An Irish Carr Ride From Heisman Glory
With seven Heisman Trophy winners, tied for the second-most all time, Notre Dame is synonymous with the award. It turns a college career into a legend and cements a legacy forever.
Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Last season, for the first time in 13 years, the Irish had a finalist in Jeremiyah Love, who finished second. Although Love had a stellar season and cemented himself as one of Notre Dame’s great running backs, there was still a feeling that his winning would have been an upset.
This season, the Irish have a legitimate shot at a record-tying eighth Heisman winner, and it’s only a 3-game Carr ride away.
After leading the Irish to a 31-24 victory over previously unbeaten (and then number one ranked team in the country) Miami Hurricanes, quarterback CJ Carr has vaulted to the top of most oddsmakers' lists for Heisman favorites (FanDuel has him at +200, leading the way). He had a stellar game, passing for 303 yards and three touchdowns, all while having no turnovers and no sacks.
On the season, Carr has passed for 2,168 yards, 21 touchdowns (good for ninth in the country and only three off of last season's 24) while only throwing one interception (tied for second). What makes this more impressive is that Carr orchestrates the Notre Dame offense with Manning-esque precision. When watching an Irish game, you often see Carr reading the defense pre-snap. Often changing plays, protections, and moving skill players to fit the defense. This ability has given defenses fits all season in attacking the Irish offense.
Another aspect propelling Carr to being the odds-on favorite is that this year’s race has become the most wide open in recent memory. Preseason favorites, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, have fallen out of the race for vastly different reasons. Smith is faced with what has become a stagnant offense since starting quarterback Julian Sayin went down with a season-ending injury. Toney has suffered a high ankle sprain, and the subsequent surgery has led to him being on the shelf until the postseason.
These injuries should not diminish what Carr (or the others in the conversation) have accomplished. Looking around the nation, there are some quarterbacks that have gaudier numbers and played bigger-name opponents, but Carr has been the most consistent. He doesn’t get sacked and does not turn the ball over. Most impressive is the fact that this season, the Irish have become more pass-oriented for the first time in decades. It is his ability and improved skills that have allowed Notre Dame to almost not miss a beat offensively despite losing two running backs in the first round of the NFL draft.
This season could end up being historic. There are legitimate national title aspirations, and everything that people felt was unjustly taken away from the Irish at the end of last season is firmly in their control now. There is one key to this, and it is the play and offensive prowess of Carr.
For the Irish to achieve the ultimate glory that they have shown they are capable of, it is going to take a masterful Carr ride to do it. But this Carr has shown he is up to the task. It could, and it should, end with him being added to the annals of college football lore as a Heisman Trophy winner.
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