CJ Carr Named Notre Dame’s Starting Quarterback for 2025 Season

South Bend, IN - On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the University of Notre Dame announced that redshirt freshman CJ Carr will be the Fighting Irish’s starting quarterback this season. Carr won a tough competition. He faced senior Tyler Buchner, sophomores Kenny Minchey and Anthony Rezac, and freshman Blake Herbert. The decision was shared on Notre Dame’s official social media channels early Tuesday afternoon.

Head coach Marcus Freeman shared the selection process: “We’ll review today’s practice.” Make a decision. We’ve got to make a decision here soon. I don’t know when we’ll make it. I don’t want to put a timeline on it. But they’ve both been playing really, really well,” he said, referring to Carr and Minchey. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock noted that both quarterbacks “have tremendous love and respect in our locker room.” He praised their poise and how well they prepare.

Carr, a four-star recruit from Saline, Michigan, had limited play last season. He only appeared in one game during Notre Dame’s journey to the College Football Playoff National Championship. He comes from a famous football family. His grandfather is Lloyd Carr, the former head coach at Michigan. His father, Jason Carr, also played at Michigan.

The Fighting Irish, ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP poll, will begin their 2025 campaign with back-to-back matchups against ranked opponents, traveling to face No. 10 Miami on August 31 before hosting No. 19 Texas A&M in Week 2. Both games are expected to test Carr’s readiness, as he has yet to throw a collegiate pass in a live contest.

Notre Dame kicks off the season in primetime at Hard Rock Stadium. The game against the Hurricanes starts at 7:30 PM ET on August 31.