Steve Angeli Enters Transfer Portal — What It Means for Notre Dame

Marcus Freeman is being bold, and Irish fans love to see it

Apr 12, 2025; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Steve Angeli (18) looks to pass during the Blue-Gold game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

Now that Steve Angeli has announced his plans to leave South Bend and enter the transfer portal, there's some amount of clarity about the direction of the Notre Dame program at the most important individual position in sports. The Irish will be going young. How young? Whoever wins the starting job between CJ Carr & Kenny Minchey will have their first college start on the road facing Miami in 2025. Welcome to the big leagues!

This move is a big one for Marcus Freeman as he transitions from new coach to comfortable and experienced as he prepares for his fourth season at the helm in South Bend. Let's take a look at what this decision by the Irish staff tells us.

Notre Dame QB Steve Angeli is officially in the transfer portal as a grad transfer.

The fourth-year New Jersey native was engaged in a three-way QB battle with the Irish. Angeli started the 2023 Sun Bowl win and led a key scoring drive in last season’s Orange Bowl comeback win. pic.twitter.com/jbMOjBDQFy

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) April 17, 2025

Notre Dame believes in Minchey & Carr

Marcus Freeman could've played this situation conservatively and ran with the most experienced player, Steve Angeli as his early starter in 2025. Freeman and his staff not choosing to do so and being comfortable with a first-time starter in a critical year four shows how much belief there is in the high-end upside of the two younger quarterback combatants.

The Notre Dame staff knows the team will be good in 2025

Along with the trust being displayed in the future development of Minchey and Carr, this move also indicates how much trust and belief there is by the staff in the supporting cast around the starting quarterback. Notre Dame believes the defense, running backs, offensive line, and an upgraded receiving corps can and will be able to overcome "rookie mistakes" that will inevitably occur.

Notre Dame is in win now mode

Notre Dame is not rebuilding, it's reloading. Freeman and company know that to win the championship, they must present a more dangerous pass game that instills fear in the opposing defensive coordinator. Both Minchey and Carr can deliver that. This is Notre Dame's "winning window". Marcus Freeman knows this and is being bold. His goal isn't to just play well in the playoff, but to win it entirely.

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