Notre Dame's starting quarterback still up for grabs with season opener approaching

Douglas Santo

Notre Dame's starting quarterback still up for grabs with season opener approaching image

Notre Dame's starting quarterback competition remains just that, a closely contested competition, following the Fighting Irish's Sunday scrimmage, which many believed would be the deciding factor.

Freshman CJ Carr and redshirt sophomore Kevin Minchey have been in a tight battle throughout the summer and neither has been able to separate themselves. After Sunday's scrimmage, head coach Marcus Freeman told the media the two remain in competition and he's not putting a timeline on it, according to The Athletic's Pete Sampson.

Early in spring, it seemed like Carr, the consensus four-star recruit and top Michigan prospect, had a fast track to be Notre Dame's starter. However, as the summer progressed, Minchey's dual threat ability and experience with the Fighting Irish has propelled him into an intense battle for the starting position.

Although the decision hasn't been made yet, Freeman knows it has to come soon.

"As soon as one clearly says he should be the starter, then we'll make a decision," Freeman said. "Now we have to make a decision before we play, and we will, you know, but there hasn't been that moment where this guy said he is clearly the starter, let's just lead with the one - they've been battling. They've both been doing a really good."

Freeman added that an advantage to the competition being ongoing is the first team offense has been able to develop a rapport with both quarterbacks, which can be a benefit later in the season if one goes down.

Notre Dame kicks off its season in two weeks against the Miami Hurricanes on August 31. Freeman will have to make a decision soon, and he made it clear that he'll talk it over with his staff, but the ultimate decision will be his.

 

Douglas Santo

Douglas Santo is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. As a senior at Arizona State University, he will complete his B.A. in sports journalism with a minor in business in December 2025. Before his time with Sporting News, Douglas covered the NFL and MLB for Athlon Sports and contributed as a digital reporter for Arizona PBS/Cronkite News. He is also the head of Sun Devil Daily, managing all content produced about Arizona State Sports.