Throughout the history of college football, many dynasties have reigned supreme and dominated the gridiron. Most of these dynasties are short-lived and are defined by the decades they ruled. One of those programs has always been above the rest, having set the “Golden Standard” for college football programs for decades. Along the northern border of Indiana, one can find this “Golden Dome” among the South Bend skyline, where the University of Notre Dame calls home. With the Fighting Irish’s thirteen National Championships, their centuries of success have always kept them a threat to many, but their winless start to the 2025 season could dilute their resume.
The Fighting Irish entered the 2025 season on the heels of a National Championship berth, where they lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Atlanta. This college football playoff run was one for the ages, as Notre Dame rallied back from their early loss in the 2024 season to Northern Illinois University, where they went on to win thirteen straight games on their way to the Championship. The year prior, head coach, Marcus Freeman’s Irish dropped an early-season game to Marshall in the same fashion. These losses are not all the fault of the coaching staff, as these slow starts have become more popular because of the rise of the transfer portal, as these transfers have less time to work with the program and connect as a team.
This season felt different, however, as only eight transfer students entered the Notre Dame program for the 2025 season, per ESPN. Along with this, sophomore quarterback, CJ Carr was given the opportunity to lead the Fighting Irish. These additions were a gamble but Notre Dame had their weapon back for his junior campaign, Jeremiyah Love. The future first-round draft pick led the team with seventeen touchdowns on the ground and hauled in two receiving touchdowns. While his knee injury recovery loomed over his off-season, the excitement was brewing in South Bend for his potential Heisman-caliber season.
Notre Dame’s difficult schedule started off down in the Everglades versus the University of Miami. Miami’s transfer window was very successful as they were able to snag National Champion, quarterback Carson Beck. This Miami team was physical and stout, where their defense pounded down on Notre Dame’s offensive line, forcing Carr to commit to the screen pass to drive down the field. This limited scheme led to Notre Dame falling to the Hurricanes 24-27. These same trends stood out in their next game back in South Bend, in their home-opener, where the Irish were battling the Texas A&M Aggies. While the Notre Dame offense was sound and running smoothly, their defense started to take a toll, allowing the Aggies to put up forty-two points. This loss was capped off by a poorly run extra point, which shifted the momentum to Texas A&M to score their go-ahead touchdown. Overall, the inconsistencies within this team are starting to bleed out, and the fanbase is starting to question the team’s true potential.
This winless start may seem grim, but the expansion to a twelve-team playoff keeps them just inside this race. Quality losses are starting to become a common factor into the selection, and with both of these shortcomings falling to top-ranked programs, there is still hope to be had for the Fighting Irish. With this situation, comparison can start to arise. Take Indiana, for example, their 3-0 start might look strong, but the teams they faced are not even in the same conversation as Notre Dame’s past opponents. What does a “deserving” team have on its resume? How will the Irish recover? The Irish are not out of the fight, and their road to etch their names back into college football history is still alive.
