Notre Dame opened the season with a heartbreaking loss at the hands of their bitter rivals, the Miami Hurricanes. Here, we'll take a look at the parts of the team that shined for Notre Dame vs Miami and the parts that need to see improvement before their matchup against Texas A&M. Overall, Notre Dame's performance on Sunday night was lackluster at best. For a team coming into this season with National Championship aspirations, they did not look the part. The problems do not stem from just one thing, it seems. The team, as a whole, looked disconnected, reactive, and lacked the "heart" that last year's team became known for. With that being said, it was not all bad, so let's get into what worked in the loss against Miami. Winners CJ Carr The biggest question going into the night was at the quarterback position. For the last few years, Notre Dame leaned into experienced transfer quarterbacks, giving the fans and staff a good idea of what they are going to look like coming out of the gate. This year, Notre Dame debuted a redshirt freshman in one of the most hostile places their play this year. For a first career start, given the circumstances, CJ Carr performed well. To start the game, it was clear that the game plan was to ease Carr into the game, giving him screens and easy check-downs. Although the offense was shaky in the first half, the lone first-half score was a thing of beauty from Carr. In one play, he showed off his athleticism to avoid the rush and his creativity with the no-look pass to free up Micah Gilbert in the end zone. From there, Carr was at his best when given the chance to move the ball downfield, like his throw to Malachi Fields. Although rare, that throw was exactly what Notre Dame fans, and presumably the coaching staff, had in mind when recruiting Fields and choosing Carr. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! The problem was that this was really the only time Carr had a chance to show off his arm. Later in the game, he did connect with Eli Raridon for a big gain, where Carr did show good patience, but Raridon was wide open due to some broken coverage. All in all, Carr shined in his debut, orchestrating a comeback that fell just short. In a game where many believed it would be the defense that kept them in the game, it was actually the play of Carr was gave the Irish a chance late. Boubacar Traore and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa For a defense that struggled all night and was underwhelming given the expectations, these two players were the lone bright spots. The problem the Irish ran into, defensively, was getting to the quarterback. Miami's offensive line completely halted a pass rush that was thought to be one that could bother teams all year. DL Boubacar Traore was the only one who seemed to be up to the task. He recorded the team's only sack and did it fashion, beating Miami's All-American right tackle with a spin move right into Carson Beck. In addition, Traore was able to make an impact in the run game as well, making a couple of key plays to get Miami off the field. In that game, the defensive lines had a lot of issues to correct, but Traore was not one of them. The other standout on Sunday night was LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. Although he played a questionably low number of snaps, KVA was able to make his impact known. He, along with Traore, were some of the only players able to provide any sort of pressure off the edge. To go with that, he also recorded a tackle for loss, and it felt like he was all over he field for only playing 36 snaps. The rest of the linebacking group struggled, for a group that had a lot of returning production, and it was clear that KVA was the best of them on Sunday night. Traore and KVA seemed to be the only players who were able to get into the Miami backfield and cause problems for an offense that looked comfortable all night. In order for this defense to improve, they are going to need to get more help. Losers Chris Ash When Chris Ash was hired at Notre Dame to be Al Golden's replacement, it came as a bit of a surprise to outsiders. He may not have been Freeman's first choice for the position, but with some high-level experience, it seemed he would be capable of not messing up what was already one of the nation's best defenses. After Sunday night, that notion may be more in jeopardy than many expected. Last season, Notre Dame made a living off of an aggressive man-to-man defense that smothered teams with its speed and tenacity. The defense that showed up against Miami lacked that same speed and tenacity. To start, the secondary that was believed to be elite once again this season was a step behind for much of the game. Whether it was Christian Gray getting beat deep, Leonard Moore getting beat on moves he covered so well last year, or Adon Shuler being hesitant to make a play on the ball, the Notre Dame secondary did not look like a unit that was ready for that game. In the trenches, it only got worse. Once praised for their physicality, the Irish defensive line was getting bullied and pushed around all night long. With no real footing, they struggled severely to get any sort of meaningful and consistent pressure on Beck with their four-man pass rush. For Ash, the real problem arose when he refused to dial up blitzes, stunts, or anything unique to throw off Miami's offensive line and Beck. Golden became known for his ability to generate pressure with different blitzes involving cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers. There was none of that on Sunday. Along with that, there was a lack of any sort of push generated by the Irish defensive line, allowing Miami to hammer them in the run for much of the game. Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. The defensive rotation also called Ash's new approach into question. Alabama transfer Devonta Smith did not see as much playing time as expected for a big transfer get. His backup, Karson Hobbs, did see more playing time, but was beaten early in the game for a Miami touchdown. As mentioned earlier, KVA was one of the only positives on the defense, but he only saw 36 snaps total. Jaylen Sneed, another linebacker, impressed all offseason but was invisible for much of the game. There should be some blame put on Sneed, but Ash has to do a better job of getting his best playmakers in position to make plays. Lastly, along with the lack of blitzes, Ash was too conservative as a play-caller. The secondary played in more zones than was seen last year, letting Miami consistently move the ball downfield without giving up the big play. The "bend but don't break" style of game is not what is expected of a talented defense, and it was allowing Miami way too much room to work. Mike Denbrock Mike Denbrock also called what was far from his best game as the offensive coordinator of Notre Dame. First, it is understandable why the play-calling was conservative to start. Carr was in his first career start on the road, so it makes sense why Denbrock would try to ease him into the game. The problem arises when the play-calling did not see a meaningful change until it felt like it was too late. To start, Denbrock dialed up a few wide receiver screens, hoping to get Carr settled and a wide receiver in space. Although a few worked, one resulted in an interception when a Miami defender recognized the play and jumped the route. The play was simply called too many times. Once Notre Dame was forced to move the ball downfield, the offense looked alive and found success with its young quarterback. Carr was deemed the choice for an offense that wanted to be explosive and move the ball downfield, but that is not how Denbrock called much of this game. The other big problem with Denbrock's play-calling was the lack of Jeremiyah Love. Love is considered to be the best running back in the country and one of the best playmakers in college football. Notre Dame will walk onto every field this year knowing one thing: the other team does not have anyone like Love. Notre Dame did not Jeremiyah nearly enough. For such a playmaker, he needs to be consistently given chances to break a play loose, which he did all of last year. Against Miami, he only carried the ball 10 times. That number needs to be closer to 20. All off-season, the coaching staff raved about Love and what he can do for this team, but Denbrock's play-calling to not resemble any of that. Love is an incredibly unique and explosive player who can change any game he is in, and he could've changed the result of the Miami game if he had been given the chance. If Notre Dame wants to reach their full potential this season, Denbrock is going to have to get him more involved in the game plan. Offensive Line The offensive line may have been the most disappointing part of Notre Dame's performance against Miami. Coming into the game, Notre Dame was considered to have one of the best offensive lines in the country. With many talented returners from last year's group, it was expected that Notre Dame would be able to push around Miami and open up holes for Love to run. Instead, Notre Dame showed up with a line that struggled to get a push all game. They rarely opened up running lanes for Love and Price and struggled at times to protect Carr, especially on their final drive. Although Knapp stood out for his lackluster play, the whole group had a bad night by their standards. It is one thing for a line to struggle, but when that line has the expectations this group does, it is a shock to all. This was considered to be Notre Dame's best unit, but Sunday's game showed this group still needs a lot of work. The offensive line on this team needs to be the identity of the team, as it was last year. They are responsible for what could be another dominant run game with Love and Price, and a passing attack that Carr has shown can be explosive. It is up to the offensive line to help unlock all of that potential. Unfortunately for the Irish, that potential was not realized in Week One. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The Notre Dame vs Miami, Florida game was the most-viewed game at 10.8 million viewers this past weekend on ESPN/ABC networks. The Irish and Hurricanes faced off in a top-ten matchup at Hard Rock Stadium. Alabama vs. Florida State followed the Irish and Canes with 10.7 million viewers, then LSU vs. Clemson captured an audience of 10.4 million viewers. ESPN noted that this was a historic opening weekend for ESPN and ABC in terms of viewership. Were you one of the 10.8 million viewers Sunday night? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LucciAntonini on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Art by The Irish Tribune It was not the bounce-back start to the year Head Coach Marcus Freeman envisioned coming off a National Title loss, but with Texas A&M on deck after the bye week, it will need to be put to bed quickly so Notre Dame can focus on fixing itself. The week one showdown in Miami was not all doom and gloom for the Irish, though. QB CJ Carr opened many people's eyes to how high his ceiling could potentially be. The team never showed any quit, climbing out of 21-7 and 24-14 holes throughout the game, and most importantly, this game only counts as one loss. Long-term goals are still intact for this 2025 season, but there will be major things to address on both sides of the ball to keep those dreams alive. Offense I am still trying to wrap my head around not making a more concerted effort to emphasize establishing the run earlier in the game. Mike Denbrock opted to use a lot of quick screens as an extension of the run game, but after having Jeremiyah Love at 60% health during last season's playoff run, now back at full capacity, this should have been a workhorse game for the most talented running back in the country. 10 carries for Love and 16 for Love and Jadarian Price combined is not a recipe for winning. The play calling in totality was confusing. On the interception that was the biggest difference in the game, it was a 2nd & 2 after Jeremiyah Love picked up eight yards on first down. It is my understanding that it was an RPO in which Carr chose to throw it instead of handing it off, and because of a missed block on the perimeter by Jaden Greathouse, it ended up being a catastrophic play for the offense. The problem, in my opinion, is that an RPO should not even have been an option. On 2nd and 2 with momentum tilting back in your favor, you either take a deep shot where an incompletion still leaves you in third and very manageable, or give it right back to the guy who picked you up eight yards. Instead, a quick screen was thrown against press coverage by the DBs, and the rest is history. