A new era is brewing in South Bend, but uncertainty looms under center. Well, three young guns—Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey, and CJ Carr—stand ready to battle for the starting job. While there is no doubt about their talent, none carry that coveted 5-star tag. Of course, stars don’t always dictate success—Riley Leonard wasn’t one either. But still, it’s striking that Marcus Freeman has more 5-star talent across his roster than a Hollywood premiere, yet his quarterback room lacks one entirely. As of now, while the pressure is on, the Irish head coach faces a defining decision—one that could shape Notre Dame’s future.

In a recent episode of Notre Dame Football’s Blue & Gold, Tyler Horka and Jack Soble joined host Mike Singer to break down six key topics surrounding the Irish. When the discussion shifted to Notre Dame’s ongoing quarterback competition, Mike asked how long the battle would last. Tyler didn’t hesitate, making his stance clear, and he said, “I probably said that I think it’s going into fall because, like, all the writing is on the wall for Marcus Freeman not to name a starting quarterback after 15 spring practices. Like, if somehow he knows who his starter is on April 12, right after the Blue-Gold game, to me, it’s got to be Steve Angeli at that point. Because, like, he’s the only guy that he’s spent three-plus years with.”

Well, when Riley Leonard went down against Penn State, Steve Angeli didn’t flinch. Stepping in during a crucial two-minute drill, he showed poise under pressure. His accuracy speaks for itself—72.5% completion rate, 772 yards, and 10 touchdowns. On top of that, in the 2023 Sun Bowl, he lit up Oregon State for 232 yards and three scores in his first collegiate start. But now, a big question looms. How could Marcus Freeman name CJ Carr the starter over a senior like Angeli, especially after Carr battled an elbow injury that had people concerned as recently as December?

While Tyler Horka addressed the big question surrounding CJ Carr’s health and future with Notre Dame, there’s no doubt about Carr’s talent. He dominated in high school with over 6,000 passing yards, 70+ touchdowns, and a state championship appearance. On top of that, he was one of the top QB prospects in the 2024 class. But despite his pedigree, his role in South Bend remains uncertain. Not just CJ Carr—Kenny Minchey, a former four-star and Elite 11 QB, also faces uncertainty. Despite his talent, he’s had limited action at Notre Dame, completing just one pass for five yards. Look like Freeman isn’t sold on him either.

While the quarterback battle in South Bend is heating up, clarity remains out of reach. And Tyler Horka laid it out bluntly, questioning how Freeman could name a starter so soon. “Like, there’s just no way that I can see Marcus Freeman, man, like, “Yep, CJ Carr, he’s the guy. Sophomore has never thrown a pass in a college football game. He’s the guy.” I also can’t see Marcus Freeman saying, “Oh yeah, Kenny Minchey, dynamic, best athlete among this bunch. And he’s going to do some things that the other guys can’t. He’s our guy.” He’s thrown one pass in a college football game,” said the Dame insider.

However, Tyler didn’t stop there, and he made his last point, saying, “And I guess my last point is, I also don’t see Marcus Freeman at the end of spring practice being like, “Yes, Steve Angeli, who has thrown 80 passes and has looked really good. 10-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio, I still don’t see Marcus Freeman even saying, “Yeah, that’s the guy.”

As of now, with no clear frontrunner, this QB battle is bound to stretch deep into fall camp. And as Tyler Horka put it, “This thing 100% goes into fall camp.” But it’s not just Notre Dame insiders weighing in—other college football experts have also pointed out Marcus Freeman’s dilemma.

The troubles of Marcus Freeman come to light

With all three quarterbacks unproven and neck and neck, Marcus Freeman’s spring camp is more important than ever. As September approaches, this three-way battle must take shape. And Dame fans and insiders understand the stakes—spring isn’t just about evaluating talent. It’s also a race against time, with the transfer portal reopening right after. And now, Vince DeDario sees this window as a ‘litmus test,’ a moment that could define the Irish’s QB future.

Recently, Vince DeDario and Sean Stires saw the writing on the wall—Notre Dame won’t have a locked-in QB1 by spring. But they do agree on one thing: two of the three quarterbacks will begin to separate. “I will be shocked if all three guys are still on the roster come fall,” stated DeDario. Moreover, he said, “After spring, I just feel like they’re gonna know at least if it’s down to two guys.”

Right now, while he insists this isn’t inside info, the logic makes sense. And history says the odd man out won’t stick around. But the real question is—who will be the first to pack their bags? Now, let’s see what Freeman’s decision will be regarding his QB1.