Every success story starts with a struggle, and no one knows that better than Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame. This team came in as underdogs, held their ground in the playoff race, and fought their way to the national title game. It’s evident that they didn’t win it all, but the remarkable journey they had? That’s what made them stand out. Let’s be real, a 14-2 run doesn’t just happen overnight, especially when you face a brutal loss in just the 2nd week of the game. Everyone questioned their caliber, but doubts don’t break warriors—they shape them.
Notre Dame’s 14-16 loss against the Northern Illinois Huskies was the turning point of Marcus Freeman’s career. When you come as a coach with a strong past record of 9-4 (2022), 10-3 (2023), and a championship-winning hype, a week 2 loss against a team like NIU is a major setback. And everyone made it evident that Freeman and the team felt the pressure and the title run wasn’t even in the picture after that. Even Notre Dame’s HC knew what he was dealing with as he talked about it in the Next Up with Adam Breneman show:
“I always say it [their loss to NIU] is bigger than what we thought, right? And it taught me and our program so many lessons. As you said, we were on the top of the college football world week one with a huge win over Texas A&M on college game day. And everybody was telling us, ‘You know, you guys are a lot for the playoffs; you just you got an easy schedule,’ and then we’re in LA, and we’re the laughing stock of college football after week two.” Imagine steamrolling your Week 1 opponent with a solid 23-13 win, only to stumble in Week 2. The focus shifts abruptly from proving your championship stature to questioning your very place in the competition.
But unlike many, Marcus Freeman took it as a learning experience and made sure that all his players saw it that way and thrived hard through this difficult time. Now, talking about it, Freeman says, “I said earlier that strength you gain from, you know, the tough times, it’s similar to keeping the pain like the fear you have of what happened in the past happening again. It continues to help you prepare in the right way, and so at times throughout the year, I would remind our guys that, hey, we’re still the same team that lost to NIU. If we don’t prepare the right way physically and mentally, all right, then we won’t deserve to have success on Saturdays.” That mindset not only made them a spot in the playoffs but also a finalist in the championship.
Marcus Freeman is not just aiming for another deep run, but he is determined to ensure that Notre Dame wins it all this time. One of his key decisions was to bring in Chris Ash as the new defensive coordinator. Ash was instrumental in constructing Ohio State’s championship-winning defense in 2014. He now leads the defense in South Bend, bringing with him extensive experience from both college and the NFL. His approach emphasizes aggressive press coverage, solid fundamentals, and a physically dominant mindset.
But is he staying put at Notre Dame?
Marcus Freeman’s status at ND looks uncertain
Marcus Freeman has captivated fans with his infectious energy and unwavering confidence. The more you watch him, the more his impressive qualities shine through. Despite being only 38 years old, he exudes the poise of a seasoned professional. The previous season’s national championship pursuit was just a glimpse of his potential. Freeman has set ambitious goals for himself and is determined to achieve every single one.
Even his efforts have resulted in the creation of an impressive 2025 recruiting class, currently ranked 12th in the nation, brimming with exceptional talent. The likes of linebacker Madden Faraimo, safety JaDon Blair, and running back Nolan James Jr. are ready to lead a roster that seems destined for another shot at the title. However, what if this upward trajectory suddenly encounters a roadblock? What if that’s all at stake?
Well, that’s exactly what On3’s J.D. PicKell pointed out when discussing why Freeman loves his job at Notre Dame. As the analyst said: “He’s a dude [Marcus Freeman] that seems like he wants to stay at Notre Dame. I mean, the only job I think you could maybe talk yourself into being a concern if you’re a Notre Dame fan is if Ohio State were to open up because that’s his alma mater. But, like, he probably could have had a chance to go for some NFL jobs this past season, but that didn’t happen. He seems like he’s invested in Notre Dame. He loves Notre Dame, he gets Notre Dame, and again, he’s only going to get better at this head coaching thing.”
For now, Freeman is all in on Notre Dame. Over three seasons, he’s transformed the Irish into a true contender, achieving what Brian Kelly couldn’t. Additions from the transfer portal, including Riley Leonard, have proven beneficial, propelling the program closer to a title than in years past. The OSU scenario is just speculation, as Freeman’s focus is on winning a championship for South Bend.
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