Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard has made a believer out of USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer – who was previously unforgiving of the NIU loss but cannot deny the Fighting Irish any longer after a six-game win streak since. “Two weeks ago, I omitted Notre Dame from my list of national championship contenders,” Toppmeyer wrote. “I cannot unsee its loss to Northern Illinois.
However, Irish quarterback Riley Leonard is playing much better, the defense is dependable, and that Week 1 win at Texas A&M looks better and better. The Irish are clearly a playoff contender, and I’ve nearly seen enough to elevate them to national title contender.” Having a freak loss to a MAC school may have been the best thing to happen to Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish have breezed through the rest of the schedule, delivering on the spread and from an expectations standpoint. They beat Louisville in expected fashion but throttled a previously unbeaten Navy. Marcus Freeman’s program has not had more momentum in his three seasons as head coach in South Bend.
Win out and Notre Dame has nothing to be concerned about; even if a top-four bid is off the table for one of two college football independents, and lone independent in 2025. Notre Dame adding Miami to the schedule for big 2025 test, possible glimpse into the future Fighting Irish critics who feel Notre Dame is avoiding a tough schedule by not joining a conference can’t fault the program after Miami was added in 2025. Louisville was a decent cha.
