Miami will have certainty at quarterback in the season opener when they play Notre Dame on August 30. C.J. Carr and Kenny Minchey are competing in training camp to be the Notre Dame starting QB with no clear separation, per Pete Nakos of On3.
Carr played in one game without attempting a pass before redshirting as a true freshman in 2024. Minchey has completed all three of his pass attempts for 16 yards with two carries for 12 yards and a touchdown in four games played over the past two seasons.
The lack of experience for Carr and Minchey is in sharp contrast to Miami QB Carson Beck, who enters the 2025 season with a 24-3 career record as a starter at Georgia. Beck has completed 68.0 percent of his career pass attempts for 7,912 yards, 58 TDs and 20 interceptions with 245 rushing yards and five TDs.
Miami has had to do an overhaul in the passing game from 2024. The Hurricanes lost QB Cam Ward and their top six receivers from 2024. Miami led the nation, averaging 43.9 points per game and 537.2 yards in 2024. Those numbers are a big reason Beck transferred to Miami.
NEW: Notre Dame QBs CJ Carr & Kenny Minchey are neck-and-neck with no clear separation, @PeteNakos_ reports👀
— On3 (@On3sports) August 11, 2025
Intel: https://t.co/JeAxqH3nvy pic.twitter.com/8qfX78SGXS
Left guard Matthew McCoy (right guard), Anez Cooper, and right tackle Francis Mauigoa are the only returning starters for Miami on offense in 2025. The stability of an experienced offensive line with transfer center James Brockermeyer from TCU and veteran left tackle Markel Bell should keep Beck protected.
Miami returns five starters on defense. Notre Dame returns five starters on offense and six on defense. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love will provide Carr or Minchey the opportunity to lean on the run. Love ran for 1,125 yards in 2024 on 6.9 yards per carry with 17 TDs.
Notre Dame's top 2024 wide receiver, Jaden Greathouse, returns to provide Carr or Minchey an experienced wideout to throw to. Greathouse had 42 receptions for 592 yards and four TDs in 2024. Notre Dame also returns three starters on the offensive line.
The game could be decided on how Miami plays offensively versus an experienced Notre Dame defense. Notre Dame was fourth nationally in 2025, allowing 15.5 PPG and 11th with opponents gaining 307.4 YPG. Notre Dame's QB situation is similar to when they played Miami in 2017.
Brandon Wimbush completed 10 passes in 21 attempts for 119 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions and had 11 carries for 24 yards. Ian Book completed three passes in six attempts for 33 yards, threw one of the most memorable interceptions in Miami history and had two carries for 10 yards.
With Notre Dame trailing 20-0 at the end of the first half and driving, Book telegraphed a pass that Miami cornerback Trajan Bandy read perfectly and returned 65 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 27-0 and all but put the game away.