Notre Dame Balances Playoff Push and Greathouse’s Redshirt

Notre Dame is facing an important choice as the season nears its end. Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse is finally healthy again after getting hurt against Arkansas in late September. Even though he is ready to play, head coach Marcus Freeman says the plan is still to keep him on the sideline unless it’s an emergency.

Freeman told reporters on Thursday that Greathouse is “healthy and available now,” but the staff wants to protect his redshirt year. He said Greathouse will only play against Syracuse or Stanford if something unexpected happens. The idea is to let him heal fully, save his eligibility, and have him ready for a possible College Football Playoff run.

Greathouse has appeared in just four games this season and is averaging 18.3 yards per catch. Under NCAA rules, a player can play in four regular-season games and still redshirt, and they can take part in the full postseason without losing a year of eligibility. For Notre Dame, it’s a win all around. They keep one of their top young players healthy now and still get him for future seasons.

Greathouse has already shown he can shine on the big stage. Last year, he put up 105 yards in the Orange Bowl. In the playoff semifinal, he beat Penn State’s defense with seven catches, 105 yards, and a touchdown. He also helped spark a rally against Ohio State with six catches for 128 yards and two scores. That kind of talent is exactly what Notre Dame wants to have in 2026 and 2027.

While the Irish think about the future, they also have to worry about this year’s playoff race. Notre Dame sits at No. 9 in the rankings, but Miami is moving up from No. 13. CFP chair Hunter Yurachek said Miami could challenge the Irish because the Hurricanes beat Notre Dame earlier in the season. Even though Miami has two losses to unranked teams, that head-to-head win could matter if the teams end up close in the final rankings.

Notre Dame seems headed toward a 10–2 finish, while Miami’s record is more up and down. Still, if Miami gets within two spots, that early-season win becomes a major problem for Marcus Freeman’s team. For now, Notre Dame has to stay focused, keep winning, and make smart roster decisions—starting with how they use Jaden Greathouse.

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