It's been just over a year since Brian Kelly left South Bend for Baton Rouge, and already the chatter about a return to Notre Dame is heating up. But for Irish fans still nursing that bitter breakup, the timing couldn't be worse.

Kelly recently announced plans to visit Notre Dame and chat with current head coach Marcus Freeman, sparking debate across the college football world. While attending Lou Holtz's funeral was a class move—and frankly, the right thing to do—showing up for casual conversation feels like stepping back into an ex's life way too soon. The wounds from his abrupt departure and the hollow promises that followed are still fresh. Maybe give it another decade or two, coach.

The news comes via a recent appearance on USA Today's College Football Podcast, where Kelly discussed his desire to coach again, NIL developments, and a potential visit to Freeman. For many in the Notre Dame family, the idea of Kelly strolling through campus while the program is riding high under new leadership just doesn't sit right.

Speaking of riding high, all eyes are on quarterback CJ Carr, who's emerged as the odds-on favorite for the Heisman Trophy. Despite being eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, whispers around South Bend suggest he might stick around for another season. Imagine a Heisman winner returning to lead the Irish in 2027—that's the kind of storybook ending Kelly never quite delivered.

As for the bigger picture, Brett McMurphy's early bowl projections have Notre Dame falling to Miami in the regular season, earning a No. 3 seed at 11-1, then losing a rematch to the Hurricanes in the national championship. That November 7 showdown is shaping up to be the kind of game that could rival the electric atmosphere of Notre Dame vs. Clemson in 2020. Just don't expect Brian Kelly to be on the sidelines for that one—at least not anytime soon.