Notre Dame might have a quarterback battle on its hands heading into 2024.
Cody Nagel
Notre Dame backup quarterback Steve Angeli sure made the most of his first career start. The redshirt freshman put together an almost flawless performance en route to helping the Fighting Irish to a40-8 win against Oregon State in the Sun Bowl Friday in El Paso. With star quarterback Sam Hartman on the sidelines having opted out of the postseason for Notre Dame, Angeli got an opportunity to showcase his talents – and potentially make his case to be in consideration for the starting role in 2024.
Angeli finished 15-of-19 (78.9%) with 232 yards and three touchdowns. The Fighting Irish scored on five of eightdrives with Angeli in command of the offense. The former three-star prospect from New Jersey had just nine previous appearances for Notre Dame. With the Fighting Irish welcoming four-star transfer portal quarterback Riley Leonard from Duke, thestarting spot could be interesting heading into next season.
With the Sun Bowl victory, Notre Dame reached double-digit wins for theeighth time in 12 seasons.
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Below is some of the social media reaction to the Sun Bowl win for Notre Dame against Oregon State:
Sam Hartman is here. The Notre Dame QB opted out of the Sun Bowl. pic.twitter.com/dlqKhjwdds
— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) December 29, 2023
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 29, 2023
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 29, 2023Despite the fact that they aren't playing today, there are some familiar faces hanging out in El Paso and supporting their #NotreDame teammates for the matchup with Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.
via @FredsPics https://t.co/Uj4eVKfiaf@247Sports / @irishillustratd pic.twitter.com/bEMqQzkOav
Opt outs –as well as transfers – were a key storyline leadingup the Sun Bowl with starting quarterbacks for both Notre Dame and Oregon State not playing. Fighting Irish sixth-year senior Sam Hartman opted out in order to begin preparations for the NFL Draft, while Beavers senior DJ Uiagalelei re-entered the transfer portal following the departure of coach Jonathan Smith to Michigan State. Hartman and other Notre Dame opt outs wereon the Notre Dame sideline in El Paso to supporttheir teammates.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 29, 2023That was easy!
Angeli finds Jayden Thomas for SIX to get the scoring started for @NDFootball. pic.twitter.com/2o59ehHpN1
After forcing a punt on the first drive of the Sun Bowl, Notre Dame and backup quarterback Steve Angeli marched 96 yards in 11 plays to get on the scoreboard. Backup running back and freshman Jeremiyah Love – a former Top247 prospect – saw a heavy dose of action on the drive for the Fighting Irish in place of stud Audric Estime, another opt out. However, it was wide receiver Jayden Thomas that found the end zone on a short pass from Angeli.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) December 29, 2023Jayden Thomas today: Three catches, 48 yards, 1 TD
Jayden Thomas the previous eight games: Five catches, 63 yards.
Season completely upended by that hamstring injury against Ohio State. Today a reminder of what it was supposed to look like for the junior wide out.
Jayden Thomas spent much of the season injured for Notre Dame, missing four games and making little contribution in the passing game with only five catches for 63 yards. His first catch of the Sun Bowl was the touchdown before adding back-to-back first down receptions on the next offensive drive for the Fighting Irish. At the end of the first half, Thomas nearly matched his regular season stats withfour catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.
A four-possession first half for Notre Dame leads to 200 yards and a 14-0 lead at the break. Oregon State's four offensive possessions have yielded 56 yards on 19 snaps and now a 5th with 27 secs remaining
— Tim O'Malley (@timomalleyND) December 29, 2023
It was all Notre Dame in the first half, shutting out Oregon State through the first two quarters. It is the first time the Beavers were held scoreless in the first half of a bowl game in program history – 18 appearances. The Fighting Irish ran 36 plays on four possessions, while Oregon State had just 22 snaps on five possessions, ending the second quarter with an interception on a Hail Mary pass attempt that came up well short of the end zone.
Steve Angeli with an absolute DIME to Jordan Faison! ? @NDFootball pic.twitter.com/ssyp7tPHK6
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 29, 2023
Notre Dame presumably has its starting quarterback for the 2024 season in transfer Riley Leonard from Duke, but the Fighting Irish also have a strong backup option in Steve Angeli, a redshirt freshman from Westfield (N.J.) Bergen Catholic that made his first career start in the Sun Bowl. Angeli was dealing against Oregon State, including a 55-yard deep ball that connected with wide receiver Jordan Faison on the opening drive of the second half. Notre Dame capped off the drive with a field goal to extend its lead, 17-0.
.@SteveAngeli_125 pic.twitter.com/GvUqVa5i28
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 29, 2023
Angeli entered the Sun Bowl with nine total appearances in games for Notre Dame. He was 19 of 25 (76%) for 272 yards and four touchdowns with one interception this season. Angelirated as a three-star prospect coming out of the 2022 recruiting class and ranked as the No. 43 quarterback in the cycle. He signed with the Fighting Irish over additional Power Five offers from Arizona,Iowa, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and others.
"The @NDFootball fanbase and the entire community has been incredible to me."@JennyDell_ caught up with Notre Dame star QB Sam Hartman who sat out of the Sun Bowl. He might have play-by-play in his future ? pic.twitter.com/kNjsvpz5PF
— CBS Sports College Football ? (@CBSSportsCFB) December 29, 2023
OREGON STATE has "gained" negative 8 yards on 3rd/4th Down...0-for-8 overall
— Tim O'Malley (@timomalleyND) December 29, 2023
As well as the Notre Dame offense played behind first-time starting quarterback Steve Angeli, the Fighting Irish defense did its part against an Oregon Stateunit that was without a list of starters. The Beaversran just one play on the Notre Dame side of midfield through the first three quarters and it was the interception on the Hail Mary pass attempt before halftime. Oregon State ended the game with197 total yards, including only two (!!) rushing.
— Cody Nagel (@CodyNagel247) December 29, 2023Steve Angeli is dealing for Notre Dame.
13-16 … 199 yards … 2 TDs.
Offer list was solid coming out of Bergen Catholic in the 2022 class.https://t.co/F8xJpTtbDa pic.twitter.com/31HyWAXLuO
Steve Angeli lowers the shoulder and Sam Hartman is loving it! ? pic.twitter.com/4kYKTWGaHv
— CBS Sports College Football ? (@CBSSportsCFB) December 29, 2023
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 29, 2023Guess who?
It's Angeli to Faison AGAIN and this time it's for SIX. @NDFootball is ROLLING. pic.twitter.com/dN0v4lqVET
Through three quarters, Angeli was 13-of-16 with 199 yards and two touchdowns.He also had seven carries for 30 yards, including a first down run in which he lowered his shoulder into an Oregon State defensive back. Angeli found a reliable target in Jordan Faison as the duo connected for a 13-yard touchdown pass to put Notre Dame up 24-0.
BREAKING: The winning team of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl will eat Tony the Tiger alive on the field during the postgame trophy ceremony.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 29, 2023
*Bowl mascots showing up to work after the Pop-Tart was sacrificed* pic.twitter.com/RF87PW8GNw
— Cody Nagel (@CodyNagel247) December 29, 2023
Bowl mascots have always held a special place in the heart of college football fans, but the Pop-Tart from the Pop-Tart Bowl set a new standard after seemingly sacrificing itself to be eaten by the winner, which ended up being Kansas State. Not sure that would be humane for Tony The Tiger, but the pressure is on the other college football bowl mascots to raise their engagement level.