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle It was pretty obvious from early in the game that the offensive line was not going to be able to get the type of push to consistently pick up yardage on inside zone plays. With the type of quickness and cutback ability both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price have, and to help the offensive line, there should have been more run plays designed to get to the perimeter and get Miami's defensive line moving laterally. Continuing on the offensive line theme, there flat out needs to be a change. Back in July, I wrote about what combination up front may yield the best result s. Part of that thought process was Anthonie Knapp needing to be kicked inside. He had a solid year as a true freshman, but he just does not possess the length or foot quickness to be a natural fit at Left Tackle. He really struggled against Miami, and for Carr to continue to progress, his blindside protection needs to be on point. Unfortunately, Knapp was not the lone weak spot for the line. Guerby Lambert and Aamil Wagner both had multiple missed assignments, and I think the offseason injury for Charles Jagusah is becoming more of an issue than many originally anticipated. I am still in favor of shuffling the line going forward, and I think Freshman Will Black deserves to at least get some looks at Left Tackle during the bye week after taking reps at Guard throughout camp. Billy Schrauth should continue to hold down his Left Guard spot, Ashton Craig at Center should continue to be the case, but the right side of the line is where I think someone is ultimately going to have to lose playing time. Knapp at Right Guard and Lambert kicking back out to Tackle or Aamil Wagner hanging on to the Right Tackle role and Lambert becoming the 6th OL/ Swing Tackle are both combinations that would have some merit, but there needs to be a major shake up for a position group that was supposed to be one of the biggest strengths coming into the year. On paper, Notre Dame has the best WR core it has had in quite some time. On the field this past Sunday, that did not really show itself in a meaningful way. I thought Jordan Faison did an excellent job breaking tackles and making things happen after the catch, and Malachi Fields did have a nice catch where he was able to high point the ball over the defensive back, but where was the production from this unit? Looking to build on a stellar postseason breakout, Jaden Greathouse was held without a single catch, and the same goes for transfer Will Pauling, who was set to play a big role this season. Faison's yardage came from YAC after quick screens and a busted coverage by Miami led to the biggest passing play of the day, which was a catch and run by Tight End Eli Raridon. We already know the game plan wasn't to pound the ball as previously discussed, but the plan also did not involve utilizing talented WRs vertically or in the intermediate game, so I don't know what Mike Denbrock wanted the identity of the offense to be at all. I'm not sure there is a true difference maker at Tight End this season. Eli Raridon received a good amount of praise in the fall but really struggled both as a pass catcher and a blocker in week one. The only other Tight End to even see the field was Ty Washington, and it was only for one snap. Defense In Chris Ash's return to being a defensive coordinator, I was surprised at how much I wasn't surprised. When the hire was made in January, I went back and watched film from his 2020 season as the DC at Texas and wrote about it here . A lot of what I saw and wrote about is exactly how game one went for the Irish. There was some Man Coverage mixed in throughout the night, but the amount of Zone that was played against a QB like Carson Beck, who has high football IQ and experience, was a bit concerning. The more disappointing aspect is that even when Notre Dame did go to their bread and butter from last season of playing Man Coverage, the usually reliable playmakers were not so reliable. The inconsistency issues for Christian Gray continue to rear their head, and some of the splash plays that he makes do not do enough to counter his down-to-down faltering in my opinion. I don't think there is another CB on the roster that can realistically take his spot, so the coaching staff will need to keep harping on technique with him because teams will continue to target him. Leonard Moore, who is widely considered one of the top Cornerbacks in the sport, also had a below-average game by his standards. Miami's touchdown right before the first half came at the expense of Moore and another highly regarded secondary player in Adon Schuler. Moore was beaten on a double move, and Schuler played the ball very poorly on the back end. If Notre Dame is able to hold Miami to a field goal there, it is a four-point difference and potentially changes the outcome of the game. I have no doubt Moore will return to form, but the safety play will need to be much improved. With Xavier Watts gone to the NFL, somebody is going to need to step up in a major way and be the leader of that unit. Luke Talich, whom I pegged as a potential breakout player this season, only got 14 snaps, with the majority of them going to Jalen Stroman. I'd like to see that snap count increase for the young Safety so he can get comfortable and start flying around, which I think he is capable of. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Leading up to the UM game, I stressed how much Miami is going to utilize their Slot WRs in the passing game. Well, true freshman Malachi Toney gave Notre Dame fits all night, and the Nickel Corner spot for the Irish was a glaring weakness. Karson Hobbs struggled and split time with DeVonta Smith and, at certain points, Christian Gray. Jordan Clark did an excellent job in this position a season ago, and someone will need to really nail down the role and improve going forward. The defensive line for Notre Dame, specifically the interior, will be a major talking point for the next two weeks leading up to the Texas A&M game, and rightfully so. Miami did not run wild on the Irish, but when they needed yardage in critical moments, they found success right through the teeth of the defense. The Defensive Tackle spot was always going to be the weakest link relative to the rest of the defensive roster, but their inability to hold the point of attack and free up linebackers to play downhill was concerning. I did think Jared Dawson did a nice job and expect him to be a starter going forward. The offensive line for Miami was very good; Texas A&M's may be even better. If they are able to lean on Notre Dame the way UM did, especially with the added bonus of a true dual threat QB, ND may be facing down the barrel of a 0-2 start and playoff hopes all but vanished. Moving from the interior to the edge for the defensive line, I thought Boubacar Traore, another pre-season breakout defensive player of mine, played very well. Played with a good motor all night and was able to produce pressure in spurts. But the pass rush overall was severely lacking. Marcus Freeman alluded to his disappointment in the rush, and Chris Ash will need to get much more creative going forward. Beck may be the best QB Notre Dame will face all year, but there are still plenty of talented throwers left on the schedule that will take advantage of a clean pocket. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Jaylen Sneed both need to see more snaps. KVA did a nice job knifing into the backfield on multiple occasions and is always high energy. Sneed is ultra athletic and can really fly around when he knows his assignment, and I think the best athletes need to be on the field more times than not. Where was the energy? I had the opportunity to watch the game in person, and I never really felt a spark on the defensive side of the ball. Re-watching the game on TV the following day, and nothing changed. The way players flew around last year and rallied to the ball is what set Notre Dame's defense apart. Where is that to open this year? I would have expected a team coming off a heartbreaking National Title loss to play like their hair is on fire in attempts to wipe the slate clean, but instead, they just felt a tad flat all night. This could be in part because they are adjusting to a new defensive scheme and not wanting to make an assignment mistake, but the communication and flow were off all night, and it was very evident. Notre Dame will have to wait two weeks to get another crack at earning their first win of the 2025 season. Adjustments are needed on both sides of the ball, and I am sure it will be two weeks filled with some hard conversations among the coaches. All of a sudden, game two is a must-win, so they can not afford to leave any stone unturned. The Miami game was either a wake-up call or a sign of things to come, and we will all find out together on September 13th when Texas A&M comes to South Bend. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @MUretskyIT on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Art by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame fans had high hopes coming into last night’s game at Hard Rock Stadium for Notre Dame Miami. Coming off a national championship game appearance, the buzz surrounding this team was at an all-time high. The summer was marked by a QB competition that seemed to be a back-and-forth battle between CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. After a long fall camp, Notre Dame announced that CJ Carr would take the reins and lead the team into battle at Hard Rock Stadium.   It was always gonna be a tough task for a freshman QB in his first start, on the road, and in a hostile environment, taking on a top 10 team. Carr started out shaky, and you could tell the big game nerves were a factor early on (which is to be expected for a freshman QB in a hostile environment), but as the game went on, his confidence grew and he became more poised. It’s a wonder he was able to perform as well as he did, as the play-calling in this game did Carr no favors whatsoever.   Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! I understand getting your rookie QB comfortable and easing him in, but the number of WR screens that were called, in my opinion, was not a great way to go about it. It became extremely predictable and eventually resulted in an interception. If Carr is the QB you decided to roll with, then you have to trust him more and put him in a place to be successful by letting him take more risks and air it out. Carr will get better if the coaching staff allows him to and stops handcuffing him with short gimmicky plays.   Allowing Carr to have more carries as a first-time starting freshman QB than either of your two running backs, who are arguably the best tandem in college football, is insane! They put too much pressure on a first-time starter instead of relying on their stellar running backs that helped get them to a national championship appearance. That cannot continue going forward and expect to beat big opponents like Texas A&M, among others.   The offensive and defensive line was my most concerning part of the entire game. Neither side could get any push at the line of scrimmage and were bullied off the ball all night long. Is this just a scheme issue that can be corrected? Or is it something much worse? That remains to be seen, but something has to change as the game of football is won in the trenches.   Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. The defense, as bad as it seemed at times, really stepped up in certain crucial situations and kept the first half from being a blowout. With the offense stalling the entire 1 st  quarter, they were on the field way more than they should have been. The biggest problem they faced was that they only got to Beck once, but DC Chris Ash didn’t do them any favors by running a very vanilla defense with little to no creativity or exotic blitz packages to create pressure. The Defensive Line getting no push and getting bullied all night off the ball was the most concerning to me.   