Notre Dame 2025 Football: What’s the Bar for Success?

The University of Notre Dame has long been a prestigious name in college football, boasting a rich history filled with championships, legendary coaches, and iconic players. The Irish are synonymous with tradition, excellence, and passion on the football field. As the 2025 season approaches, the question on many minds is: What defines success for the Notre Dame football program in the coming years?

In this piece, we will explore the current state of the Notre Dame football program, the challenges it faces, and what needs to happen for 2025 to be seen as a successful season. We’ll examine the expectations surrounding the team, both internally and externally, as well as key elements that will determine whether or not Notre Dame can meet those expectations.

The Notre Dame Football Tradition and Expectations

Before diving into specifics about the 2025 season, it’s important to understand the historical context surrounding Notre Dame football. Notre Dame is one of the most storied programs in college football history, with 11 national championships, countless Hall of Fame players, and a loyal and passionate fan base. Success at Notre Dame has always been measured by championships, and this is a standard that continues to resonate with fans, alumni, and the administration alike.

The Irish program is also unique in that it is independent—unlike most major college football teams, Notre Dame is not part of a conference (though it has affiliations with the ACC for most sports). This independence adds an additional level of prestige and pressure to the program, as they must schedule a tough slate of opponents every year, often without the safety net of a conference championship game to fall back on. This scheduling freedom, while a source of pride, also means that the Irish have to perform consistently well against a high level of competition.

In recent years, while Notre Dame has experienced some success, including multiple College Football Playoff (CFP) appearances, there has been a sense of frustration among fans. Many see the program as perpetually “on the cusp” of greatness but unable to break through and capture that elusive national championship. This sense of being close yet not quite there has raised the bar for what constitutes success in South Bend. For 2025, the program will once again be judged by its ability to compete at the highest levels and ultimately achieve its championship aspirations.

The Road to Success: What Does Notre Dame Need to Achieve in 2025?

As Notre Dame prepares for the 2025 football season, the bar for success will undoubtedly be set high. But the specifics of what success looks like are shaped by multiple factors, both on and off the field. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas where success must be achieved for the 2025 season to be seen as a success.

1. College Football Playoff Appearance

The primary and most obvious benchmark for success for Notre Dame football in 2025 is a return to the College Football Playoff (CFP). The Irish have appeared in the CFP on a couple of occasions in recent years (most notably in 2018 and 2020), but they have yet to win a national championship since 1988. In fact, the team’s closest chance at a championship was in 2012 when they played in the BCS National Championship Game but were soundly defeated by Alabama.

For the 2025 season to be deemed a success, Notre Dame will need to not only be competitive but also earn a spot in the four-team playoff. This requires a combination of factors: a strong regular season record, victories against top-tier opponents, and a well-rounded team that can go toe-to-toe with the best of college football. The Irish will have to be among the top teams in both their national ranking and strength of schedule. Given the quality of their independent scheduling, they’ll need to win key matchups, such as games against ranked teams, while also avoiding upsets from lower-ranked opponents.

2. National Championship Contention

Once in the CFP, Notre Dame will face another hurdle: competing for a national championship. The Irish have had multiple appearances in the postseason but have struggled in the biggest games. For the 2025 season to be a success, they will need to not only reach the playoff but also prove they can compete with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and other perennial powerhouses.

To be a true contender for a national championship, the Irish will need to have a roster capable of going the distance. This means having elite players at key positions like quarterback, offensive line, and defensive front, as well as depth across all positions. Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts have consistently been strong, but in 2025, the team will need to make sure that talent translates into high-level production on the field. In particular, the team will need to overcome the stigma that has existed for years—the idea that they don’t have the physicality and athleticism to hang with the truly elite teams in the sport.

3. Quarterback Play and Offensive Development

Quarterback play is always a pivotal factor in college football, and for Notre Dame, it will be a key area to focus on in 2025. Over the years, the Irish have struggled to find consistent quarterback play, with multiple transfers and recruits coming through but not always panning out as expected. In 2025, for the team to compete at the highest level, they will need solid and, ideally, exceptional play from their signal-caller.

The future of the program at quarterback will be shaped by whoever wins the starting job, and this battle is likely to play out in the spring and summer leading up to the season. Whether it’s a returning player like Tyler Buchner, who has shown flashes of potential, or a highly-touted recruit, this individual will need to step up and play at an elite level to take the Irish offense to the next tier. Quarterback development is crucial because it’s the trigger man who dictates much of the game’s flow, both in terms of execution and leadership.

In addition to the quarterback, the offense as a whole must develop into a more dynamic unit. Under head coach Marcus Freeman, there has been an emphasis on building a high-powered offense to complement the team’s traditional strength on defense. By 2025, the team will need to see significant strides in offensive playcalling, explosive plays, and scoring efficiency. Having an offense that can go toe-to-toe with the best offenses in the nation will be critical for Notre Dame’s success.

4. Defensive Dominance

Notre Dame has always prided itself on strong defense, and the 2025 team will need to carry on that tradition. The Irish defense in recent years has been solid but not necessarily elite compared to the juggernauts in college football. For Notre Dame to truly compete for a national championship, they must have a defense that can dominate against top-tier competition.

The defensive front will be key to the team’s success in 2025. With a talented group of players on the defensive line and in the linebacker corps, Notre Dame needs to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback, stop the run, and force turnovers. This unit has the potential to be among the best in the country, but it will need to play up to its potential in big games. Furthermore, the secondary must continue to improve, as elite quarterbacks and receivers can exploit weaknesses.

5. Recruiting Success

Recruiting is another major factor that will impact Notre Dame’s ability to reach its goals in 2025. While Notre Dame has historically recruited well, the 2025 season will require the Irish to continue to bring in top talent, especially in key positions like quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back. Recruiting for depth is essential, as injuries are an inevitable part of any season, and having a strong pipeline of players who can step up is critical.

In addition to recruiting top-tier talent, the coaching staff must continue to develop players effectively. The best programs don’t just recruit the best athletes—they also know how to coach them to succeed. For 2025 to be a success, the Irish coaching staff will need to prove they can maximize the potential of their recruits and make in-game adjustments.

6. Managing Expectations and Maintaining Consistency

The final factor that will define Notre Dame’s success in 2025 is the ability to manage expectations. The program has set a high bar for itself, and the pressure to succeed is ever-present. But managing that pressure is essential to success. The team cannot afford to fall into the trap of trying to win every game in the first month of the season or overreaching in big matchups. They must stay grounded, focused, and prepared for every challenge they face.

In terms of consistency, Notre Dame must avoid the hiccups that have historically plagued them, such as inexplicable losses to unranked opponents or getting outmuscled by superior competition. The Irish must play at a high level week in and week out, maintaining focus and executing the game plan.

The 2025 Notre Dame football season is shaping up to be a pivotal one for the program. With high expectations come great opportunities, but also potential pitfalls. For the season to be seen as a success, Notre Dame will need to achieve several key milestones: a return to the College Football Playoff, competing for a national championship, developing quarterback play, maintaining defensive excellence, and continuing to recruit at a high level. If the team can check these boxes and manage the high expectations, then 2025 will be remembered as a season of success that moves the program closer to its ultimate goal: a national title.

For Notre Dame fans, alumni, and supporters, 2025 represents a chance to once again prove that the Irish belong among the elite in college football. The question remains: Will the team rise to the occasion? Time will tell.