ESPN ranks CJ Carr within top-10 of best players at midseason

Quarterback CJ Carr and US LBM Coaches Poll No. 8 Notre Dame are on a bye this week, but Carr is still getting recognized in different ways.

ESPN has Carr at No. 10 in their list of top 25 college football players at midseason .

According to the report, Carr – who was No. 7 in ESPN's preseason CFB player rankings – has 1,639 passing yards, 16 passing TDs and a few rushing scores so far this season.

See photos from Notre Dame's loss to BYU

ESPN staff writer Bill Connelly provided an analysis of Carr.

"After a fantastic debut as Notre Dame's starter in 2025, Carr lost four of his top five targets but hit the ground running in 2026 all the same," Connelly said . "He has improved his already excellent total QBR and completion rate, and he has become almost unsackable, taking only two in his first seven games this season. He didn't get enough run support and faced a lot of third-and-longs against BYU, but he still came within 8 yards of a top-10 road win. He'll get another chance at a marquee win soon against Miami."

Notre Dame star cornerback Leonard Moore was left out of the player rankings despite being a projected top-10 pick for the 2027 NFL draft. ESPN's report noted that while Moore has been elite, the junior "has been banged up."

Moore has 10 tackles and five pass break-ups through five games for the Fighting Irish .

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