The game plan after an entire off-season to prepare for Miami was mind-boggling all night long. With that being said, to take a freshman QB on the road against a top 10 team in a hostile environment like Miami and come away with a chance to win it is impressive. As bad as it looked at times, they came away with a loss of only 3pts which says with the right fixes in schemes, they could turn this around fast. As Marcus Freeman has shown after the NIU loss, he is very capable of making the right changes quickly and efficiently.   However, it won't come easily as Notre Dame now faces a very talented SEC team in Texas A&M at home in less than two weeks. This is an absolute must-win game for the Irish if they have any hopes of making it back to the College Football Playoffs. Will they do what is necessary to complete the task? Only time will tell, but I know neither Marcus Freeman nor this team will go down without a fight! Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Photo by The Irish Tribune Notre Dame football is upon us. It's been 222 days since you've watched that special team. It's also been 222 days since you watched that same special team come up short in the most special game of them all. But you can also say that it's been 222 days of you waiting for this very day, Notre Dame vs Miami, the start of that yearly tradition, the tradition of a pursuit to greatness, national champions, and it starts with Notre Dame taking on Miami at Hard Rock Stadium tonight. As you gather your final feelings and submit your final predictions to your friends and family, consider some analysis and educated predictions from our staff here at The Irish Tribune. May you find yourself even more educated than you were before about what to expect for tonight's top-10 matchup. Let's go! The Analysis Excerpt from Brenden Duffy, Associate Editor & Senior Staff Writer at The Irish Tribune: With rain in the forecast all weekend and an HBCU game being played on the field yesterday, Hard Rock Stadium might be a mess. And I love that for the Irish. Miami may struggle early as they try to maintain a heavy pass offense from last year despite the conditions. Even if Beck can still throw effectively, I trust the Irish DBs more than Miami’s unproven receiving threats. A forced ground game favors ND with its lethal rushing attack. Love & Price behind the strong line should be able to break some plays against a Hurricanes defense that struggled a year ago. Miami’s 1-2 punch at RB and OLine are both talented, but they are opening against what is projected to be one of the top run defenses in the country. Give me the Irish in a gross, low-scoring game. Brenden Duffy's Prediction: 24-14 Notre Dame wins. Some background from our very own. Insider Bruce Straughan: I don't believe this will be a blowout like some fans on both sides are claiming. I think this will be far closer to a battle than either side is willing to admit. Notre dame comes into Hard Rock Stadium against Miami, 0-6 in their last 6 meetings in Miami dating back to 1981. I think Miami matches up well with Notre Dame, and Hard Rock (when they can get it packed) can be a tough place to play. I'm confident in what Notre Dame has on both sides of the ball to win this game. My only concern is an unproven CJ Carr ready to go on the road as a freshman in a tough environment and do what he needs to do to get the victory? Only time will tell, but Notre Dame, I believe, will also rely heavily on the run to take some pressure off of Carr, and Notre Dame comes out with the win. Bruce Straughan's Prediction: 27-21 Irish win. More insight from Luciano Antonini, Founder of The Irish Tribune: Stormy rains are expected in Miami between 5 pm and 10 pm ET, potentially having a major impact that'll hinder air combat for both teams. Luckily for Notre Dame, it has arguably the best running back room and best running back coach in the country. Jeremiyah Love left a lot to be desired in the national championship game; outside of his thrilling 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana and moster goalline touchdown against Penn State, the Heisman hopeful had just 76 yards to his name in Notre Dame's playoff run as he battled a nagging knee injury in the final stretch of the season. It's understandably hard for any player to provide properly for their team with a notable injury like that, but there's two things that matter most here, Jeremiyah delivered when Notre Dame needed him most against Indiana and Penn State with those two incredible touchdown runs, one for 98 yards, and one for two yards, arguably the most thrilling 100 yards of the season, Notre Dame would not have made it to the title game in part because of the clutchness of Jeremiyah Love last season. The second part that matters most is that Jeremiyah is hungrier than ever before. In his feature story with The Players Tribune, written from the heart, he talked about how he will never forget the night of January 20th, the night that Notre Dame lost in the title game to Ohio State. Love also talked about how he doesn't want to just look at history; he wants to make it. With the pending rain in bound for Miami, expect Notre Dame to offer no shortage of running plays against the Hurricanes. Freeman and Denbrock will likely breakout their ground arsenal in Jadarian Price, Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr, and of course, Jeremiyah Love to have a busier than usual workload. I would also expect many tight end utilization plays to take place with pending star Eli Raridon, Ty Washington, and others to get at least several looks from the quarterback. Speaking of quarterbacks, CJ Carr makes his debut today. Again, the potential rain will have a potential impact on how the game is played offensively. Freeman is going to be even more patient with Carr this game. With the potential for rain, it'll be trickier for Carr to make the very plays that led to him being chosen as QB1. Expect more conservative passes utilizing their tight end room, as I mentioned just above. Miami will try to utilize three things primarily on defense the first one being the crowd, and the second one being the rain, and the third being CJ Carr. Home Crowd While Miami isn't known for filling up its stadium, it is known for radiating a vibe that spells trouble for visiting teams. This is exactly what happened to Notre Dame in 2017 . From the turnover chain to bottles being thrown at Notre Dame's team buses, causing a window to be broken, again, not the most welcoming game for Notre Dame. Though the turnover chain has been retired, expect a hostile and rowdy crowd tonight, regardless of the weather, which brings me to my second point. Weather The forecast currently calls for light to moderate rain from 5 pm until about 10 pm. .75 inches in total for that duration is expected. Thunderstorms are not off the table either. I wouldn't bet the house on a rain delay tonight, but I'm also not betting the house on one not happening at all. Miami's defense is going to take advantage of this and likely have a more profound front-seven attack on Notre Dame, with the intent to limit the run, pressure Carr into making less-than-ideal plays, and give their offense as many opportunities as possible to wear Notre Dame's stellar defense out. Offensively for Miami, they will likely have a tougher time moving the ball offensively than Notre Dame will in rainy conditions. CJ Carr Miami is up there in terms of less-than-ideal places you want your first-time starting quarterback to make his debut at; there may be a perfect storm brewing for spoiling CJ Carr's first guaranteed opportunity. Rain could have an impact on both what Carr will be asked to do and how he can go about doing it. Miami's hostile environment will not be doing CJ any favors either. Is it the toughest in the country? I'd argue no. Is it going to be difficult? I'd argue yes. New Miami DC Corey Hetherman enjoyed a base nickel (3-3-5) scheme at Minnesota last season, which rewarded the Gophers and Hetherman with a top-10 performing defense in 2024, allowing only 16.9 points per game on average. Hetherman accomplished a lot with Minnesota in 2024 and is inheriting a Miami defense that saw lesser accomplishments last season, allowing an average of 25.3 ppg. Miami will give Notre Dame a run for its money in all facets of the game. But I anticipate Freeman to have the team prepared the same way he had them prepared for the overwhelming majority of last season. I think the Irish find a way to win one way or another. Luciano's Prediction: 27-17 Notre Dame wins. The Predictions From First & Gold Podcast Co-Host, Clayton Stohler: Miami will have success running the ball early. Their offensive line is the best in the nation going into this game, and it'll be put to good use. But as the game draws on, Notre Dame's defense adjusts, and the mistakes from Carson Beck begin. Much has been made about Beck's experience and production. But the reality is, he is working with a new WR corps, and one that is largely just ok. CJ Daniels and JoJo Trader will be locked down by ND's elite secondary. And the pressure brought by ND's front 4 and Jaylen Sneed proved to be too much. ND's offense boasts what we haven't talked about enough this offseason...the best RB room in the country. ND's offensive line sets the tone immediately, and with that, ND's offense looks efficient in the air as well as explosive on the ground. It'll be close for 2 quarters, but slowly, ND pulls away and controls the game. Jeremiyah Love will have 1 TD, Jadarian Price with another. CJ Carr has a connection forming with Pauling, Fields, and Rairdon. The offense is well-balanced, and while they may turn the ball over 1-2 times, it won't matter. ND's roster emerges as one of the best in the country, right out of the gate. Clayton's Prediction: 30-13 Notre Dame prevails. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Via First & Gold Podcast  Co-Host, Connor Regan: Miami’s defense should be a tick better than last year, but without Cam Ward, I don’t see the same juice on offense. Carson Beck is steady, not fireworks, and that, combined with new targets on the outside, kind of balances things out. I think Chris Ash’s group takes a series or two to settle in, Miami lands an early punch or two, and then the Irish start squeezing the run and forcing Beck to throw into a strong secondary.  On our side, this is a “get CJ Carr in rhythm” game: script some layups early—RPO/glance throws and play-action seams—use motion and tighter formations to keep him clean. Give him a few rollouts, and let the checkdowns to tight ends and the backs build confidence. No hero ball needed; take what’s there, stack completions, and let the big shots come to you. Watch out for Love and Price putting together an impressive day from the backfield that drives a dagger into the Hurricanes’ less-than-stellar defense. By mid-game, the offense is scoring in steady waves while the defense tightens the screws, and Miami tacks on a late field goal to dress up the final score. Bottom line: lock down the run, make Beck be perfect, help Carr settle in early, lean on the run, and ND walks out of Hard Rock with a clean Week 1 win. Connor's Prediction: 31-17 Notre Dame on top. Hear from Brady Burden, Social Media Assistant with The Irish Tribune: This game will be one of those games. Rivalry runs deep. The Irish haven't been successful at Miami since 1977. Both teams will start off slow. Weather conditions will play a factor, but hopefully positively for the Irish. Notre Dame has studied Carson Beck for a while now, dating back to when they played Georgia last year. I think the Irish up front will make a huge impact and get to Beck in the backfield, letting the DBs of Moore, Shuler, Gray, etc. play as advertised. Love and Price will find the end zone several times behind the strong o-line. Expect the wide receiver crew to make a bigger impact than we've seen in the past. Miami is a talented, strong team, no doubt, but give me the Irish to escape with a win. Brady's Prediction: 30-27 Notre Dame over Miami. According to Max Uretsky, Analyst at The Irish Tribune: In what should be a tight game in some bad weather, Notre Dame's defense is going to have to make some late plays to snuff out a go-ahead score by Miami. For CJ Carr's first ever start, a tight end is a QB's best friend, as I expect Eli Raridon to find some holes at the second level vs Miami's zone defense and have a career high in receiving yards Max's Prediction: 24-23 Notre Dame escapes. According to Liam Farrell, Associate Editor & Senior Football Writer: CJ Carr finds his footing early, but does throw an interception right before the 2nd half to keep Miami in the game. The Notre Dame defense struggles early but pitches a 2nd half shutout and keeps Miami to 10 points. Carson Beck can't find his connection with his new receivers, and ultimately, the Irish leave Hard Rock Stadium, 1-0. A bold prediction is that Jadarian Price will have more rushing yards than Jeremiyah Love, but Love will still have 2 TDs. Liam's Prediction: 27-10 Notre Dame wins. Finally, from Noah Wehby, Writer at The Irish Tribune: With potentially poor playing conditions and a new starting QB, Notre Dame's offense will struggle to start the game. Luckily for the offense, the elite Irish defense will keep them in the game and even give them some favorable field position with a turnover or two. As the game wears on, Jeremiyah Love finally breaks one loose for a big play and gives Notre Dame the lead they need to win the game. Carr flashes throughout the game, but makes mistakes expected of a young starter. In the end, he gets the job done, but it is the rest of the team that makes the biggest impact in the win. Noah's Prediction: 24-20 Notre Dame A Special Thank You Thank you for reading this article and supporting our independent journalism. As a special thanks, here is an exclusive offer of 50% off any of our Tribune+ plans using code BEATMIAMI. This offer is only valid between 8/31/25 and 9/1/25. We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy the game! Subscribe to Tribune+ here. