​As the college football season nears, there’s no shortage of top-player lists making the rounds. Recently, On3 released its top-10 Big Ten quarterbacks, which naturally spurred me to consider where Notre Dame’s rising star CJ Carr might fit. In my view, Carr would at least be No. 3 on that list, trailing only Oregon’s Dante Moore and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin. The real debate would be over the No. 2 spot, since the Ducks’ Moore has more in the way of experience than the other two. Sayin and Carr resemble each other in many ways: both are entering their second year as the starting quarterback and both are expected to leap into superstardom this season.
If you only look at last season’s numbers, Sayin does hold a clear edge. He threw for nearly 1,000 more yards, posted more touchdowns, and nonetheless surpassed Carr with a few more interceptions. Yet there’s one data point they both share: Miami. Sayin’s performance against the Hurricanes was solid but not spectacular—he produced 258 passing yards and a touchdown, yet also threw two interceptions and was sacked five times. Carr, in his very first career start, finished with 221 passing yards, two TDs, and an interception. He was sacked three times and added a rushing touchdown, underscoring his dual-threat potential.
That game helpfully highlights why I’d place Carr ahead of Sayin for the No. 2 slot in a hypothetical Big Ten-plus-Notre Dame quarterback ranking for 2026. Carr displayed better efficiency under pressure and showed the ability to contribute with his legs, factors that can translate to more dynamic production against tougher defenses. It’s a reminder that raw passing numbers don’t tell the whole story; context, development, and the way a quarterback handles higher levels of competition matter just as much.
So, when stacking Carr against the rest of the field, I’d favor him for the No. 2 position behind Moore, with Sayin nipping at his heels in the No. 3 spot. The question remains: how would Carr fare against the broader Big Ten slate and the challenges posed by Notre Dame’s schedule in 2026? That’s the intrigue as the season approaches, and it’s precisely what will determine how high Carr can climb on preseason lists and in the eyes of fans and analysts alike. Where would you place CJ Carr when you widen the frame to include the full Big Ten plus Notre Dame landscape?
Follow us for ongoing Notre Dame coverage and analysis. Contact or follow @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to stay updated with Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Where would CJ Carr rank among the top Big Ten quarterbacks of 2026?