“Notre Dame, quarterback battle still going on… I will admit, I thought this would be settled by now. So I was wrong about this. Josh Pate said on his podcast. With just over two weeks before they play their first game of the season, Notre Dame has yet to answer its most pressing question: Who will start at quarterback? Marcus Freeman has a tough decision to make because the competition has been neck and neck throughout camp.
All eyes were on backup Steve Angeli to lead the Fighting Irish this season after losing Riley Leonard, the team’s leader from the previous season, to the NFL. But earlier in the year, Angeli moved to the portal, and we were left with two contenders. CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. It doesn’t help the head coach that he can’t ease his way into the season. The first game is against the 10th-ranked Miami Hurricanes, while Week 2 will see them face the 19th-ranked Texas A&M. This is definitely not the easy task you want your newbie QB to take on so quickly.
Recently, CaneSport Miami Hurricane, a publication that prominently covers Mario Cristobal’s team, shared an article with the caption, “CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey Fighting for QB1 at Notre Dame as Miami Hurricanes Clash Looms.” The piece looked at Miami’s Week 1 opponents. Predominantly, the questions that surround Marcus Freeman’s team.
Notre Dame fans have made it clear who they want to see under center, and it’s CJ Carr. 76% of Irish supporters support the redshirt freshman, according to a recent One Foot Down survey, primarily due to his name as a “future star” and his top-70 recruiting background rather than his on-field accomplishments. CaneSport’s report mentions the quarterback issue; at the same time, they’re also focusing on Notre Dame’s backfield as the main story.
CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey Fighting for QB1 at Notre Dame as Miami Hurricanes Clash Looms – https://t.co/r60VMQ0UQN pic.twitter.com/ixAaMWnOTa
— CaneSport Miami Hurricanes (@CaneSport) August 16, 2025
The Irish, who have just over a week until kickoff, will likely rely heavily on their ground game, which includes Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. In 2024, Love made his debut with 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, and Price followed closely behind with 746 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. When you combine these two, you have a ground attack that could cause Miami to sweat.
What makes the story a whole lot more interesting is the Minchey factor. According to CaneSport, his athleticism poses a lot more threats for Miami than they would have with Carr. There is “absolutely no reason why Kenny can’t be the starter,” according to offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. Pete Nakos of On3 even stated that Minchey’s comfort level in Denbrock’s offense gives him a “slight edge” at the moment. Reporter Matt Zenitz put it bluntly: “It’s starting to look like another quarterback—redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey—could end up winning the job. At the very least, Minchey—a class of 2023 four-star recruit with dual-threat ability — has emerged as a legitimate factor in this competition.” While Notre Dame fans are firmly committed to CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey’s flexibility and potential as a dual-threat have raised serious concerns inside the Miami camp as August 31 approaches.
Under the lights, QB uncertainty clouds the Irish
When Notre Dame and Miami get together, history only adds fuel to the flames. Even if the rivalry has faded a bit, the wounds and bragging rights from the famous “Catholics vs. Convicts” match in 1988 still remain, making it one of college football’s iconic games. The Irish haven’t won in Miami since 1977, and their most recent visit there, in 2017, ended in a terrible 41-8 thrashing. So when they take the field on August 31 at Hard Rock Stadium, their goal will not only be to start the season strong but also to rewrite some terrible history they had there.
Miami will start Carson Beck as quarterback, so there is no mystery there. With Beck now in charge, Miami fans would not mind seeing a follow-up to the team’s thrashing of Notre Dame in 2017. With almost 8,000 career throwing yards and the kind of big-game experience that gives the Canes confidence going into August 31. He brings the kind of expertise and polish that Notre Dame’s young QBs can’t match. Beck enters a matchup that already favors Miami at home.
The real question is how much Notre Dame’s QB uncertainty will matter under the lights in Miami. As Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr continue to battle for the start, the Irish enter the first game lacking the certainty that their opponent, Carson Beck, already possesses. In a game where mistakes are amplified, especially when facing a defense that will thrive on the home crowd, that uncertainty could make a huge difference. The one bit of relief? Their running back room is all set with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price ready to carry the load.
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