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. 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A battle of experienced versus inexperienced at the quarterback position highlights the Top 10 primetime battle on Sunday night. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Marcus Freeman has established that 2025 is a new chapter for the Notre Dame Football program. While the success of the 2024 season displayed the Irish’s potential, Sunday night’s matchup will kickstart whether Notre Dame can continue to elevate. They will be entering Hard Rock Stadium to face-off against No. 10 Miami under-the-lights in a primetime Top 10 matchup.   These are the biggest factors heading into the Week One matchup. Staying On-Script & Avoiding 3rd & Long Everyone in the stadium tomorrow night will know that CJ Carr will be making his first college football start. Miami will likely load the box, and the Irish will be forced to make plays through the air. While Mike Denbrock has admitted he might take some chances with Carr downfield, the veteran offensive coordinator simply has to keep Carr ahead of the chains and give him some easy reads early on.   Involving Jeremiyah Love will certainly be at the forefront of the offensive gameplan, but it should be interesting to see the different ways the Irish will utilize him. Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider has admitted getting Jeremiyah Love around 18-25 touches in big games would be great. An increased workload for the Heisman hopeful would be especially important for the Irish for a back who only averaged 10 rushes per game a season ago.   The attempt to use Jordan Faison on wide receiver screens or Eli Raridon coming across the field could be easy completions to settle Carr into the game early on. If Carr starts clicking early, then we could see the redshirt freshman quarterback looking downfield to Malachi Fields. However, early on, especially in the first half, I’d expect a run-heavy gameplan mixed with simple pre-snap reads for Carr to get his feet under him. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Carson Beck's Connection With His Receivers On the other side of the ball, the biggest question mark will be Carson Beck’s performance. In my opinion, the fact that Beck has missed out on spring practice will be a bigger factor than most people let on. Last season, Irish fans saw the growing pains Riley Leonard had as a thrower after not having the spring to establish and fortify his connection with his weapons on the outside. While Beck is coming into Miami with a more prestigious passing background, he is also coming off a more impactful injury than Leonard suffered in terms of throwing the football. The elbow injury for Beck, that was suffered in a Hail Mary attempt in the SEC championship game, is one that may be extremely impactful for Beck mentally, especially as he navigates in the pocket. It would also be one thing if Beck had a reliable option returning to Miami this season, yet the Hurricanes lost their top six wide receivers from a year ago. Even though the Hurricanes restocked their passing attack through the transfer portal, the fact that there is limited continuity in terms of less practice time is a cause for concern for the Hurricanes. If you couple that with the fact that the Hurricanes are facing one of the most talented secondaries in the nation, I'd give a slight edge to the Notre Dame defense. The cause for concern for the Irish would be the chess match between defensive coordinator Chris Ash and Miami OC Shannon Dawson. It will be a difficult matchup for Ash in his first game in the DC role at Notre Dame, but he has plenty of talent in all three levels of the defense to help him out. Electric Returners Highlight Special Teams While both Miami and Notre Dame feature new kickers, Bert Auburn and Noah Burnette respectively, the kick returners for each team might be the biggest X-factor in special teams. Notre Dame has already stated Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price could very well be the two kickoff returners for the Irish, enlisting their two most electric options. For Miami, their addition of Keelan Marion from BYU was a big one for their receiving corp, but also because he was the CBS Sports First Team All-American Kickoff Returner in 2024. While the new kickers may be the biggest scape goats at the end of the night, these returners have the explosiveness to make a drastic impact on this Top 10 game. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

How CJ Carr, Mike Denbrock, and Chris Ash turn last year’s surge into a season-long plan for January. Here's our 2025 Notre Dame football preview. Art by The Irish Tribune 2024 proved the program’s ceiling; 2025 tests how repeatable it is. With CJ Carr stepping into QB1, Mike Denbrock’s offense must create layups early and explosives on schedule, while Chris Ash’s first season is judged by one metric: fewer big plays allowed. The opener at Miami and a primetime tilt with Texas A&M will grade the Irish before mid-September, and in a 12-team playoff, those games shape not just entry but seed. If Carr ramps quickly and the defense travels, Notre Dame’s path isn’t hypothetical. It’s paved. Notre Dame Football Preview 2025 At-A-Glance Preseason rank:  No.6 Head coach / Year:  Marcus Freeman: Year 4 OC:  Mike Denbrock: Year 2 DC:  Chris Ash: Year 1 2024 finish:  (14-2) Returning production: (Offense: 5) / (Defense: 6) Transfers: (In: 8) / (Out: 14) Notre Dame enters 2025 with a title-caliber floor and the same high-leverage question: how fast can a first-year starter settle in while a new DC keeps the explosive plays capped? If the Irish survive the front-loaded grind, January is on the table. Why this year is different Staff & identity:  Denbrock’s balanced, TE-friendly pro-spread returns; Ash streamlines the defense (press-match rules, pro tackling emphasis). QB plan:  Scripted layups early for CJ Carr (RPO/glance, play-action seams), then build to 3–4 vertical shots per half by mid-season. Roster shape:  Trenches travel; portal adds at WR/TE raise the ceiling; edge-rotation depth and special teams floor are the watch-items. Schedule The Irish open on the road in primetime at No. 10 Miami . A perfectly timed Week 2 bye  sets up another national showcase at home against No. 19 Texas A&M . From there, it’s six straight without a break: a trip to Arkansas, a visit from No. 25 Boise State  (last year’s G5 CFP entrant), and the rivalry game with USC under the lights. The second bye  doesn’t arrive until late October, after USC, teeing up a five-game November sprint. November eases a bit on paper—but it’s the classic “don’t blink” stretch. Notre Dame travels to Boston College, hosts Navy, heads to Pittsburgh, celebrates Senior Day against Steve Angeli’s  Syracuse, then closes the year at Stanford. It’s seven true home games  and five road games  overall; only two road trips in the first half, then three of the last five  away from home. Handle the front-loaded grind, and the Playoff math gets friendly. Slip late, and résumé optics get messy. The biggest hurdles are obvious: the opener at Miami (heat, noise, veteran roster) and the roster-talent test against A&M after the early bye. If Notre Dame drops one there, the slate sets up for a long, clean run into Selection Sunday. Win both, and a top-four seed is firmly in play. Schedule Shape Coin Flips (45–55%)  — Miami, Texas A&M, USC Lean Wins (60–70%)  —Arkansas, Boise State, Pitt, Syracuse Should-Wins (75%+)  — Purdue, NC State, BC, Navy, Stanford Unit Breakdowns QB — CJ Carr & the plan CJ’s baseline is accuracy and rhythm: quick feet, clean mechanics, and hitting the throw that’s there. His upside shows when play-action opens the field — deep crossers, posts, and seams to the tight ends. In September, expect the staff to keep things friendly: lots of motion, tighter formations to help vs press, simple read-and-rip concepts, a few rollouts, and easy checkdowns to Eli Raridon , Ty Washington , and the backs. Coaching ask: no hero ball. Take the layups, let the big plays come from the design. RB / OL — identity & tells The backs — Jeremiyah Love , Jadarian Price , with Gi’Bran Payne  as the steady third — give you efficiency plus burst. The run game is downhill first (power/counter), with some pulls to the edge and enough variety to keep defenses honest. In short yardage you’ll see extra tight ends and tighter splits to move people. In pass protection, they’ll help the tackles with tight ends chipping and keep a back in now and then against scary edge rushers. Up front the core five is LT Anthonie Knapp, LG Billy Schrauth, C Ashton Craig, RG Guerby Lambert, RT Aamil Wagner  (with Styles Prescod / Sullivan Abshire  ready). When defenses start jumping the run, the answer is play-action shots to the seam and backside digs. WR / TE — roles & man answers On the outside, Malachi Fields  is your big “X” who wins back-shoulders and glances. Inside, Will Pauling  is the chain-mover and Jaden Greathouse  punishes soft zones. Jordan Faison  brings speed and motion stress, with Micah Gilbert and KK Smith  rotating in. Tight ends Eli Raridon  and Ty Washington  are featured — the seam, the over route, and the little leaks off run looks. Versus man coverage, expect bunches, rubs, and switch releases to free guys without asking receivers to win perfect one-on-ones every snap. DL / LB — rush, fits, subs Edges Boubacar Traoré  and Joshua Burnham  bring length; Junior Tuihalamaka / Jordan Botelho  can give heavier looks. Inside, it’s a wave of Jason Onye, Gabriel Rubio, Donovan Hinish , with portal help from Jared Dawson  and Elijah Hughes . The pass-rush plan is mostly four rushers with plenty of twists and movement, plus a well-timed extra rusher on obvious passing downs. Against the run, set a firm edge, spill the ball to help, and tackle clean. At linebacker, think Drayk Bowen  and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa  in the middle, Jaylen Sneed / Jaiden Ausberry  as rangy complements (with Madden Faraimo  depth). Nickel is the default vs three-wide; on long yardage, they’ll bring in an extra DB and a hybrid to sit on crossing routes. DB — coverage & leverage Christian Gray  and Leonard Moore  start outside; Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith  is the nickel, which in this defense is basically a full-time starter. Safeties Adon Shuler  and Jalen Stroman  give you range and physical tackling. Expect a healthy mix of man and zone with late safety rotations to muddy the QB’s picture. Priorities are simple: keep a lid on the deep ball, contest the quick stuff, communicate everything, and tackle in space. When they do go man, one safety will often lurk underneath to jump crossers. ST — kicking, returns, hidden yards Noah Burnette  handles field goals/PATs, Marcello Diomede  kickoffs, James Rendell  punts, Joseph Vinci  snaps, Tyler Buchner  holds. The goal: be automatic inside ~45 yards and have a clear “go-for-it or kick” line beyond that. On kickoffs, aim for touchbacks or high, hang-time balls the coverage team can crush. Punts are directional — win net  yardage, not just distance. In the return game, take the freebies (fair catch when it’s smart) and only green-light returns with space. The weekly target: +40 to +60 hidden yards  from clean special teams, one field-flipping punt, and no return penalties. Three Swing Stats   Early-down success rate (Offense):  Ceiling if ≥ 50% ; danger if ≤ 44% .Why: keeps Carr in scriptable downs, lets PA live. Explosive-pass rate allowed (15+ yd): Top-20 target ≤ 11% ; danger ≥ 14% .Why: Ash’s philosophy is built on capping chunks. Red-zone TD rate (offense/defense):  O ≥ 67%+ ; D ≤ 52% .Why: November and CFP games are decided by 7s vs 3s. Notre Dame Injuries Severity key: Minimal  = week-to-week / limited early; plausible near-term return Moderate  = multi-week / ramp-up needed when cleared Out for the Miami game Out for the season Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Team-By-Team Breakdown Sun, Aug 31 — at Miami (FL) | 7:30 PM, ABC Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL  Staff/QB:  Mario Cristobal; OC Shannon Dawson; DC Corey Hetherman | QB Carson Beck (experienced, calm) Strengths:  Speed everywhere and a front four that can wreck drives. With Beck, they’re steady on third downs and dangerous on deep play-action throws.  