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Whether you're a championship contender or fighting to get back to conference relevancy, every team in the country has questions entering the season. Notre Dame, one of the teams favored to win the CFP national championship in 2026, has questions of their own. ESPN and a host of their writers broke down the top questions for every Top 25 team heading into the fall. For the Irish, it's geared around their year-two signal caller.

"It was impossible to watch CJ Carr's development last season and not be excited for what's ahead," David Hale of ESPN explained. "He often looked like a superstar, and his final season stat line — 24 touchdowns, six picks, more than 2,700 yards passing — means he'll enter this year as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. But let's throw a small dash of cold water on the hype. Carr is losing two elite players out of his backfield, as both Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price were selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

"Now the pressure is on Carr to carry the offense," Hale continued about the returning starter. "And though the Irish don't face a particularly daunting schedule — they won't play a team that won more than five games until Oct. 17 — there's also this: Carr's stat line vs. FPI top-40 opponents last year? Four games, 48.9 QBR, 63% completions, 6.3 yards per drop back, six TD passes and five interceptions."

Hale has posed the same question we here at IB have for months. Will Carr be able drive the overall success of the offense. Losing Love and Price has become a major talking point around the potential of Notre Dame's offense. But while the room they left behind remains extremely talented, the question still revolves around the 6-2, 215-pound Michigan native and his ability to be the main driver of success this fall. 

Thankfully, he won't be alone in this conversation. This is the highest outlook of the offensive line in Marcus Freeman's tenure. Returning starters Anthonie Knapp, Ashton Craig, Sullivan Absher and Guerby Lambert and talented former five-star recruit Will Black stepping into the lineup, Carr will have the chance to play behind Notre Dame's most talented offensive line since 2020.

The wide receiving corps is the most talented its been in years as well. Returning veterans Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse are back to lead a very talented but inexperienced unit. Ohio State transfers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter are expected to make an immediate impact while returning up-and-comers like Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert and Elijah Burress look to force their way into the rotation. The 2026 freshman class will also look to make a push for playing time as well. 

We saw flashes from the redshirt sophomore throughout 2025 about his potential to carry the brunt of the offensive load. He helped engineer a comeback against Miami in the season opener on the road, throwing for more yards, averaging more yards per attempt and accounting for more total touchdowns than Carson Beck. Carr also threw for 293 yards and one touchdown the following game against Texas A&M in their 41-40 home opening loss. 

There are still questions that need to be answered from the Saline, Michigan native, but all signs are pointing to a promising season from Carr. He's a preseason Heisman hopeful by multiple outlets. ESPN remains high on the returning signal caller after ranking him the No. 1 returning quarterback in the country. Now, it'll be up to Carr to engineer this program back to the College Football Playoffs and get one step closer to ending their national title drought. 

ESPN's Questions For Top 25 Teams

1. Ohio State Buckeyes – Can the offensive line get back to punishing opponent? 
2. Oregon Ducks – Can the Ducks put it all together in the big moments? 
3. Georgia Bulldogs – Will the receiving corps be up to the task? 
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Is Carr ready to shoulder the load? 
5. Texas Longhorns – Will Texas' offensive line be improved? 
6. Indiana Hoosiers – Can Josh Hoover keep the Indiana offense rolling? 
7. Miami Hurricanes – Can Jackson Cantwell hold the fort at left tackle? 
8. Ole Miss Rebels – Can Pete Golding ride the momentum? 
9. Texas A&M Aggies – Can the new OC elevate Marcel Reed? 
10. LSU Tigers – Can Lane Kiffin deliver the goods? 
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Is Will Hammond ready to lead? 
12. BYU Cougars – Can Bear Bachmeier take the next step as a passer? 
13. Oklahoma Sooners – Can John Mateer recapture his pre-injury magic? 
14. Michigan Wolverines – What is the Kyle Whittingham effect on Bryce Underwood?
15. Penn State Nittany Lions – Was James Franklin really the problem? 
16. Alabama Crimson Tide – Who will start at quarterback?
17. Washington Huskies – Can Demond Williams be the difference maker? 
18. Utah Utes – What kind of impact will the new coaches have?
19. Iowa Hawkeyes – Who will win the starting quarterback job?
20. USC Trojans – When will the breakthrough come?
21. Louisville Cardinals – What should we expect from Lincoln Keinholz?
22. SMU Mustangs – Can the defense pull its weight?
23. TCU Horned Frogs – Can OC Gordon Sammis get the run game going?
24. Houston Cougars – Can running back Makhi Hughes rebound?
25. Tennessee Volunteers – Who's the starting quarterback? 

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