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Notre Dame

Where Notre Dame lands in The Athletic post-spring top 25

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble05/26/25jacksoble56
cj carr-3
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr. (Michael Caterina-Imagn Images)

One more post-spring top-25 ranking came out late last week, this time at The Athletic. Notre Dame landed at No. 5, behind Texas, Penn State, Clemson and Ohio State, respectively.

Notre Dame was No. 3 in The Athletic’s way-too-early top 25, which came out the day after the national championship game in January. Since then, the Tigers and Buckeyes jumped the Irish.

“Coach Marcus Freeman’s QB competition seemingly resolved itself in the spring as redshirt freshman CJ Carr seized control of the race, prompting veteran Steve Angeli to portal his way to Syracuse,” The Athletic college football senior columnist and editor-in-chief Stewart Mandel wrote. “[Jeremiyah] Love is a Heisman contender, TE Eli Raridon is poised for a breakout and former Virginia WR Malachi Fields arrives this summer.”

While it’s important to note that junior quarterback Kenny Minchey is still very much alive in Notre Dame’s quarterback competition, Mandel is not alone among national writers assuming Carr will start for the Irish on Aug. 31 at Miami.

Mandel is, however, the first prominent national columnist to mention Raridon as a potential breakout player. The senior tight end looked more athletic than ever this spring — his first healthy spring in South Bend — after catching 16 passes throughout his first three seasons at Notre Dame.

The Athletic is higher than most on two Notre Dame opponents

Notre Dame faces Miami in Week 1 and Texas A&M in Week 2. They are ranked ninth and 15th in The Athletic’s post-spring top 25, respectively.

Mandel was a fan of the Hurricanes’ spring transfer portal additions, such as running back CharMar Brown (North Dakota State), linebacker Mohamed Toure (Rutgers) and wide receiver/kickoff returner Keelan Marion (BYU).

“No one was more active in the spring portal window than coach Mario Cristobal, who added a potential breakout star in Brown (1,181 yards, 15 TDs), the Jerry Rice Award winner for best FCS freshman; an All-American kick returner in Marion; and a proven seventh-year senior (!) in Toure (93 tackles, 10 TFLs in 2023), who missed 2024,” Mandel wrote. “Freshman WR Malachi Toney had a great spring game. [Quarterback Carson] Beck has been cleared for summer workouts.”

Regarding the Aggies, Mandel likes their transfer additions at wide receiver and defensive line. He’s also high on quarterback Marcel Reed.

“Reed is the face of A&M’s offense now,” Mandel wrote. “Coach Mike Elko spent the winter cycle upgrading his receivers and D-line, which showed in the spring game. Mississippi State’s Mario Craver and NC State’s Kevin Concepcion both made big plays.

“DEs T.J. Searcy (Florida) and Dayon Hayes (Colorado) and DT Tyler Onyedim (Iowa State) should be starters or rotation guys, as well as freshman Marco Jones, who had five sacks in the spring game.”

A third Notre Dame opponent, Boise State, made the top 25 at No. 22. The Broncos visit the Irish on Oct. 4.

The Athletic’s post-spring top 25

  1. Texas
  2. Penn State
  3. Clemson
  4. Ohio State
  5. Notre Dame
  6. LSU
  7. Georgia
  8. Oregon
  9. Miami
  10. Alabama
  11. Arizona State
  12. Florida
  13. BYU
  14. Oklahoma
  15. Texas A&M
  16. Illinois
  17. South Carolina
  18. Indiana
  19. Texas Tech
  20. Michigan
  21. Baylor
  22. Boise State
  23. Louisville
  24. Auburn
  25. Kansas State

For The Athletic’s full post-spring top 25, click here.

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