Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr distinguished himself as one of the best prospects in the country last season after winning the Fighting Irish’s QB1 battle as a sophomore, beating out Kenny Minchey for the job.
Despite the Fighting Irish’s controversial College Football Playoff snub, Carr is widely considered one of the best returning quarterbacks for the 2026 season.
Marcus Freeman Addresses the Battle for Notre Dame’s Backup Quarterback
While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, head coach Marcus Freeman addressed the brewing battle to be the Fighting Irish’s backup quarterback behind Carr next season.
“You’re almost gonna have a three-way battle over who’s gonna be the backup quarterback, because at some point before the season starts, you have to name a backup QB,” Freeman said. “If CJ stays healthy, the backup quarterback could be the starter. So, that guy has to know, prepare and take all the two reps in practice.
“That doesn’t mean you’re gonna be the starter next year. We need to make sure we name a backup quarterback for the starter this season, but the competition of who’s gonna be the starter next year is gonna go on until there’s no doubt who that person is.”
The battle to be Carr’s backup next season was intensified by class of 2027 recruit Teddy Jarrard, who reclassified to the class of 2026. He joined a quarterback room that includes class of 2026 signee Noah Grubbs and sophomore Blake Hebert.
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Marcus Freeman Details Expectations for CJ Carr’s Second Season
After a stellar first season under center for Notre Dame, Carr is the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy next season, alongside Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.
During last week’s segment of “The Hard Count” podcast, Freeman detailed how Carr could improve in his second season as a starter for the Fighting Irish.
“I would say the preparation, but I can’t with him,” Freeman said. “He’s prepared from the moment he stepped on campus, like he’s been the starter. It’s just a reflection of the way he was raised. He’s always looking for ways to improve. That’s the one thing you appreciate about CJ Carr is, there is no finish line for him.
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“That’s what I’m excited to see. It’s never going to be perfect. How do you handle the ups and downs of spring ball, of every practice? Because he’s a perfectionist. So I’m excited to watch the way he leads our offense each day and every rep he gets.”
Carr tallied 2,741 passing yards, resulting in 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 33 rushing yards and three touchdowns to earn a PFSN College QB Impact score of 85.9 last season.
