Winning at South Bend isn't just about X’s and O’s. It’s about surviving the gold-plated fishbowl. When Marcus Freeman took over as the coach for Notre Dame football in late 2021, the vibe shifted instantly. Gone was the prickly, CEO-style distance of Brian Kelly. In its place? A guy who actually seemed to like being there.
But liking the job doesn't win a National Championship.
The pressure is weirdly specific at Notre Dame. You aren't just competing against Ohio State or Georgia; you’re competing against the ghosts of Knute Rockne, Lou Holtz, and Frank Leahy. It’s a lot. Honestly, most fans were just happy to have someone who didn't view the program as a stepping stone to the SEC. Freeman inherited a roster built for consistency but perhaps lacking the elite "blue-chip" depth required to jump from "Playoff participant" to "Playoff winner."
The Freeman Era: More Than Just a Recruiting Bump
People love to talk about Freeman's recruiting. It’s the headline. Under his watch, the Irish have consistently pulled in top-ten classes, focusing heavily on the "trenches"—the offensive and defensive lines. This isn't an accident. If you look at the 2024 and 2025 cycles, the emphasis on high-ceiling tackles and edge rushers is obvious.
Why does this matter? Because for a decade, Notre Dame was "O-Line U" but lacked the elite speed on the perimeter to scare Alabama.
Freeman's approach is different. He's aggressive. Sometimes too aggressive? Maybe. The loss to Marshall in his first full season was a disaster. There’s no other way to put it. It was a wake-up call that "vibes" don't stop a Sun Belt rushing attack. Since then, the evolution has been about pragmatic adjustment. Bringing in Al Golden as Defensive Coordinator was a masterstroke. Golden brought an NFL-style complexity that turned the Irish defense into a top-five unit nationally.
Quarterback Purgatory and the Transfer Portal Strategy
If there’s a thorn in the side of any coach for Notre Dame football, it’s the quarterback room. The academic standards at Notre Dame make the transfer portal a minefield. You can't just take anyone. They have to have the credits. They have to fit.
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The strategy has been a revolving door of "bridge" veterans:
- Sam Hartman: Brought the "Wake Forest" magic but struggled against elite pressure.
- Riley Leonard: A dual-threat weapon from Duke meant to unlock the run game.
- The Future: CJ Carr is the name everyone is whispering about. The legacy recruit who represents the first real chance at a homegrown superstar in years.
Relying on one-year rentals is a dangerous game. It’s like renting a sports car instead of building one in your garage. Eventually, the lease runs out. Freeman knows this. The shift toward developing young talent like Carr or Kenny Minchey is the real litmus test for his tenure. If the Irish can't develop a first-round QB, the ceiling remains the same: a first-round exit in the 12-team playoff.
Navigating the 12-Team Playoff Landscape
The 2024 season changed everything for the coach for Notre Dame football. With the expanded playoff, the "Independent" status of Notre Dame became a massive talking point. They can't get a first-round bye. They have to play that 13th game.
Some pundits say it's an unfair disadvantage. I think that's nonsense.
Notre Dame’s schedule is built for the playoff era. They play a national schedule that gives them data points against the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC. When they beat Texas A&M at Kyle Field, it wasn't just a win; it was a statement to the selection committee. The "strength of schedule" argument is the only shield the Irish have since they don't have a conference championship game to boost their resume in December.
The Al Golden Factor
You can't talk about the current state of the program without mentioning the defense. Al Golden has turned South Bend into a "no-fly zone." Look at the 2023-2024 stats. The secondary, led by guys like Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts, became the identity of the team.
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In the past, Notre Dame coaches tried to out-finesse teams. Freeman and Golden are trying to out-muscle them. It’s a return to the "Lou Holtz" era of physical intimidation, just with more modern blitz packages. The 2024 defense was arguably the most disciplined unit in the country, rarely surrendering big plays and forcing teams into long, grueling drives that eventually stalled.
What the Critics Get Wrong About Being the Notre Dame Coach
There’s this narrative that Notre Dame is a "dying brand" or that it can't compete because of NIL. That’s just flat-out wrong. The "Friends of Notre Dame" NIL collective is actually one of the most organized in the country. They just don't brag about it on Twitter as much as the schools in the South.
The challenge isn't money. It's the "Sunday through Friday" grind.
Being the coach for Notre Dame football means your players actually have to go to class. They have to pass real exams. You can't hide a superstar in a "General Studies" major that doesn't exist. This limits the recruiting pool. Freeman has leaned into this rather than fighting it. He recruits the "40-year decision" kid—the one who wants the NFL but also wants the degree that opens doors in Manhattan or Chicago.
Tactical Growth and In-Game Management
Honestly, Freeman's biggest growth has been in his game management. Early on, he made "young coach" mistakes. Going for it on fourth down in his own territory, burning timeouts too early—the usual stuff.
By 2024, the operation looked smoother. The staff communication improved. The hire of Mike Denbrock as Offensive Coordinator was a massive "win" for Freeman. Denbrock, coming off a historic run at LSU with Jayden Daniels, brought a level of play-calling sophistication that had been missing. It took the pressure off Freeman to be the "everything" guy and let him focus on being the CEO.
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The Reality of the "Independent" Label
Will Notre Dame ever join a conference? Probably not as long as the NBC money keeps flowing.
The independence is part of the "mystique," but it’s also a logistical nightmare for the coach for Notre Dame football. You don't have a conference commissioner to lobby for you. You don't have a set "path" to the postseason. Every game is a playoff game. Lose twice, and you're sweating it out on Selection Sunday.
This creates a high-stress environment where "trap games" against teams like Navy or Northern Illinois become existential threats. Freeman has handled this by building a deep roster. He's used the portal not just for starters, but for "culture fits" who provide depth.
Why History Will Judge Freeman Differently
Kelly was about the floor. He ensured Notre Dame would never go 4-8 again. He brought respectability back.
Freeman is about the ceiling. He’s taking swings at five-star recruits that Kelly wouldn't even visit. He’s embracing the modern era of social media and player branding. He’s "humanized" the position. Whether that results in a trophy remains to be seen, but the foundation is objectively stronger now than it was five years ago.
Actionable Insights for Following the Program
If you’re trying to keep a pulse on the Irish, stop looking at the AP Poll and start looking at these three specific metrics. They tell the real story of whether the coach is succeeding.
- The "Top 100" Hit Rate: Check the recruiting classes. If Notre Dame isn't landing at least 3-4 players in the top 100 nationally, they won't have the "dude factor" to beat Georgia or Ohio State in a semifinal.
- Success on 3rd-and-Short: This is the barometer for the offensive line's physicality. Under Freeman, the goal is to be a "bully ball" team. If they can't convert 3rd-and-2 consistently, the system is failing.
- Red Zone TD Percentage: In the big games, Notre Dame has historically settled for field goals. To see if the coaching staff is evolving, watch their play-calling inside the 20-yard line.
Keep an eye on the injury reports mid-season. Because Notre Dame doesn't play a "cupcake" schedule in November like some SEC teams, the depth is usually tested by week 10. A successful coach for Notre Dame football manages the roster's health as much as their talent.
The Freeman era is currently in its "prove it" phase. The recruiting is there. The defensive identity is there. Now, it’s just about finding that one elite quarterback who can turn a "very good" team into a "legendary" one. Until then, the Irish will remain the most debated team in the country, exactly where they like to be.