Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish wrapped up their 2025 regular season with a solid 10-2 record, yet found themselves excluded from the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff field.
This omission sparked widespread disappointment, as the team had rallied with a 10-game winning streak following early losses to strong opponents like Miami and Texas A&M.
In response to the snub, the program made a bold move by opting out of any postseason bowl invitation, marking a rare decision that drew mixed reactions across the sport.
The choice underscored the high expectations at Notre Dame, where anything short of a national title contention feels like a letdown.
Amid the fallout, attention quickly shifted to key personnel developments, starting with standout junior running back Jeremiyah Love.
Love, who delivered an explosive season with over 1,600 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns while earning Heisman finalist honors, announced his decision to enter the 2026 NFL Draft. His departure represents a significant loss for the Irish offense, as he consistently provided big plays and emerged as one of the nation’s top backs.
Meanwhile, speculation has intensified around Freeman, whose name has surfaced in connection with several NFL head coaching vacancies.
At just 39 years old, Freeman has compiled an impressive 43-12 overall record during his tenure at Notre Dame, including three consecutive campaigns with no more than three defeats. The previous year, he led the Irish to a College Football Playoff appearance and a spot in the national championship game, ultimately falling to Ohio State.
Former college coach Chris Petersen recently shared his thoughts on Freeman’s situation during an appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”
“I love Marcus Freeman. I like Notre Dame a lot. I think it’s really a bummer that they are left out of this playoff, because I look at it like this. This is a team that could have a chance to win the tournament, and you’re left out. That hurts,” Petersen said.
Petersen acknowledged the validity of prioritizing Miami in the playoff selection due to their head-to-head victory over Notre Dame. He went on to describe the current state of college football as chaotic and overwhelming.
“I think college football is so nuts right now and so crazy. If I’m a Marcus Freeman type young coach, big career in front of me, I’m looking really hard at the NFL,” he said.
Petersen highlighted the relentless demands off the field, including constant recruiting and transfer portal activity.He criticized the practice of targeting players not yet in the portal.
“If I had an owner that I thought was outstanding and the GM, and I’m soul to soul and got alignment with that, I’m looking really hard at the NFL, because it’s just a better way of life right now, and I would never have said that eight years ago,” he said.
While Petersen’s comments fuel the NFL buzz, some experts argue that Freeman holds substantial power and stability at Notre Dame, a prestigious position with fewer uncertainties than professional coaching roles. The coming months will reveal whether Freeman stays to build on his success in South Bend or explores opportunities in the pros.
For now, the Irish community remains focused on rebounding stronger in 2026, aiming to secure that elusive playoff berth and beyond.
