For the past two seasons, Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s QB1 situation was more of a formality than a competition. Head coach Marcus Freeman could talk about “open battles” all he wanted, but when the program brought in Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard on lucrative one-year NIL deals, the message was clear—this was a plug-and-play approach to QB1. And to some extent, it worked. Hartman was steady, Leonard flashed potential before injuries derailed his season, and Freeman’s Irish finished the national runner’s up. But 2025? That’s a whole different beast. This time, there’s no transfer savior. No predetermined starter. Just a trio of in-house options, each with something to prove, and an offseason battle that could define Freeman’s tenure in South Bend.

Freeman’s decision to roll with an in-house competition rather than another transfer portal splash is a bold one. It means he believes in what he’s built and trusts the development process. Which creates a risk of the dynamic between Steve Angeli, CJ Carr, and Kenny Minchey. Three quarterbacks, one starting job, and months of speculation ahead. That’s why Pete Thamel, on ESPN’s College GameDay podcast, didn’t hold back on the significance of this race. “Most notably, they’re going to have a quarterback controversy for the first time, I guess, in three seasons,” Thamel said. Freeman, of course, isn’t shying away from the challenge.

He’s already shown confidence in Angeli, the veteran of the group, referencing his crucial role in last season’s win over Penn State. “Marcus was great, he was like, ‘We don’t win the Penn State game without Steve Angeli,’” Thamel noted. “[Angeli] came in at the end of that first half and really slung the rock and gave them some juice that set the tone for that comeback.” That’s not just coach-speak. When Leonard went down, Angeli proved he could step in and deliver in high-pressure moments. But does that make him the favorite? Not so fast.

CJ Carr, one of the most highly touted recruits of the Marcus Freeman era, is knocking on the door. The grandson of former Michigan national championship coach Lloyd Carr, CJ has long been pegged as the future of Notre Dame’s offense. And while he’s yet to take meaningful snaps at the collegiate level, his presence has already been felt behind the scenes. “One thing Freeman said was he had an elbow injury two seasons ago, and they noticed the scout team was discernibly down—they lacked energy when he was not running it,” Thamel added. The 6’3” #12 has the poise, the talent, and now, a legitimate shot at taking the reins. Add in Minchey, another promising young passer, and suddenly, Notre Dame’s quarterback room looks deep—but unsettled.

That uncertainty is what makes this spring so intriguing. Unlike years past, Freeman doesn’t have a clear-cut answer. This is a real competition, and with Angeli’s experience, Carr’s upside, and #8 Minchey lurking as a dark horse, every practice rep matters. Thamel framed it perfectly: “There’s a lot of optimism around Kenny going forward. It’s going to be a good race.” And it’s not just on the field. The court of public opinion is already weighing in, debating whether Angeli’s steadiness or Carr’s potential gives the Irish a better shot at making noise in 2025.

Then there’s Rece Davis, who took a more lighthearted approach to the discussion about his last night’s EA Sports College Football 27 game shenanigans with his son. “Can I tell you one thing about CJ Carr, who I think is going to be terrific?” Thamel joked. “Rough night last night. Tough night in EA Sports College Football 27, facing the aspiring, burgeoning Georgia Tech dynasty. Home game for CJ and the Fighting Irish, but Georgia Tech went in there, got a big victory against the top-five Notre Dame team, absolutely shut down CJ and his offense.” Whether it’s in a simulated world or the real one, he’s got to show he can lead this team when it counts.

In a perfect world, this is the kind of quarterback battle that keeps fans, analysts, and even former players on edge. Marcus Freeman, not going shopping for an elite QB from the portal, is gambling if any of these in-house QBs falter. Because there’s no safety net this time.

CJ Carr or Steve Angeli? On3 picks their favorite for Marcus Freeman

Steve Angeli may have gotten his moment in the spotlight during Notre Dame’s CFP semifinal against the Lions, but if you ask On3’s Ari Wasserman, he’s not the guy to lead the Irish in 2025. That honor? It belongs to CJ Carr, a name that carries serious Michigan football royalty.

Carr, the grandson of legendary Michigan head coach and son of former Wolverines quarterback Jason Carr, joined Notre Dame as part of the 2024 recruiting class. And after a year of waiting in the wings, he’s feeling more than ready to take the reins.

“I definitely wasn’t ready to play a year ago,” CJ Carr admitted in a January interview with On3’s Kyle Kelly. “With all the new changes with school, with football. I feel very, very ready now.” Spending his redshirt season working on the scout team gave him the chance to adjust to the speed of the college game and sharpen his football IQ. “Trying to see safety rotation and decipher what they’re playing before I snap the ball. It’s really helped me with the speed of the game and make decisions.”

Now, the wait for August 31 is only getting intense as the game against Miami will clear all of this golden helmet’s QB1 drama.