The 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was an American football team that represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their fourth year under head coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish compiled a 10–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 504 to 211, and were ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll and No. 11 in the final Coaches Poll. They opened with losses to No. 10 Miami (FL) and No. 16 Texas A&M and then won ten consecutive games, including victories over No. 20 USC and No. 23 Pittsburgh. They did not receive an invitation to the 2025–26 College Football Playoff and withdrew from consideration for other bowl games.
Running back Jeremiyah Love rushed for 1,372 yards, scored 21 touchdowns, won the Doak Walker Award, finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, and was a unanimous first-team pick on the 2025 All-America college football team. Cornerback Leonard Moore also won unanimous All-America honors. The team's other statistical leaders included quarterback CJ Carr (2,741 passing yards), wide receiver Jordan Faison (640 receiving yard), and linebacker Drayk Bowen (67 total tackles).
The team played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. The Irish drew an average home attendance of 77,622.
Offseason Coaching changes Departures Al Golden Defensive coordinator Cincinnati Bengals Defensive coordinator Deland McCullough Associate head coach/running backs coach Las Vegas Raiders Running backs coach
Additions Chris Ash Defensive coordinator Jacksonville Jaguars Scout Ja'Juan Seider Associate head coach/running backs coach Penn State Associate head coach/co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach
Player departures
NFL
Benjamin Morrison CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 53 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility Xavier Watts S Atlanta Falcons 3 96 Forewent 1 year of remaining eligibility Jack Kiser LB Jacksonville Jaguars 4 107 Rylie Mills DL Seattle Seahawks 5 142 Mitchell Evans TE Carolina Panthers 5 163 Riley Leonard QB Indianapolis Colts 6 189 Jordan Clark S New York Jets Undrafted free agent Beaux Collins WR New York Giants Undrafted free agent Howard Cross III DL Cincinnati Bengals Undrafted free agent Max Hurleman CB Pittsburgh Steelers Undrafted free agent Devyn Ford RB Las Vegas Raiders Rookie minicamp invite Mitch Jeter K Minnesota Vikings Rookie minicamp invite Kris Mitchell WR Las Vegas Raiders Rookie minicamp invite RJ Oben DL Kansas City Chiefs Rookie minicamp invite
CFL WR Jayden Harrison
Transfers out QB Steve Angeli transferred to Syracuse. OL Ty Chan transferred to UConn. WR Deion Colzie transferred to Miami (OH). OL Pat Coogan transferred to Indiana. DL Tyson Ford transferred to California; previously medically retired. DL Aiden Gobaira transferred to James Madison; previously medically retired. CB Jaden Mickey transferred to Boise State; previously committed to California. LS Rino Monteforte transferred to California; previously walk-on. OL Sam Pendleton transferred to Tennessee. OL Rocco Spindler transferred to Nebraska. WR Jayden Thomas transferred to Virginia. S Kennedy Urlacher transferred to USC. TE Andrew Yanoshak transferred to Dayton; previously walk-on. K Zac Yoakam transferred to Houston; previously walk-on.
Retirements CB Marty Auer DL Quentin Autry OL Tosh Baker P William Bartel TE Kevin Bauman P/K Eric Goins S Rod Heard II WR Jack Polian LB Tre Reader DL Grant Ristoff K Chris Salerno TE Charlie Selna TE Davis Sherwood
Player additions Transfers in K Noah Burnette transferred in from North Carolina. DL Jared Dawson transferred in from Louisville. WR Malachi Fields transferred in from Virginia. DL Elijah Hughes transferred in from USC. WR Will Pauling transferred in from Wisconsin. CB DeVonta Smith transferred in from Alabama. S Jalen Stroman transferred in from Virginia Tech. TE Ty Washington transferred in from Arkansas.
Recruiting
Changes Tyler Buchner switched positions from WR to QB. Justin Fisher switched positions from RB to TE. Devan Houstan switched positions from DL to OL. WR Matt Jeffery earned scholarship; previously walk-on. LS Joseph Vinci earned scholarship; previously walk-on. Preston Zinter switched positions from LB to DL.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries at No. 10 Miami (FL) (rivalry)
Statistics NDMIA First downs 18 20 Plays–yards 54–315 68–332 Rushes–yards 24–97 37–127 Passing yards 221 205 Passing: comp–att–int 19–30–1 20–31–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 26:03 33:57 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 19/30, 221 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jadarian Price 6 carries, 45 yards Receiving Eli Raridon 5 receptions, 97 yards Miami (FL) Passing Carson Beck 20/30, 205 yards, 2 TD Rushing CharMar Brown 15 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Malachi Toney 6 receptions, 82 yards, TD
vs No. 16 Texas A&M
Statistics TA&MND First downs 24 23 Plays–yards 69–488 71–429 Rushes–yards 32–128 39–136 Passing yards 360 293 Passing: comp–att–int 17–37–1 20–32–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:53 33:07 Team Category Player Statistics Texas A&M Passing Marcel Reed 17/37, 360 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Le'Veon Moss 20 carries, 81 yards, 3 TD Receiving Mario Craver 7 receptions, 207 yards, TD Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 20/32, 293 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 23 carries, 94 yards, TD Receiving Eli Raridon 4 receptions, 85 yards
vs Purdue (rivalry)
Statistics PURND First downs 20 27 Plays–yards 68–369 63–535 Rushes–yards 28–66 43–254 Passing yards 303 281 Passing: –– 25–40–2 17–20–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:00 32:00 Team Category Player Statistics Purdue Passing Ryan Browne 21/34, 250 yards, TD, INT Rushing Malachi Singleton 5 carries, 26 yards Receiving Nitro Tuggle 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 10/12, 223 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jeremiyah Love 19 carries, 157 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Faison 5 receptions, 105 yards, TD
