Let’s talk about REVENGE. Not the dramatic kind that involves buckets of blood and a guy yelling in a mask. No, this is the *sports* kind — the kind where you lose, feel it deep, and then go on a mission to make sure the next time you face your worst enemy, they’re the ones with the L energy.
Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore isn’t just talking about getting revenge on Miami. He’s saying the entire team is on a “revenge tour” after being excluded from the College Football Playoff last year. That’s not just a feel-good narrative — that’s a *mood*. And if you don’t get it, you’re either too much of a softie or you’ve been living under a rock in South Bend since 2023.
Let’s be real: CFP snubs are the most delicious kind of motivation. You have to be absolutely *stupid* not to use that as fuel. Especially when you lost to Miami — not once, but twice. First in September, then again in November (or was it October? Whatever). Either way, the Canes got the better of the Irish in a game that was supposed to be a statement. And now? Now they’re coming back for Round Two.
Moore admits he used to *worry* about that loss at night — the 27-24 beatdown by Miami last year. The fact that it was on Notre Dame’s home field only makes it worse. You don’t lose in South Bend and not feel it. That game is a scar, man. And Moore? He’s the guy who’s been licking that wound every day since.
But here’s the thing: when you’re on a revenge tour, you don’t just talk about it. You *live* it. You let it fuel your workouts. You let it make you more aggressive in coverage. You let it turn you into a predator on defense — and Moore? He’s the hunter. The guy who wants to show Miami that last year was an aberration, not a trend.
And don’t even get me started on CJ Carr. The guy is entering his second season as starting QB, but he’s still talking about how bad that first half against Miami was. Like, *worst* first half of the season? That’s not just humility — that’s ownership. He knows what he did wrong, and he’s not letting it go.
Carr said watching the tape of that game is tough — like, it *hurts*. But here’s the beautiful part: he also says there was resilience in that second half. You know what that means? It means Notre Dame didn’t fold. They fought back. And now they’re ready to fight again.
So when Moore says they’re on a revenge tour, you can take it seriously. Because this isn’t just about winning against Miami — it’s about redemption. It’s about proving that last year was an outlier, not the norm. That Notre Dame is still the team they’ve always been: tough, relentless, and ready to prove people wrong.
But here’s where Coach Marcus Freeman steps in with his *signature* move: the “focus on the task at hand” speech. Because when you’re on a revenge tour, it’s easy to get distracted by the big picture — like, say, CFP dreams or national championships. But Freeman? He’s all about staying grounded.
“We spend too much time daydreaming about Miami,” he said, “we’re going to lose to Wisconsin.” And that’s not just a random warning — it’s a *truth bomb*. Because if you let your mind wander, even for a second, you’re dead. You can’t be thinking about revenge against Miami when you’ve got a game against Wisconsin on the horizon. That’s not how this works.
Freeman’s job is to keep his team focused — and he’s doing it with some *serious* intensity. He doesn’t want anyone daydreaming about national championships or CFP berths. He wants them to focus on every single practice, every rep, every game. Because if you don’t, you’re going to lose.
But here’s the twist: even though Freeman is all about focusing on the task at hand, he *knows* that the revenge tour is real. And maybe that’s why he’s being so strict — because he knows how powerful it can be. He’s not trying to shut down the energy; he’s just making sure it doesn’t become a distraction.
Because let’s face it: when you’ve been snubbed by the College Football Playoff, and you have a loss in your own backyard to Miami, that *is* fuel. And Moore? He knows how to use it.
He said the defensive backs took the blame for the loss to Miami — and honestly, they probably should have. Because Miami’s Carson Beck was 20 of 30 for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. That’s not just a good game — that’s a *dominating* performance. And Moore? He felt the weight of it. He said it used to keep him up at night.
So he knows what’s on the line this year. Because if they lose again to Miami, it’s going to feel like another slap in the face. Another reminder that Notre Dame isn’t as good as they think they are — even though they *are* getting better.
And let’s be honest: this secondary is going to be one of the best in the country this year. They’re returning nine of their top 10 tacklers, including Adon Shuler and Moore himself. That kind of experience can’t be ignored. It means they’ve been through the fire — and they’re ready to light it again.
Drayk Bowen is back from surgery and looking sharp — and he said Freeman showed the team video of their reaction on Selection Day. Because if you want to know what that loss felt like, all you have to do is look at the faces of those players when they found out they didn’t make the CFP.
That’s a *moment*. A moment that changed everything for them — and now it’s part of their motivation. That kind of fire can’t be manufactured. It has to come from real pain, real disappointment, and real determination.
So Moore is right: this is a revenge tour. Not just for Miami, but for the entire season last year. For the losses that kept Notre Dame out of the playoff. For the moments where they fell short — not because they weren’t good enough, but because they were *too soft* in their own backyard.
And let’s be real: Freeman wasn’t holding back with his critique of the secondary after the Miami loss. He told them they were weak. Soft. That kind of criticism doesn’t come from a coach who isn’t serious about it — and Moore knows that.
That’s why this year is different. Because they’ve been through the fire, and now they’re ready to fight back. They know what it feels like to be on the wrong side of history — and they’re not going to let it happen again.
So when they take the field against Miami on Nov. 7, it’s not just another game. It’s a chance to prove that last year was an anomaly. That Notre Dame is back — stronger, hungrier, and ready to show everyone what they’re made of.
And if you don’t think that kind of energy can carry a team? You haven’t been around long enough.
Because when you have players who are motivated by revenge — real, raw, unfiltered revenge — you get something special. You get a team that doesn’t just play to win — it *demands* to win.
So here’s the bottom line: Notre Dame is on a revenge tour. They’re not just talking about it — they’re living it. And if Miami thinks they can come into South Bend and walk away with another victory? They’ve got another thing coming.
Because this isn’t just about revenge anymore. It’s about respect. About proving that the Irish are still one of the best in college football — even after being snubbed by the College Football Playoff.
So when the game comes, don’t be surprised if Notre Dame brings their A-game. Because they’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain — and a whole lot of fire in their hearts.
Now go ahead and ask yourself: do you think Miami is ready for this?