Notre Dame football has long been synonymous with tradition, prestige, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. But as the dust settles on their most recent season, fans and analysts are left asking: Where does this campaign truly rank in the College Football Playoff (CFP) era? While the Fighting Irish showed flashes of brilliance, persistent questions about their ability to compete on the biggest stage linger. And as the program eyes 2025, the question remains: Can Notre Dame finally break through, or will they remain just shy of greatness?
A Season of Missed Opportunities
For a program as storied as Notre Dame, expectations are always sky-high. However, this season felt like yet another case of the Irish being good—but not good enough. Sure, they logged impressive wins against several ranked opponents, but their performance in crucial games once again highlighted their Achilles’ heel: an inability to shine under the brightest lights.
In recent years, Notre Dame has been accused of being “pretenders” rather than “contenders” in the CFP era. This season was no different. Losses to elite programs exposed their lack of depth at critical positions, particularly on the offensive line and in the secondary. The glaring inconsistency on offense—paired with a defense that sometimes buckled against top-tier quarterbacks—made it clear that while Notre Dame is a solid team, they are not yet elite.
So where does this season rank in the CFP era? Somewhere in the middle. While not as disastrous as their 4-8 campaign in 2016, it falls short of their playoff berths in 2018 and 2020. It’s another season that will be remembered more for “what could have been” than for any significant accomplishments.
The Case for 2025: Boom or Bust?
Looking ahead to 2025, there’s cautious optimism among the Notre Dame faithful. The program has made strides in recruiting, particularly in landing key commitments from high school prospects. But as always, the challenge will be turning potential into performance.
Notre Dame’s biggest obstacle is their outdated approach to the modern game. While schools like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State have embraced a fast-paced, high-scoring style, Notre Dame often seems stuck in the past. To truly compete in 2025, they must modernize their offensive scheme and prioritize speed and athleticism over tradition.
Another factor to consider is coaching. While Marcus Freeman has brought energy and a defensive mindset to the program, his inexperience at the highest level remains a concern. Can he evolve as a coach and make the necessary adjustments to lead Notre Dame to CFP glory? Or will his tenure be remembered as yet another “almost” era?
Notre Dame’s Path to an Explosive 2025
- Quarterback Development: The key to Notre Dame’s success in 2025 will be the growth of their quarterback room. The Irish need a signal-caller who can excel under pressure and make plays against elite defenses. The potential is there, but potential alone won’t cut it.
- Recruiting Elite Playmakers: While Notre Dame has improved in recruiting, they are still losing out on game-changing athletes to SEC and Big Ten powerhouses. Landing a few five-star recruits could be the difference between another “solid” season and a championship run.
- Tougher Schedule Management: One of the biggest criticisms of Notre Dame is their independent status, which often leads to a mix of tough and relatively easy matchups. For 2025, they need to schedule and win more games against top-tier opponents to prove they belong in the CFP conversation.
- Defensive Consistency: While the Irish have had solid defensive units, they’ve struggled to shut down elite offenses. In 2025, they need to prioritize speed and versatility in their defensive schemes to keep up with modern offenses.
Can They Break the Glass Ceiling?
The harsh truth is that Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship since 1988. In the CFP era, they’ve become a symbol of college football’s middle class: better than most but worse than the best. To have an explosive 2025 season, they must shed this label and take bold steps toward innovation and aggression.
It’s not a question of talent—Notre Dame has the resources, facilities, and brand to compete at the highest level. The real challenge lies in their mindset. If they can adapt to the demands of modern college football, there’s no reason why 2025 can’t be a banner year.
But if they continue down the same path, they’ll remain what they’ve been for far too long: a program defined by what might have been, instead of what is.