Weaknesses:  New DC + new pieces = early communication tests; finishing drives has been hot-and-cold.  Players to watch:  QB Carson Beck , EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. , LT Francis Mauigoa .  Why it matters to ND:  Keep CJ Carr upright and patient, then punish aggressive safeties with tight-end seams. Defensively, make Miami string long drives—no freebies over the top.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.  Even on the road, ND’s defense should keep Miami’s deep shots in front and force long drives. If Carr stays mistake-free and the run game controls tempo, a late stop or field goal is enough to leave Hard Rock with a close win. Sat, Sep 13 — vs Texas A&M | 7:30 PM, NBC/Peacock Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN  Staff/QB:  Mike Elko; OC Collin Klein; DC Jay Bateman | QB Marcel Reed (dual-threat) Strengths:  Fast defense that mixes looks well; QB run game can tilt short yardage.  Weaknesses:  Passing consistency comes and goes; penalties can be drive-killers.  Players to watch:  QB Marcel Reed , S Bryce Anderson , RB Le’Veon Moss .  Why it matters to ND:  Stay ahead of the sticks and force Reed to win from the pocket; tight ends and balance can settle it at home.  Prediction — Texas A&M win.  A&M’s disguise and QB legs create just enough chaos in Carr’s second start. One turnover or short field swings a primetime game that’s basically 50/50. Sat, Sep 20 — vs Purdue | 3:30 PM, NBC/Peacock Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN  Staff/QB:  Barry Odom; OC Josh Henson; DC Mike Scherer | QB Ryan Browne (big arm) Strengths:  Scrappy defense that moves up front; reliable back in Devin Mockobee .  Weaknesses:  Offense is mid-rebuild; depth across the lines still maturing.  Players to watch:  RB Devin Mockobee , WR De’Nylon Morrissette  (transfer), DE CJ Madden  (transfer).  Why it matters to ND:  Play clean and physical—ND’s depth should show after halftime.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   At home, ND has a clear edge on the lines and more ways to score. Purdue can hang for a half, but the Irish separate with tight-end usage and a fourth-quarter run game. Sat, Sep 27 — at Arkansas | 12:00 PM, ABC  Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR  Staff/QB:  Sam Pittman; OC Bobby Petrino; DC Travis Williams | QB Taylen Green (size + speed) Strengths:  Tough run game and a quarterback who can house it with his legs; Petrino scripts explosive shots.  Weaknesses:  Pass protection leaks; defense gambles and surrenders chunks.  Players to watch:  QB Taylen Green , WR Isaiah Sategna , LB Jaheim Thomas .  Why it matters to ND:  Don’t let the crowd or QB legs snowball—tackle well, win field position, and take your shots on their corners.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   Arkansas will land a big play, but if ND limits QB scrambles and wins special teams, the Irish grind out a one-score road result. Sat, Oct 4 — vs Boise State | 3:30 PM, NBC/Peacock Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN  Staff/QB:  Spencer Danielson; OC Bush Hamdan; DC Erik Chinander | QB Maddux Madsen (gutsy distributor) Strengths:  Cohesive, well-coached outfit; they stay on schedule and hit timely crossers.  Weaknesses:  Size/length mismatch outside vs elite teams; can be worn down by power run games.  Players to watch:  QB Maddux Madsen , slot WR playmaker, LB Andrew Simpson .  Why it matters to ND:  Lean on the OL and make them tackle for four quarters; avoid turnovers and it tilts Irish.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.  Boise scraps, but ND’s physical run game and a couple of play-action shots create breathing room by the fourth. Sat, Oct 11 — vs NC State | 3:30 PM, Peacock (exclusive) Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN  Staff/QB:  Dave Doeren; OC Kurt Roper; DC D.J. Eliot | QB CJ Bailey (big arm) Strengths:  Physical front seven; comfortable in games played in the 20s.  Weaknesses:  Explosive plays on offense come in spurts; new-OC timing early.  Players to watch:   QB CJ Bailey; WR Noah Rogers; top off-ball LB Caden Fordham. Why it matters to ND:  Stay patient, steal third downs with the slot/TE, and avoid short fields; they’re built to hang around.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   State’s defense will get stops, but ND’s balance and red-zone edge push it out of reach in the second half. Sat, Oct 18 — vs USC | 7:30 PM, NBC/Peacock Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN  Staff/QB:  Lincoln Riley; OC Luke Huard; DC D’Anton Lynn | QB Jayden Maiava (creative, confident) Strengths:  Still dangerous on offense—great spacing and speed at receiver. Lynn has the defense trending up with better tackling and structure.  Weaknesses:  Can be pushed around by committed run games; new QB chemistry under lights.  Players to watch:  QB Jayden Maiava , WR Zachariah Branch , DE Anthony Lucas .  Why it matters to ND:  Control the game with the run and hit a couple of timely shots; on defense, keep everything in front and make USC finish drives.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   South Bend at night favors ND’s physicality. If the Irish cap USC’s explosives, one or two Carr throws decide it late. Sat, Nov 1 — at Boston College | TBA  Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA  Staff/QB:  Bill O’Brien; OC Will Lawing; DC Tim Lewis | QB Dylan Lonergan (steady) Strengths:  Pro-style offense that grinds clock and sets up play-action; buttoned-up situationally.  Weaknesses:  Depth and top-end speed lag behind top-10 programs.  Players to watch:  QB Dylan Lonergan , WR Lewis Bond , RB Kye Robichaux .  Why it matters to ND:  Avoid turnovers and red-zone stalls—BC wants ugly and close.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   ND’s size and depth wear down BC over 60 minutes; a couple of red-zone touchdowns instead of field goals widen the gap. Sat, Nov 8 — vs Navy | 7:30 PM, NBC/Peacock  Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN  Staff/QB:  Brian Newberry; OC Drew Cronic; DC P.J. Volker | QB Blake Horvath (option keeper) Strengths:  Disciplined, low-mistake football that shortens the game and tests your tackling.  Weaknesses:  Less explosive talent; two-score deficits are tough to chase.  Players to watch:   QB Blake Horvath; fullback (B-back) Alex Tecza; slot-back Eli Heidenreich. Why it matters to ND:  Assignment football for 60 minutes; get an early lead and don’t hand them extra possessions.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   Take care of the ball, tackle the perimeter, and the Irish pull away once Navy is forced to throw. Sat, Nov 15 — at Pittsburgh | TBA  Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA  Staff/QB:  Pat Narduzzi; OC Kade Bell; DC Randy Bates | QB Eli Holstein (big arm) Strengths:  Classic Pitt DNA—tough defensive front; contested-catch receivers; field-position fights.  Weaknesses:  Protection can wobble; offense cools if explosives aren’t there.  Players to watch:  QB Eli Holstein ; boundary WR Kenny Johnson ; DT Sean FitzSimmons .   Why it matters to ND:  Win third down on both sides and stay clean on special teams—Acrisure is where weird things happen.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   Grind game. If ND avoids the one big mistake and flips the field a couple times, they’re the steadier offense down the stretch. Sat, Nov 22 — vs Syracuse | 3:30 PM, NBC/Peacock Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN  Staff/QB:  Fran Brown; OC Jeff Nixon; DC Elijah Robinson | QB Steve Angeli (accurate, quick-trigger) Strengths:  QB-friendly offense with screens and play-action; rising energy/talent floor.  Weaknesses:  Depth is still building; secondary can be stressed by size.  Players to watch:  QB Steve Angeli , RB LeQuint Allen , DL Denis Jaquez Jr.   Why it matters to ND:  Match their early juice, then lean on the run and tight ends—if ND avoids turnovers, talent separates.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.  Angeli will move it in rhythm, but ND’s lines and red-zone edge make this a two-score day. Sat, Nov 29 — at Stanford | TBA  Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA  Staff/QB:  Frank Reich (interim); staff reshuffled on defense | QB Ben Gulbranson (steady) Strengths:  Smart, methodical offense that leans on play-action and tight ends; they’ll try to slow the game.  Weaknesses:  Roster depth and team speed still catching up; explosive plays are scarce.  Players to watch:   QB Ben Gulbranson; lead TE Sam Roush; defensive tone-setter LB Matt Rose Why it matters to ND:  Start fast, pound the run, don’t give short fields—the longer this stays close, the trickier it gets.  Prediction — Notre Dame win.   ND’s ground game and defense control it wire-to-wire; businesslike finish for the Legends Trophy. Season call:  11–1 regular season (only loss vs Texas A&M). Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle  here! Season Prediction Gone are the Brian Kelly-era wobbles. This roster and staff have a high floor; the ceiling hinges on a first-year QB finding rhythm and Ash’s defense shrinking the explosives. Most likely, Notre Dame splits the first two showcase games, stacks wins through October, and manages November without a late stumble. Postseason vibe:  CFP berth with a semifinal ceiling unless the passing game levels up by December. Floor / Most Likely / Ceiling Ceiling:  12–0 — Carr hits A-minus by mid-October; ST adds points; turnovers stay green. Most likely:  11–1 — split Miami/A&M, hold serve at home, steal one tight roadie. Floor:  10–2 — QB onboarding drags + a late special-teams leak flips a November game. Win-total Math Coin Flips (45–55%)  — Miami, Texas A&M, USC Lean Wins (60–70%)  — Arkansas, Boise State, Pitt, Syracuse Should-Wins (75%+)  — Purdue, NC State, BC, Navy, Stanford  Projection:  [11-1 ] What a playoff run looks like QB arc:  protected to proactive; third-down answers travel in November. Explosives vs elite DBs:  ~3 successful shots/game (boundary isolations + TE seams). Defense vs top-15 offenses:  cap posts/go’s; force FGs; 3 sacks/turnovers per game. Hidden yards:  net +40–60 via punts, kickoffs, return choices. New CFP Format Field:  12 teams - 5 highest-ranked conference champs (auto bids)  + 7 at-large . Byes:   Seeds 1–4  (by ranking) get first-round byes  — independents like ND are eligible. First round:   Seeds 5–12  play on-campus at the higher seed (12@5, 11@6, 10@7, 9@8). Bracket:  Fixed after Round 1 (no reseeding); quarterfinals/semis in New Year’s Six bowls. