In recent media conferences, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman revealed what many are calling a worrisome detail regarding the team’s quarterback plans, beginning with Kenny Minchey. As the Irish enter fall camp, the quarterback competition remains unsettled, but Freeman’s words indicate a strategic ambiguity that has frightened both fans and pundits.
🌀 1. QB Room in turmoil
With Riley Leonard leaving for the NFL and experienced gateway quarterbacks like Sam Hartman no longer available, Freeman is putting his trust in Carr and Minchey, neither of whom has considerable starting experience.
While both showed flashes of skill this spring, none has proven capable of shouldering the unwavering responsibility of leading a team expected to compete on a national level.
Minchey, a four-star 2023 recruit, has only thrown three collegiate passes for 16 yards and run a few times.
Although he appeared in Freeman’s offensive plans, particularly on fourth-down gambits, this is not reassuring for those seeking clarity and stability at quarterback.
💡 2. Customized offense for Minchey?
Freeman has publicly revealed that he is modifying the offense with Minchey in mind. He responded by asking: “Kenny Minchey isn’t the running quarterback that Riley Leonard was—how do we create that confidence… sequence things on third down… knowing that we’re going to go for it on fourth down?”
In essence, Notre Dame is building a game plan around a quarterback with little collegiate experience. If preseason camp does not further elevate Minchey, this bespoke approach might backfire dramatically, particularly under playoff pressure.
3. The Two-Quarterback Conundrum
Freeman said that Notre Dame may use both quarterbacks in some instances, including on the field simultaneously.
It’s an audacious theory, reminiscent of high school originality, but reviewers have dismissed it as a gimmick. An Irish analyst responded, “This isn’t Southern Washington High School…” “If they get gimmicky like that, they have more problems than solutions.”
That level of improvisation is viewed as a red flag, indicating deeper issues: either neither quarterback is prepared for full-time duties, or Freeman is unwilling to commit—either way, the message is troubling for a program with high expectations.
🎯 4. What Freeman Values
Freeman prioritizes football IQ, playmaking ability, sound decision-making, ball security, and leadership.
But that’s a long list for guys who have absolutely little game experience. Behind closed doors, they’re being judged subjectively, which means the QB1 position won’t be decided until fall camp.
📊 5. High stakes, significant risks
Notre Dame’s chances of making the College Football Playoff are modest, with only a 45% likelihood of reaching the CFP and less than 8% chance of winning the championship (essentiallysports.com). At that level, quarterback performance is critical. Leaning on untested quarterbacks, a potentially two-QB scheme, or erratic offensive concepts spells calamity if the first few weeks go poorly.
🔍 Final. Take
Freeman’s willingness to experiment with two-quarterback packages and construct offenses around an inexperienced Minchey raises concerns. That kind of openness to improvisation may work in emergency situations, but for a championship-minded team, it reflects uncertainty in a position that requires confidence and clarity.
With fall camp likely to shed light on the quarterback hierarchy, Irish fans will be hoping that Freeman’s faith in Minchey is vindicated—and soon.