Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman addressed his team’s efforts to recover following the Fighting Irish’s first loss of the season, a 28-24 defeat to No. 8 BYU on October 17 in Provo, Utah. The team used their recent bye week to reflect on the game and focus on improvement ahead of their upcoming matchup against Navy on October 28 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Freeman emphasized the importance of accountability during the team’s review process. He instructed players and staff to take full responsibility for their mistakes without qualification or excuses, noting that adding a “but” after admitting errors often shifts blame away from oneself. “Coach says, ‘Man, I should have called something different.’ Period,” Freeman said during a Monday press conference. “Player: ‘I should have done this better.’ And that’s the end of the statement.”

One point of contention after the BYU loss was the end-of-game clock management. The Big 12 conference later acknowledged that the official clock showed one second remaining after the final pass hit the ground, meaning Notre Dame could have had an additional play to attempt a game-winning score. Freeman declined to use the discrepancy as an excuse for the loss, stating that the chaotic scene following the final play made it difficult for staff and players to identify the remaining time visually. He suggested that a “systematic” solution should be implemented to prevent similar clock errors in the future.

Quarterback CJ Carr’s performance drew mixed reviews. Carr completed 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards, recording no touchdowns or interceptions but losing one fumble during a botched spike attempt. His 55.1% completion rate marked the lowest of his starting career, with some noticeable misthrows in critical moments. Still, Freeman highlighted Carr’s competitiveness and ability to execute under pressure, particularly in two-minute drills, and expressed confidence that the loss would not undermine the quarterback’s confidence moving forward.

Notre Dame’s offensive personnel usage also came under scrutiny. The Irish relied heavily on a limited number of wide receivers during the loss, with only three players—Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse, and Micah Gilbert—registering more than two snaps. Greathouse led with eight catches for 125 yards, and Faison had six catches for 64 yards. Freeman explained that game circumstances influenced personnel decisions, as the coaching staff leaned on the most trusted players during high-pressure moments. He indicated conversations were underway to better integrate other receivers and running backs, including freshman Jonaz Walton, who had limited opportunities with just 10 snaps and five carries.

Defensively, Notre Dame faced a setback when Boubacar Traore, a second-team midseason All-American on the defensive line, was ejected early in the game for targeting. Freeman said Traore understood the seriousness of the penalty and did not require further discipline. The coach stressed the importance of the entire defense adjusting and executing better to compensate for Traore’s absence, acknowledging that both players and coaches share responsibility for preparing and adapting to in-game challenges.

With their record now at 6-1, Notre Dame heads into the week focused on correcting their shortcomings and building momentum ahead of a significant home game against No. 1 Miami.