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @thatconnorregan on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Last season, when Notre Dame opened their schedule with Texas A&M on the road, they benefited from having a veteran presence under center in Riley Leonard. This season, it will be CJ Carr taking the first snap of 2025, and although his upside as a passer is higher than Leonard's was, so is his learning curve. Carr will have the good fortune of playing behind a Joe Moore Award-contending offensive line and handing it off to the most dynamic rotation of running backs in the country, but make no mistake about it, this is a colossal test for the young signal caller in his first game. Photo via University of Miami Athletics Earlier this week, we went over what to look out for when it comes to Miami's offense, and now we turn our attention to the other side of the ball, which is expected to be much improved for UM this year. Miami's defense was much maligned a season ago, and their bad habit of giving up explosive plays through the air ultimately rendered what their offense was able to accomplish null and void, and cost them a chance to go to the College Football Playoff. In the off-season, Mario Cristobal wiped the slate clean and hired Defensive Coordinator Corey Hetherman away from Minnesota, where he quietly led the Gophers to being one of the best defenses in the Big 10. UM also brought in some high-level transfers at all three levels, and seeing how it all meshes together out of the gate will be interesting to say the least. I went through film on a lot of different facets of what Notre Dame could be facing down in Miami Gardens on Labor Day, and I am going to break it all down. Defensive Coordinator - Corey Hetherman There is no better place to start than the man who is going to be in charge of the new look defense for Miami. You never know what elements of a scheme a coordinator will carry over to a new squad, but chances are that the foundation of what he likes to do will stay in place. Hetherman played a lot of base nickel (3-3-5) in the film that I watched, as he liked to have an extra defensive back on the field to mix up coverages. There was plenty of variance to what looks he gave on the back end, but Cover 2 and Cover 3 seem to be his bread and butter. In the above clip, it is just a simple Cover 3 look for Minnesota. With the corners so far off, USC goes to the quick game and is able to pick up an easy seven-yard gain. Nothing is glaring about this play, but I just want to set up the things we will get into next. Again, you can see how much cushion the field side corner (top of the screen) is playing with. USC's QB Miller Moss is a little late to make the throw, so it gives the corner a chance to break on the pass and limit yards after the catch, but with a young QB like CJ Carr, he is going to need to recognize these things quickly and take what the defense gives him. Against the Cover 3 here, Drew Allar was able to hit Minnesota for a big play. The play-action holds the middle safety, who is supposed to get back to cover the middle third of the field, the boundary corner, who technically is supposed to continue to drop, stops to cover the stick route from the WR on his side, which allows the Penn State WR to run a Post to a wide open middle of the field. Minnesota did not give up a lot of explosive plays, but the point in showing this play is to say Notre Dame needs to take what the defense gives them. If it's the short game like in the previous clips, CJ Carr will need to get the ball out fast, but if there is a bust in Miami's Zone Coverage, he should take his shots. This play is from Miami last year. It is a Cover 3 look as well, and the safety cheats a little too far in one direction and is unable to get back to the middle on time. The corner to the top of the screen, OJ Frederique, who is the only starter from last year's secondary who will start again this year, did a semi-poor job himself. With no vertical threats on his side of the field at all, he should have carried the WR to help out the safety. The play results in a touchdown for Louisville. Very similar to the previous play from Minnesota. This is where things get more interesting from a scheme standpoint. Right before the snap, you can see the player that was lined up as a Cornerback rotate up to become a Safety in a Cover 2 look. The safety he replaced rolls down into a Tampa 2 linebacker role, and the player who was showing blitz on the edge drops into the flats to replace the Cornerback. That is a lot for a young QB like Carr to have to process post-snap. Same concept here, just from the opposite side of the field. USC's QB does a better job recognizing it and is able to hit the soft spot in the zone before the linebacker can fill his area. They ran a similar concept here vs Penn State and almost got Drew Allar to make a costly mistake. This is something that popped up on tape consistently, and Hetherman was able to use it to confuse QBs like Drew Allar and Miller Moss, both of whom have significantly more experience than CJ Carr, but if Mike Denbrock can dial up some quick throws and time it against some of these late rotations, there should be some underneath plays to be had. As difficult as it may be for a rookie QB to read this type of thing post-snap, it could be equally difficult for Miami to implement it. As I mentioned above, OJ Frederique, who is now a true Sophomore, is the only starter in the secondary who was on the Miami roster a season ago. For a secondary to be successful, it requires a lot of communication, and with so many new pieces on the back end for UM, getting everybody in the proper spot with all of these late disguises and rotations could prove to be hard in week 1. Another thing of note is when Minnesota played Penn State, although they still played a lot of nickel, they kept their safety in the box for a lot of the game to help play the run. I expect Miami to do something similar vs Notre Dame in an attempt to keep Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price in check and force Carr to make some plays. Defensive End - Akheem Mesidor On paper, the defensive line for Miami is probably the strongest unit of the defense. Junior Rueben Bain looks to return to his Freshman form after some nagging injuries limited him a season ago. David Blay is a 1st Team Conference USA transfer from Louisiana Tech and is a force at the point of attack in the middle of the line. Miami's coaching staff also feels good about the development of Justin Scott, another true Sophomore, who gets his chance to crack the starting rotation this year. That leaves Akheem Mesidor, who has bounced around from edge to interior defensive line, but figures to be a mainstay at defensive end entering his Senior campaign. Lined up as a 3-tech in the above play, Mesidor (No. 3) shows off his lateral agility and balance as he runs a stunt with another defensive tackle, and takes on a double team, freeing up his teammate to get home for the sack. Here, he is working as an edge player and shows good upfield burst and timing on another stunt, and again forces an errant throw from the QB. Mesidor plays with some violent hands as a pass rusher and uses a good rip move. Left Tackle Anthonie Knapp will most likely draw Mesidor on the majority of occasions, and if there was one area Knapp struggled with last year, it was oversetting in pass protection. Because of Mesidor's lateral agility, Knapp will need to stay square and not overcommit on his initial move. If there is an area I feel Notre Dame can attack Mesidor, it is probably in the run game. He gets completely washed down the LOS from his end spot in the above play, which almost became a TD. Can Mesidor hold the point of attack in the run game? It's a question Notre Dame should look to get answered early as they try to establish the ground attack. Mesidor faces a bit of a double team from the Center and Left Guard in the above clip, and loses his gap integrity, which allows the running back to hit the open hole. Here he is playing the run from a defensive end alignment and loses some balance trying to attack between the Left Guard and Left Tackle. The Guard washes him upfield, the looping linebacker whiffed on the play, and Louisville turns it into a home run touchdown. Attacking the edges in the run game may end up being the best course of action for Notre Dame come Sunday night. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! These are just a few things that I will be looking out for from Miami's defense in week 1. CJ Carr has the opportunity to hit the ground running against a top-ten opponent, but will need to be disciplined and play within the structure of Denbrock's play calling. How he deals with Hetherman's use of deception post-snap will be a focal point in this contest. Notre Dame's deep WR room should get their chances against a talented, but inexperienced secondary in terms of time spent playing together as a cohesive unit. Jeremiyah Love, the most dynamic player on the Notre Dame roster, is fully healthy after playing through nagging injuries during last year's playoff run and has the skill set to test UM's edge play against the run. It's time to get a glimpse of how high the ceiling is for the Irish offense in 2025. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @MUretskyIT on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

USC has proposed extending its rivalry with Notre Dame, as well as the idea of moving the game to earlier in the season. The Notre Dame vs USC rivalry may live on. Here are all the details. Photo by USC Athletics (left) / The Irish Tribune (right) According to the Los Angeles Times , Southern Cal has made “an amended offer” to Notre Dame to extend the annual series between the two college football powers for multiple years beyond 2025, per USC Athletic Director Jennifer Cohen. While no agreement has been reached as of Thursday, Cohen is "very hopeful" that an agreement between the two schools will happen "very soon". In addition to the proposed future games, the Trojans have also pitched the possibility of playing the storied rivalry earlier in the season, such as in September, which would better suit Southern Cal's regular season schedule as the team is expected to make several trips to the midwest and east coast sections of the country every season with them being a member of the Big Ten conference. USC will travel to play Purdue (Indiana), Illinois, Notre Dame (Indiana), and Nebraska this season. In 2024, the Trojans traveled to play Michigan, Minnesota, and Maryland at their stadiums. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle  here! Playing Notre Dame earlier in the season, most likely September, would allow the Trojans the ability to space out long-distance travel across a wider time frame as opposed to primarily October and November, when the bulk of conference play takes place for most teams. Moving the series to earlier in the season would mean Notre Dame would have to adjust its scheduling strategy of ending the regular season in California every season. Notre Dame notoriously has played all of their final regular-season games, with the exclusion of 2020 (Covid), in California since 1996. Notre Dame leaders have cited the opportunity for the team to play on the West Coast every year as a reason for the scheduling philosophy, while others believe it's in regard to Notre Dame's stunning loss to Boston College in 1993 that potentially cost the Irish a path to a National Championship. Since then, the Irish have played every final regular season game, besides Syracuse in 2020 due to the pandemic and an away game at Air Force in 1995, at either Stanford or Southern Cal, since that loss to Boston College at home. Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Pete Bevacqua and Notre Dame have been pushing for a long-term rivalry scheduling agreement with USC all this time, with USC previously in favor of a more short-term agreement due to the uncertainty of the future of the College Football Playoff's format and how many automatic bids would be awarded to the Big Ten conference. Marcus Freeman has cited his openness to play the Trojans anytime or way during the season, expressing his desire to keep the rivalry going as long as possible. USC HC Lincoln Riley has also expressed his desire to continue the rivalry as well, citing it as a reason he took the USC job. No matter what stems from these negotiations, The Irish Tribune will keep you posted. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @LucciAntonini on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here ! