South Bend. But this one feels different. There’s more on the line than just who starts Week 1.

Notre Dame’s QB battle: no perfect formula, just fierce competition

When it comes to Notre Dame’s quarterback competition, boss-man Marcus Freeman didn’t pretend to have all the answers when he refused to put a time stamp on it. “I don’t know if there’s a perfect science that I’ll be able to tell you right now that this is exactly how we’re going to do it,” Freeman admitted. But one thing is clear: “The general theme of it is that they will all get reps with the ones.”

Among the trio vying for the starting job, CJ Carr has taken a unique approach to his development. “It’s just like my intention for the day,” Carr explained. “Football is not an easy sport. Don’t confuse simple with easy.” That mindset fuels his daily routine—each practice, he writes a new reminder on his hand, a habit he picked up from former Irish QB1 Riley Leonard and one he plans to continue.

“We kind of tinkered with it,” Carr said of his process. “Making sure I have a plan each and every day, a goal that I’m trying to really improve on one part of my game, is important for me.” Now fully healthy after a September elbow injury, Carr is embracing a fresh start—literally. He switched from No. 12 to No. 13, a number worn by his father, Jason Carr, at Michigan three decades ago. If it were him, it would be a chapter with deep-rooted meaning.