at Arkansas
Statistics NDARK First downs 32 15 Plays–yards 72–641 62–365 Rushes–yards 40–210 30–158 Passing yards 431 207 Passing: comp–att–int 24–32–0 17–32–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 32:47 27:13 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 22/30, 354 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jadarian Price 13 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Faison 7 receptions, 89 yards Arkansas Passing Taylen Green 17/32, 207 yards, INT Rushing Taylen Green 10 carries, 81 yards Receiving O'Mega Blake 6 receptions, 73 yards
vs Boise State
Statistics BOISND First downs 23 19 Plays–yards 71–315 54–389 Rushes–yards 34–100 31–200 Passing yards 215 189 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–37–4 15–23–0 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 35:46 24:14 Team Category Player Statistics Boise State Passing Maddux Madsen 22/37, 215 yards, 4 INT Rushing Sire Gaines 11 carries, 39 yards Receiving Chris Marshall 4 receptions, 58 yards Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 15/23, 189 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jeremiyah Love 16 carries, 103 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Faison 6 receptions, 83 yards
vs NC State
Statistics NCSUND First downs 12 24 Plays–yards 59–233 71–485 Rushes–yards 28–51 39–143 Passing yards 182 342 Passing: comp–att–int 18–31–3 19–32–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 28:47 31:13 Team Category Player Statistics NC State Passing CJ Bailey 17/30, 186 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Hollywood Smothers 12 carries, 46 yards Receiving Terrell Anderson 3 receptions, 57 yards, TD Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 19/31, 342 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 18 carries, 86 yards, 2 TD Receiving Eli Raridon 7 receptions, 109 yards
vs No. 20 USC (rivalry)
Statistics USCND First downs 24 23 Plays–yards 71–396 70–442 Rushes–yards 29–68 44–306 Passing yards 328 136 Passing: –– 22–42–2 16–26–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 27:21 32:39 Team Category Player Statistics USC Passing Jayden Maiava 22/42, 328 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing King Miller 18 carries, 70 yards Receiving Ja'Kobi Lane 6 receptions, 111 yards, TD Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 16/26, 136 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 24 carries, 228 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Faison 6 receptions, 60 yards
at Boston College (Holy War)
Statistics NDBC First downs 22 21 Total yards 458 281 Rushes/yards 29–159 33–12 Passing yards 299 269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–26–0 30–45–3 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 24:33 35:27 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 18/25, 299 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jeremiyah Love 17 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Faison 4 receptions, 82 yards Boston College Passing Grayson James 25/37, 240 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Turbo Richard 16 carries, 26 yards Receiving Lewis Bond 8 receptions, 92 yards
vs Navy (rivalry)
Statistics NAVYND First downs 13 23 Plays–yards 55–228 57–502 Rushes–yards 45–206 38–249 Passing yards 22 253 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 3–10–0 16–19–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 29:23 30:37 Team Category Player Statistics Navy Passing Braxton Woodson 3/8, 22 yards Rushing Braxton Woodson 23 carries, 101 yards, TD Receiving Eli Heidenreich 2 receptions, 20 yards Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 13/16, 218 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jeremiyah Love 13 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD Receiving Malachi Fields 4 receptions, 97 yards
at No. 22 Pittsburgh (rivalry)
Statistics NDPITT First downs 20 17 Plays–yards 68–387 64–219 Rushes–yards 36–175 25–70 Passing yards 212 149 Passing: comp–att–int 21–32–2 19–39–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 35:17 24:43 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 21/32, 212 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jeremiyah Love 23 carries, 147 yards, TD Receiving Malachi Fields 7 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD Pittsburgh Passing Mason Heintschel 16/33, 126 yards, INT Rushing Juelz Goff 5 carries, 35 yards Receiving Desmond Reid 6 receptions, 63 yards
vs Syracuse
Statistics SYRND First downs 18 17 Plays–yards 80–207 39–396 Rushes–yards 50–112 24–329 Passing yards 95 67 Passing: comp–att–int 17–30–3 9–15–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 41:50 18:10 Team Category Player Statistics Syracuse Passing Joseph Filardi 14/26, 83 yards, 3 INT Rushing Joseph Filardi 14 carries, 33 yards, TD Receiving Dan Villari 5 receptions, 30 yards Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 5/9, 49 yards, TD Rushing Jeremiyah Love 8 carries, 171 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jordan Faison 2 receptions, 21 yards
at Stanford (rivalry)
Statistics NDSTAN First downs 24 16 Plays–yards 74–524 70–312 Rushes–yards 38–187 30–86 Passing yards 337 226 Passing: comp–att–int 23–36–0 20–40–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:35 29:25 Team Category Player Statistics Notre Dame Passing CJ Carr 17/27, 205 yards, 2 TD Rushing Aneyas Williams 10 carries, 83 yards, 2 TD Receiving Luke Talich 1 reception, 84 yards, TD Stanford Passing Elijah Brown 18/37, 204 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cole Tabb 11 carries, 32 yards Receiving Sam Roush 4 receptions, 73 yards
Personnel Roster
Depth chart Depth chart is a projection and is subject to change.
Notes
References