Alright, let’s set the scene. South Bend is buzzing, and the golden dome is practically shaking. Why? Because Notre Dame just went toe-to-toe with Ohio State in the national championship—and walked away heartbroken. Now, their QB1, Riley Leonard, is off to the NFL, leaving a massive, gaping void under center. And in South Bend, they don’t do ‘rebuilding years’—it’s title or bust. So, who’s next up? That’s the million-dollar question given Freeman’s got a real QB puzzle on his hands, and CJ Carr’s recent move just made it way more complicated.

And just when things were looking predictable, CJ Carr went and threw gasoline on the QB race, making it spicier than a hot wing challenge. But according to national analyst J.D. Pickell from On3, this might not be as open-and-shut as you think. “I think it’s Steven Angeli, and the reason why I say that is you just—you can’t account for live bullets. We say it a lot: you can’t account for 11-on-11, lights are bright, no non-contact jersey on you—how are you going to perform?” Look, he’s got a point.

When Angeli got his moment in the Orange Bowl against Penn State—stepping in when Leonard got banged up—he went 6-for-7 for 44 yards and led a drive that ended in three points. Doesn’t sound like much? Look closer. That was against one of the best defenses in the country, in one of the biggest games of Notre Dame’s season. And he didn’t blink. Pickell added, “If Steve Angeli wasn’t built like that, y’all, we would have found out in that moment.”

This ain’t a fluke. Angeli’s numbers from last season and this season? 772 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, one interception. A completion rate of over 72%. For a backup who didn’t see a ton of field time? That’s not just clean—it’s surgical. That’s why Pickell doubled down, saying, “The cool hand, the experience, that drive—man, I just—I think you need that at Notre Dame, and I think Steve Angeli has that.”

But hold up. This ain’t a coronation yet. Because CJ Carr ain’t just sitting back, letting the race slip away. If anything, his latest move just made things way more interesting. Carr didn’t take a single snap in his freshman season. Not because he wasn’t ready, but because a September elbow injury benched him before he could even get started. But that didn’t mean he checked out. Nah—dude locked in hard.

According to QB coach Gino Guidugli, Carr was still at every practice, grinding. He wasn’t throwing, but he was studying blitz pickups, learning protections, and breaking down film like a starter. “He was in my office every morning, sometimes before I even got there,” Guidugli said. “Even though he wasn’t on the scout team [after he got hurt], his preparation was like he was gonna start the game.”

That’s the kind of obsession you want to see in a future QB1. And by the time the national championship rolled around? Carr was throwing again—slowly ramping up—but his full arm strength wasn’t back yet. Fast forward to now, and he’s back at 100%, ready to show out in the spring game. And this time? He’s got a real shot at making his case.

Is Steve Angeli actually a QB1 for Notre Dame in 2025 over CJ Carr?

If you ask Tyler Wojciak from Locked on Irish, Angeli’s got the first crack at the job. But this race ain’t over. “Right now, going into spring, I think Steve Angeli will get the first-team reps, Kenny Minchey right behind him, CJ Carr at three, and then Blake Hebert, the freshman early enrollee, rounding things out.” Now, let’s be real—seniority plays a role here. Angeli’s been in the system the longest, and as Wojciak pointed out, “He got first-team reps during last spring’s practice when Riley Leonard missed most of it with an ankle injury.” That means Freeman already trusts him in that role. And let’s not forget—it’s not like Notre Dame is just looking for a ‘decent QB.’ They need a QB who can step in and run the show like a seasoned vet.

Look, this spring game is huge for CJ Carr. As Wojciak put it, “He didn’t really get that opportunity last spring because there were too many guys ahead of him. But when he got in against the twos and threes, he shined. Now, he’s gonna get a chance to do it against the first-team defense in spring practice.”

End of the day, Marcus Freeman’s got some dilemmas on his hands. On one side, Angeli’s the steady hand, the proven commodity. He’s been in the fire, made the plays, and won over analysts like Pickell with his poise. On the other side, Carr’s the five-star phenom who’s ready to finally show what he can do. Spring practice is gonna tell us a lot. But one thing’s for sure—Notre Dame’s QB battle is far from over. And no matter who wins it, the Irish aren’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. The standard isn’t just making a playoff run. It’s winning it all. And whoever gets the nod? Better be ready to carry that weight.