Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship in 37 years. That’s a very long silverware drought. They did come very close to winning in the 2024 season, only to see their dreams shattered by Ryan Day and his team. Nevertheless, the dream is still on, and Marcus Freeman and his boys are looking more adamant this year to catch on to that elusive natty trophy. However, there’s a slight hiccup.

Notre Dame undoubtedly looks like a formidable team in the 2025 season, too. They have the 12th-ranked class nationally and they have reigned as the top Running Backs coach from Penn State in Ja’ Juan Seider. Their players, Jaden Greathouse and Jeremiah Love are just world-class. So, what’s exactly the problem?

Well, the problem has nothing to do with their inability or their weakness. But it has everything to do with other teams becoming more formidable and increasing competition in college football. Ralph D Russo of The Athletic provided a bold prediction for the Irish in the 2025 season. “My bold prediction for next year is Brian Kelly beats Notre Dame in the national champion. LSU and Brian Kelly beat no Notre Dame in the national championship game because it would just be so juicy“. Of course, it would be very juicy Brian Kelly against Marcus Freeman will be a treat to watch. But why did he pick LSU as the winner? Well, he did provide his reasoning.

“The super team era seems to be fading away. So now we don’t have two or three teams that separate themselves from the rest of the country. That group expands out to about six or seven teams competing for the championship and that’s where we’re going to be now“. And that is a very true statement since we have seen very shocking upsets, too, throughout the season. Be it Vanderbilt beating Alabama after almost 40 years or even Northern Illinois beating Notre Dame in week 2 for that matter. College football is undoubtedly becoming more and more competitive. But, where does Brian Kelly come in all of this?

Well, it may be looking like a stretch to say that LSU will beat Notre Dame in 2025 considering they had a lacluster of a season in 2024. But it’s not like LSU is a mid-tier program and will be stuck in the rut forever. They are still contenders as they were starting the 2024 season. Don’t believe that? Well, hear this. They are currently ranked 7th nationally in their 2025 recruiting class and have raked up some very decent prospects. They have got 5-star DJ Pickett (CB), who is ranked 24th nationally, and several other promising blue chip prospects in Harlem Barry (RB) and Solomon Thomas (IOL). And, if Nussmiener hits the form of his life, then LSU’s 2025 season will be a guaranteed success. So, Notre Dame Beware!! However, the addition of Mike Martin is something that can give a glimmer of hope and even a platform for winning for the Irish. And here’s why.

Mike Martin’s stamp of success for the Irish.

Notre Dame added Mike Martin to their team as their General Manager. The decision was taken after a long deliberation after the Irish couldn’t land Texas Tech GM James Blanchard. But Mike Martin, too, carries with him a long history of success. Along with the philosophy to succeed in college football. And here’s why.

Martin has vast experience with both recruitment and coaching staff. His earlier job was at Detroit Lions, where he served as Director of Scouting. In his 4 years with the Lions, he made them a very formidable team and took them to the NFC championship appearance in 2023. A feat so rare that it was last happened in 1991. But, he has a rich history apart from scouting too.

He was also the finalist Male Athlete Scholar of the Year in 2003 when he was playing as a Defensive Back for Vanderbilt. Furthermore, he also had stints in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles. Overall, he is looking like a real deal so far and has the potential to do extraordinary for the Irish and Marcus Freeman.