Notre Dame's starting quarterback for the season opener appears to no longer be a mystery.

Sophomore Everett Golson is expected to be announced the starter today by coach Brian Kelly.

The Irish had planned to wait until after practice to name the 6-foot, 185-pound Myrtle Beach, S.C., native the starter for when they play Navy on Sept. 1 in Dublin, Ireland. But the information was leaked earlier today.

Notre Dame could still decide not to announce the starting quarterback today, but all signs are pointing to Golson, who didn't play as a freshman, making his debut in the season opener.

Golson made himself a viable option to start after his spring game performance. He threw for 120 yards with two touchdowns and added 25 rushing yards.

Kelly said at last Thursday's media day that Golson had thrown one interception in 126 passing opportunities during fall camp. The coach also praised the sophomore's decisionmaking.

"You build trust," Kelly said last week. "You don't just give it, you build trust."

Golson appears to have built enough trust to push him in front of juniors Andrew Hendrix, who was also a candidate to start against Navy, and Tommy Rees, who started 12 games last year but is suspended for the season opener.

"I think if everything is equal across the board, then you're looking at some of the intangibles, the ability to show poise under pressure, the ability to command a presence," Kelly said of deciding on a starting quarterback. "You start to look at some of those other things that we don't necessarily look at in moving them up the ladder."