Can Notre Dame's CJ Carr bounce back from his USC performance?

Yes, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr is confident he can "eliminate the self-inflicted mistakes" and rebound from his subpar outing against USC.

How is Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman using the team's early losses?

Freeman is harping on Notre Dame's early losses to Miami and Texas A&M to motivate the team, similar to how he used last year's loss to Northern Illinois to drive the Irish to the national championship game.

What is Notre Dame's goal for the rest of the season?

The Irish are aiming to close the regular season with a 10-game win streak filled with double-digit scoring margins, which could be crucial as the first in-season College Football Playoff rankings are set to be released next week.

Home / Sports / Notre Dame Fights to Overcome Early Losses, Aims for Playoff Redemption

Notre Dame Fights to Overcome Early Losses, Aims for Playoff Redemption

1 Nov

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Summary

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman harps on early losses to motivate team
Irish seek to close season with 10-game win streak after 5-2 start
Quarterback CJ Carr looks to rebound from USC performance

Notre Dame Fights to Overcome Early Losses, Aims for Playoff Redemption

As of November 1st, 2025, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish find themselves in a familiar position—fighting to overcome early-season losses and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. Under first-year head coach Marcus Freeman, the No. 12 Irish (5-2) have no margin for error heading into their matchup against Boston College (1-7) this Saturday.

Last year, Freeman's tactic of harping on a September loss to Northern Illinois throughout the playoff run helped drive the team to the national championship game. This season, the losses to Miami and Texas A&M, both currently top-10 teams, have put the Irish in a similar predicament. However, Freeman believes the "struggle is there for a reason" and that overcoming these challenges will make his team stronger.

Quarterback CJ Carr, a redshirt freshman, is also looking to bounce back after a subpar performance against USC. Carr threw an interception at the end of the first half, but he remains confident in his abilities and is eager to "eliminate the self-inflicted mistakes" going forward.

With a favorable schedule to close out the regular season, Notre Dame has a chance to reel off another 10-game win streak filled with double-digit scoring margins. This could be crucial as the first in-season College Football Playoff rankings are set to be released next week. The Irish may not finish the season with a win over a team in the final Top 25, so every little talking point matters.

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