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Last season, the Irish and Hurricanes defenses had drastically different impacts on their seasons. Notre Dame consistently called upon the defense to make big, clutch plays, which ultimately landed them in the CFP Championship. For Miami, their defense allowed 31 or more points in six games, including in the regular season finale loss at Syracuse, which cost the 'Canes a chance to compete in the CFP. Following an offseason involving a lot of player shuffling for both squads, we preview each team's 2025 defense below: Photo by The Irish Tribune Interior Line: Ahmad Moten Sr. (Miami) - The 6’3, 325-pound tackle is set for a breakout season after serving as a key backup last year, appearing in each game with two starts. Moten finished with 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a sack. The redshirt junior makes an impact against both the run and pass games. Justin Scott (Miami) - A former Notre Dame target, the versatile sophomore typically lines up inside but is capable of kicking out to the edge if needed. As a true freshman last year, the 6’4 lineman recorded seven tackles, two for a loss, and a sack. Scott looked solid as a pass rusher, but he excelled against the run in his limited playing time a year ago. Gabriel Rubio (Notre Dame) - Following the NFL departures of Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III, the 6-5, 321-pound redshirt senior is set for a breakout year. In 11 games played with three starts last season, Rubio tallied 24 tackles and a sack. He played well against the run, but if he can take the next step as a pass rusher, the veteran could very likely follow in Mills and Cross’s footsteps. Donovan Hinish (Notre Dame) - One of the more experienced returning players is the redshirt junior and Captain. Hinish played in each game last season with three starts, recording 35 tackles and 4.5 sacks, including a clutch sack to seal Notre Dame’s victory over Georgia. The 6-2, 277-pound lineman played very well as a pass rusher, but his run-stopping capabilities were a bit concerning last year. If he improves this aspect, the Irish may not take as much of a step back in this position as some may believe. Others to watch: David Blay Jr. (Miami), Jason Onye (Notre Dame), Jared Dawson (Notre Dame) Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Edge Rushers: Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) - The star of this defense is the 6’3, 275-pound versatile edge rusher who can attack from either side of the line. After earning ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2023, Bain started just nine games last year after suffering an injury in the team’s opener that caused him to miss some time. The potential future first-round pick still tallied 23 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks while earning an All-ACC honorable mention nod. A fully healthy Bain is going to make an impact in each game he plays. Akheem Mesidor (Miami) - A Canadian and former West Virginia transfer, the experienced lineman returns for his fourth year at Miami and sixth season of college football. Another versatile piece for this defense, Mesidor typically lines up on the right side but is more than capable of playing off the left edge or even moving into the interior. Last year, he started all 13 games and finished with 32 tackles, nine for loss, 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble as an overall, well-rounded lineman. Bryce Young (Notre Dame) - Last year’s special teams hero has Irish fans excited to see what the Notre Dame legacy can do when given the opportunity he has this season. Along with two blocked field goals and a blocked punt, Young appeared in every game last season, posting 23 tackles. The 6-7, 271-pound versatile defender is a tackling machine, and assuming he takes the next step in his development, he looks poised for a breakout year. Boubacar Traore (Notre Dame) - Last season, Traore looked like a potential game-changer for the Irish defense after making two starts in five games, but his season was cut short due to injury during the Louisville game. The 6-4, 250-pound Vyper recorded three sacks, a pick-six, and a forced fumble in a two-week span last year. The redshirt sophomore has been named to the 2025 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Pre-Season Watch List, as the opportunity to get back on the field is nearly here. Others to watch: Junior Tuihalamaka (Notre Dame), Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame), Jordan Botelho (Notre Dame) Linebackers: Mohamed Toure (Miami) - Miami received a wealth of experience when they landed this interior linebacker from Rutgers in the spring. Toure spent six years at Rutgers and enters his seventh season of college football, now with the Hurricanes. Toure missed all of last season and 2022 with torn ACLs. Ironically, the 6-2 linebacker’s last game was against Miami in the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl, where he recorded five tackles and a sack in the Rutgers victory. Across 37 games played in his career, Toure has totaled 168 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks. He impressed when he last played in 2023, playing the part of a well-rounded leader in the middle of the defense. Raul Aguirre Jr. (Miami) - Following the departure of the team’s leading tackler and top linebacker, Francisco Mauigoa, this junior is set to step in and take over. Last season, Aguirre appeared in 10 games with one start and recorded 27 tackles and added a touchdown to his name when he scooped up a fumble in the endzone against Louisville. In his somewhat limited playing time, the 6-2 inside backer showed he can be a force against the run. Wesley Bissainthe (Miami) - The senior is a returning starter, with 23 starts in 26 appearances across the past two seasons, including starting each game last year. The versatile backer can play outside, inside, or slot corner if needed. Bissainthe finished second on the team with 59 tackles a year ago, showcasing his playmaking ability. While he is certainly impactful against the run and as a pass rusher, the 6-1 backer’s coverage skills have to be among the best in the ACC for his position. Jaylen Sneed (Notre Dame) - A versatile defender, the 6-2, 230-pound linebacker returns after playing in each game last season with six starts. Sneed finished the year with 51 tackles, six for a loss, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown when he picked up a fumble in the endzone against Navy. The redshirt junior has the potential to be one of the top backers in the country, making impact plays against the run and as a pass rusher. Drayk Bowen (Notre Dame) - The junior interior backer was always going to be a leader for this season’s team, and that was acknowledged after Bowen’s teammates voted him as a Captain. The 6-2, 235-pounder returns after starting all 16 games last year, where he racked up 78 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two pass breakups. Bowen could be not just one of the top linebackers, but one of the top defenders in the country, with no real weaknesses in his game. Others to watch: Jaylin Alderman (Miami), Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (Notre Dame), Jaiden Ausberry (Notre Dame) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Defensive Backs: OJ Frederique Jr. (Miami) - Miami found a former three-star gem in this sophomore cornerback. As a true freshman last season, Frederique appeared in all 13 games with seven starts, making an immediate impact. He finished the year tied for a team-high seven pass breakups, in addition to 30 tackles and an interception. The six-foot corner was named a Freshman All-American by 247 Sports and earned an honorable mention All-ACC selection. The Hurricanes have their lockdown corner in Frederique for, potentially, the next couple of seasons. Jakobe Thomas (Miami) - The fifth-year senior DB is a former MTSU and Tennessee transfer. Thomas, primarily a Safety, enters his first season with the Hurricanes after one year with the Volunteers where he underwhelmed as a backup. Before Tennessee, Thomas spent three seasons with MTSU where he flashed his potential in 2023 after finishing the year with 71 tackles in 11 games. Over the course of his career, the 6-2 S has tallied 130 tackles, seven for a loss, and 14 pass breakups. While solid against the run, Thomas could be someone the Irish pass offense picks on in coverage. Zechariah Poyser (Miami) - Another transfer in the DB room comes from Jacksonville State’s Zechariah Poyser. The 6-2 redshirt sophomore exploded last season with the Gamecocks, posting 75 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions. Miami has high hopes for the highly sought-after transfer target who does his best work lined up in the slot. Poyser held his own against Louisville in Jacksonville State’s lone contest against a power-conference school, but time will tell how he translates to the weekly grind of ACC competition, compared to C-USA. Xavier Lucas (Miami) - The third transfer of this newly formed DB room comes from Wisconsin, where he was teammates with new Notre Dame WR Will Pauling. Lucas, a 6-2 sophomore, impressed last year as a true freshman, recording 18 tackles, three pass breakups, and an interception in 11 games played with one start. Lucas and Frederique should combine to be one of the top outside corner duos in the ACC this year. Christian Gray (Notre Dame) - One half of the returning starting CB duo is the six-foot junior who started 15 games last year. Gray finished the season with 35 tackles, nine pass breakups, and three interceptions, including a 99-yard pick-six against USC and a clutch interception with under a minute remaining against Penn State, which set up the game-winning score. After a rough game in the CFP Championship, albeit against an elite Ohio State WR core, Gray can be counted on in the clutch and should be in store for another solid season. Adon Shuler (Notre Dame) - The Irish return their starting Boundary Safety with the redshirt sophomore coming off an impressive season where he recorded 59 tackles, five pass breakups, three interceptions including a pick six, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt. The hybrid safety/linebacker was impressive in coverage and against the run. If the recently announced Captain can clean up some tackling issues from last season, he should start receiving national recognition as one of the top young DBs in the country. Leonard Moore (Notre Dame) - Speaking of top young DBs in the country, this 6-2, 195-pound sophomore is already receiving his deserved recognition. Moore is listed as a First-Team Preseason All-American by nearly every major media outlet after a stellar true freshman campaign. After appearing in every game and making 10 starts, the corner tallied 48 tackles, a team-high 11 pass breakups, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. When targeted last year, Moore allowed just a 46.4% completion percentage, cementing his status as a future superstar. DeVonta Smith (Notre Dame) - The first of two starting transfers in the DB room is the nickelback from Alabama. Smith appeared in 12 games with one start last season, tallying 30 tackles, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble while mostly working as a slot corner. The 5-11 defender overall played well last season, impressing in coverage and against the run. Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame) - Listed as the starting Field Safety is the Virginia Tech transfer coming off a season-ending injury that he sustained in last year’s opener. From 2022-23, Stroman appeared in 22 games with seven starts and totaled 98 tackles, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles as a Hokie. The versatile 6-1 DB appeared very well-rounded in ‘23 and should have Irish fans excited about his capabilities when fully healthy. Others to watch: Keionte Scott (Miami), Markeith Williams (Miami), Charles Brantley (Miami), Tae Johnson (Notre Dame), Karson Hobbs (Notre Dame), Luke Talich (Notre Dame), Dallas Golden (Notre Dame), Mark Zackery IV (Notre Dame) Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As Notre Dame prepares their sequel to last season's CFP Championship run, they open this season with a ranked primetime road matchup against Miami. How will the Irish handle the Hurricanes' pass-heavy attack that led the country in yards and scoring a year ago? We preview each team's offensive pieces for Sunday's thriller below: (Left) Photo via Notre Dame Athletics; (Right) Photo via Miami Athletics Quarterback: Carson Beck (Miami) - The Georgia transfer makes his return from a torn UCL in his throwing elbow and his Miami debut. The 23-year-old compiled a 24-3 record while amassing 7,900 passing yards and 58 touchdowns as a Bulldog. The Hurricanes’ offensive brain trust of HC Mario Cristobal and OC/QB Coach Shannon Dawson hope for a repeat dream transfer season from their signal-caller, like Cam Ward was able to lead a year ago. Beck will have a lot to live up to in this pass-heavy offense that led the country in total offense and scoring with Ward. CJ Carr (Notre Dame) - Can the redshirt freshman deliver what Irish fans believe is promised? Marcus Freeman seems to think so. The Michigan legacy will make his first career start for Notre Dame under the bright lights of Hard Rock Stadium. Luckily for Carr, he has the talent surrounding him to succeed. The interesting aspect of Carr’s debut is how OC Mike Denbrock calls the game for the former four-star recruit. Will this season include a more balanced approach compared to last year’s run-heavy scheme which led to over 200 rushing yards per game? There is a chance we have that answer following two ranked matchups to open the season. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Running Backs: Mark Fletcher Jr. (Miami) - Two of the key returning Hurricanes are the running back duo of Fletcher and Jordan Lyle. After combining for over 1,000 yards while playing behind Damien Martinez, a 7th-round NFL Draft selection by the Seattle Seahawks, Fletcher looks to be the featured back this season after rushing for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry last year.  Jordan Lyle (Miami) - The second half of one of the top running back duos in the ACC is the shifty, six-foot sophomore. As a true freshman, Lyle showcased his wheels while setting a program record for the longest rush from scrimmage on a 91-yard touchdown dash against USF. He finished the year with 400 rushing yards and four touchdowns on an impressive 7.4 yards per carry. Lyle will look to build off his solid debut year against a stout Irish rush defense. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) - How will the best running back in the country follow up his sensational sophomore campaign? The expectations are set, and the nation will be watching Love, being named a first-team Preseason All-American by nearly every major media outlet, including AP, ESPN, and The Athletic. Last year, Love rushed for 1,125 yards on 6.9 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns. After rushing for a touchdown in 13 straight games and totaling 100-plus yards in five contests, Love’s Heisman campaign has already begun. Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) -  Whoever your favorite sidekick is, that is what Price is to Love. The 5-11, 210-pound redshirt junior would be the featured back on most power conference programs. Last season, Price averaged 6.2 yards per carry while rushing for 746 yards and seven touchdowns. Something to monitor throughout the year will be how much each back is featured following the hiring of RB Coach Ja’Juan Seider, after Deland McCullough departed and accepted the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders.  Others to watch: Aneyas Williams (Notre Dame) Receivers: Joshisa "Jojo" Trader (Miami) - Miami has some work to do when it comes to finding this year’s go-to weapons after losing its top six pass-catchers from a season ago. Trader is a returning sophomore who saw action in seven games as a freshman, doing most of his damage in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. In the bowl matchup against Iowa State, the 6-1 receiver hauled in three catches for 61 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown, the first of his career. Prior to Miami, Trader was a consensus four-star recruit and Under Armour All-American out of Florida high school powerhouse, Chaminade-Madonna. CJ Daniels (Miami) - One of the many new transfer offensive skill players is the former Liberty Flame and LSU Tiger. Daniels was a gem at Liberty, totaling 106 catches for 1,959 yards and 21 touchdowns in 42 games played (19 starts). After a 1,000-plus yard and 10 touchdown 2023 season, the 6-2 receiver transferred to LSU. Last season, his lone as a Tiger, Daniels finished with 42 catches for 480 yards, failing to find the endzone in a somewhat disappointing year. The Georgia native will look to bounce back in his last collegiate season as a featured weapon in this year’s Hurricanes' pass offense. Tony Johnson (Miami) - Another transfer, Johnson comes with a nice story. He began his college career as a walk-on at Florida Atlantic, eventually becoming a key starter for the Owls. From 2021-23, Johnson recorded 60 catches for 669 yards and seven touchdowns in 25 games played at FAU. Last season, the 5-10 athlete transferred to Cincinnati and put together a career-best season with the Bearcats. Johnson finished with 48 receptions and 449 yards, including a team-high six touchdowns. The Ocala native returns to his home state of Florida looking to put an exclamation point on his collegiate career. Keelan Marion (Miami) - The Atlanta native is another Hurricanes receiver at his third school. Marion impressed as a true freshman at UConn, catching 28 passes for 474 yards and a team-high five touchdowns in 12 starts. Following an injury-riddled sophomore year, the six-foot receiver transferred to BYU. Through two seasons in Provo, Marion brought the same consistent production from his freshman year at UConn, hauling in 44 catches for 562 yards and a touchdown across 25 games played. The intriguing aspect of Marion is what he can bring to the Hurricanes’ kickoff unit after averaging over 26 yards per return and two touchdowns at BYU last season. Malachi Fields (Notre Dame) - The Virginia transfer and third-team All-ACC selection looks to become Carr’s favorite target this fall. Fields brings 113 catches for 1,619 yards and 10 touchdowns across 24 starts the last two seasons to South Bend. With another 800-yard campaign, the 6-4 weapon would become the first Irish receiver to accomplish that feat since Kevin Austin Jr. in 2021. Jordan Faison (Notre Dame) - The junior two-sport athlete finished last season with 30 catches for 356 yards and a touchdown in 13 games played. A steady contributor through his first two years in South Bend, Faison will be looking for a true breakout season. Jaden Greathouse (Notre Dame) - Notre Dame’s top receiver and slot-man returns after posting 42 receptions for 592 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-1 junior will look to carry his momentum from the end of last season, when he combined for 233 yards and three scores on 13 catches against Penn State and Ohio State, into this year. Will Pauling (Notre Dame) - The former Cincinnati and Wisconsin transfer has clearly made an impactful early impression on his teammates after being voted as a Notre Dame Captain recently. The experienced leader started all 23 games he played in as a Badger, recording 116 receptions for 1,244 yards and nine touchdowns. Like Greathouse, Pauling also receives the majority of his work out of the slot, creating a potentially lethal duo for opposing defenses.  Others to watch: Ray Ray Joseph (Miami), Malachi Toney (Miami), Micah Gilbert (Notre Dame), KK Smith (Notre Dame) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Tight Ends: Elija Lofton (Miami) - The 6’3 sophomore looks to fill the void left by the Seahawks’ second-round selection, Elijah Arroyo. The similarly named Elija Lofton appeared in all 13 games last season as a true freshman, recording nine catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. Prior to Miami, Lofton was a four-star recruit and Under Armour All-American out of Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.  Eli Raridon (Notre Dame) - The 6-7, 252-pound athlete could be in for a big year following the departure of Mitchell Evans, a fifth-round selection by the Carolina Panthers. Fully recovered from his ACL injury, Raridon appeared in every game last season with three starts. He finished the year with 11 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Look for the versatile tight end to be a comfort option for Carr as he adjusts to the new game speed. Others to watch: Alex Bauman (Miami, brother of former Irish TE Kevin), Jack Nickel (Miami), Jack Larsen (Notre Dame), Ty Washington (Notre Dame) Offensive Line: LT Markel Bell, LG Ryan Rodriguez, C James Brockermeyer, RG Anez Cooper, RT Francis Mauigoa (Miami) - Coach Cristobal has established that the Hurricanes will have an elite offensive line ever since he took over, and this year does not look to be any different. Loaded with experience, this starting group features all seniors except for likely future first-round draft pick, junior RT Francis Mauigoa. The right side of the line returns both starters from a year ago, a combination that allowed just four sacks across 1,126 pass block snaps. On the left side, Bell returns after making five starts last season; however, there was a clear production drop-off when the original starter, Jalen Rivers, a Cincinnati Bengals fifth-round selection, was out with injury. Speaking of injury, LG Rodriguez will make his return to the gridiron after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the team’s first game last year. He did impress in his limited playing time in 2023 when he made six appearances with one start. At center is the former Alabama and TCU transfer, Brockermeyer appeared in 16 games across two seasons in Tuscaloosa, serving as a backup, before transferring to TCU last year. His pass blocking prowess earned Brockermeyer All-Big 12 honorable mention before transferring to Miami this fall. LT Anthonie Knapp, LG Billy Schrauth, C Ashton Craig, RG Guerby Lambert, RT Aamil Wagner (Notre Dame) - At an even higher level than Miami, the Irish churn out elite offensive lines and have been doing so for over a decade. Carr is set to have great protection all season from a group that exercised its depth a year ago. The studs of this season’s line are the tackles, both of which are returning starters. Knapp, a sophomore, was very impressive in the second half of last year before an untimely injury against Penn State forced him to miss the CFP Championship, his only missed game of the season. Wagner, a redshirt junior, started every game a year ago and is set to be the leader of this unit. An extremely well-rounded blocker, Wagner is on a fast track to be the next great Irish lineman in the NFL. There are question marks on the interior, but I would not classify these questions as necessarily worrisome. Craig started the first three games last season before suffering a season-ending injury at Purdue. Schrauth made the transition from RG to LG last year after suffering an injury that forced him to miss nearly five weeks and finished the season as the unquestioned starter at the position. Following Charles Jagusah’s offseason injury, Lambert is set to take his place to open the year. The redshirt freshman appeared in six games last season at tackle and emerged as a well-rounded blocker with great potential in his limited playing time. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame football has released its updated injury report for the upcoming Notre Dame-Miami game on Sunday, August 31st, at 7:30 pm ET at Hard Rock Stadium. Each player has their injury and game impact listed below. Game impact inputs are all opinion-based and are not official. The report is as follows: Out for the game: Player Injury Impact TE Justin Fisher Right knee Minimal TE Cooper Flanagan Left achilles Moderate OL Devan Houstan Left knee Minimal OL Charles Jagusah Left arm Moderate OL Peter Jones Left Ankle Minimal Out for the season: Player Injury Impact TE Kevin Bauman Left knee Moderate RB Dylan Devezin Left shoulder Minimal S Brandon Logan Left shoulder Minimal RB Kedren Young Right knee Minimal Which injury do you think will have the biggest impact on Notre Dame's ability to win in Miami? Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Click here  to join the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!