Newsstand: Where Notre Dame lands in ESPN post-spring top 25
On Thursday, ESPN dropped its post-spring top 25. Notre Dame dropped three spots from the way-too-early edition, which went online immediately after the Irish lost to Ohio State in the national championship game Jan. 20.
ESPN has the Irish at No. 7 in its post-spring rankings, behind Penn State, Clemson, Texas, Georgia, Ohio State and LSU. Oregon, Alabama and BYU rounded out the rest of the top 10.
“The biggest development from the spring was quarterback Steve Angeli‘s departure to Syracuse,” ESPN college football writer Mark Schlabach wrote. “He backed up former starter Riley Leonard during the Fighting Irish’s run to the CFP national title game. That leaves freshman CJ Carr (former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr’s grandson) and sophomore Kenny Minchey competing for the job. Carr seemed to have the edge coming out of spring practice.”
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Schlabach also commented on Notre Dame’s transfer additions.
“Irish coach Marcus Freeman dipped into the portal for some help at wideout in [Malachi] Fields, who caught 55 passes for 808 yards with five touchdowns last season, and [Will] Pauling, who had 42 receptions for 407 yards with three scores,” Schlabach wrote. “[Devonta] Smith, a cornerback at Alabama, was working as the first-team nickel back during spring practice.”
Notre Dame Tweets of the day
Notre Dame celebrated the first American-born Pope in history on Thursday.
The Irish take on Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Son of Larry Fitzgerald:
Quote of the day
“Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua, long a proponent of phasing in roster limits, tells @YahooSports that the school will honor the roster spot of all current athletes and permit those who were cut this year to return, becoming first school to commit to fully grandfathering-in athletes.”
— Yahoo Sports college football reporter Ross Dellenger on social media
Headlines of the day
- Coaches on the road: Which recruits did the Irish staff see Tuesday and Wednesday?
- Report: Notre Dame becomes first school to commit to ‘grandfathering-in’ athletes
- What we learned about the Fighting Irish cornerbacks during 2025 spring football
- 2026 WR Devin Fitzgerald, Larry Fitzgerald’s son, lands long-awaited Notre Dame offer
- Fighting Irish emerging as a contender for 2026 DL Tavian Branch
- Notre Dame four-star RB target Jonaz Walton sets commitment date
- Notre Dame senior attackman Chris Kavanagh named Tewaaraton finalist
- Fighting Irish in pursuit of elite 2027 ATH Jack Brown for both sides of the ball
- Notre Dame ‘4-for-40’ resonating with Chicago Mount Carmel four-star WR Quentin Burrell
