Newsstand: Where Notre Dame ranks in way-too-early ESPN top 25
ESPN’s way-too-early college football top-25 ranking is out, and Notre Dame is much higher on it than one might expect based on its 2023 finish. The Irish are ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach‘s No. 5 team in the country, behind only Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas, respectively.
Notre Dame finished 16th in the final 2023 College Football Playoff rankings.
“The Fighting Irish weren’t bad in coach Marcus Freeman‘s first two seasons, winning 19 games,” Schlabach wrote. “But it’s time for them to turn the corner, and Freeman has laid the groundwork by adding former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard and bringing back offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who directed LSU’s high-flying offense in 2023.”
Schlabach also pointed to wide receiver transfer additions Kris Mitchell (Florida International) and Beaux Collins (Clemson) as reasons the Irish could be better offensively to compete with some of the nation’s best defenses.
The expectation for the Irish in 2024 will be an appearance in the new 12-team playoff, and lofty rankings like ESPN’s will only reinforce that notion throughout the offseason.
Top 10
- 1Hot
Quinn Ewers
Texas QB not sitting out the rest of season despite erroneous Instagram report
- 2Breaking
Back to Arnold
OU names Jackson Arnold starting QB
- 3
Not alright, alright
McConaughey admonishes Texas fans
- 4
CBB All-Americans
The AP reveals preseason All-America team ahead of 2024-25 season
- 5Trending
Heisman Trophy talk
Ashton Jeanty responds to Travis Hunter
Notre Dame Tweets of the day
Pre-draft love for Irish cornerback Cam Hart:
Surprise addition to Notre Dame’s Pro Day:
Pure greatness from Hannah Hidalgo.
Quote of the day
“I’m still fully committed. I still like what Notre Dame is doing. I still like where they’re going; changes happen. But with whom I’ve been talking to about what they’re going to do, I’m very confident in that. I just have to get up in the spring and see how it goes from there.”
— Notre Dame 2025 safety commit Ivan Taylor on the status of his pledge after safeties coach Chris O’Leary left for the Los Angeles Chargers
Headlines of the day
- Five interesting stops Marcus Freeman made during the winter contact period
- Top 75 recruit Ivan Taylor details where Fighting Irish stand following Chris O’Leary’s departure
- How RJ Oben is set for success with Notre Dame football
- How the Notre Dame women’s basketball season has taken shape with three weeks left
- The eight former Fighting Irish football players invited to 2024 NFL Combine
- Fighting Irish freshman Hannah Hidalgo makes Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team
- How Markus Burton flashed two-way dominance in Fighting Irish win
- Why Jordan Clark is a perfect fit for nickel at Notre Dame
- Notre Dame football announces date for Pro Day
- Lucky Charms: Two recently offered Fighting Irish recruiting targets finalizing March visit plans
