4 for 40—that’s the motto when one enrolls at Notre Dame. The four years at South Bend will dictate your next forty years, and that’s something that the guys at Fighting Irish seem to be taking seriously. As the university steps into a new year and bids farewell to its 2025 class, Marcus Freeman’s boys show that a Notre Dame degree is as elite as they come. Their achievement also got a nod from the top brass of the program too.
The Fighting Irish under Marcus Freeman are not just a premier college football team. They’re also triumphing on the academic front too. Last year, Notre Dame Football stood as the #1 team in the Graduate Success Rate rankings, with a rating of 99. “Our schools continue to prioritize the educational and athletic opportunities they provide,” said ACC joint commissioner Jim Phillips. 2025 saw six Fighting Irish guys get drafted into the NFL. Some have gone early, while others decided to stick around. Whatever the case, they’ll be happy to be held out a scroll.
Marcus Freeman stood tall and proud, flanked by his 2025 graduates. In a recent post shared by Notre Dame football, the graduating class of the team stood just as proud, culminating their eventful time in the program. “4⃣ FOR FOREVER” the caption read. “Notre Dame will change your life if you let it .” Fans showered their love and wished the boys their best, including Notre Dame’s Director of Football Performance, Loren Landow. “Proud of this group,” he wrote under the post. The 2025 class looks like another elite Notre Dame group, following its 2024 success.
In 2024, Notre Dame had a stellar run, as Marcus Freeman’s campaign for a national championship win stopped short right at the end. But still, it shows that the HC is determined to make an impact on the program, which he has already proved with his three seasons so far. Benjamin Morris went as a second-round pick in the draft. Jack Kiser, the program’s most senior player, also found himself being picked in the 4th round. With all of these successes in tow, Marcus Freeman looks to be heading into a great 2025.
Can Marcus Freeman repeat his 2024 successes in 2025?
Other teams could only dream of having a clean sweep season like that of Notre Dame in 2024. Marcus Freeman, at his young age, has pulled off an incredible feat for the program. Riding on its success, it will also look at being able to make the same run as last time in 2025 too. But this time, fans would want the campaign to be topped off with a Natty. Freeman set the bar for himself and the team really high up, acting like a benchmark.
The question is, can Freeman and his team be able to meet it? The HC lost a lot of names to the league but is still coming back with some strong ones. However, it will all come down to the success of its QB1. If CJ Carr makes it through the race, the pressure gets a little too much for his young shoulders. He would have to carry the expectations of establishing another winning streak—in the double digits, that too—a playoff spot, and an eventual national championship. If Freeman and Carr can manage to do that, nothing is going to stop Notre Dame from being cemented as an extremely elite and productive NCAA Div. 1 team.
Marcus Freeman not only produces some great players—but he’s also making sure they achieve academically. As he moves on from the 2025 class, he must also look at creating success with his current team. If he manages to do that, Freeman’s name will be taken along with the greatest CFB coaches serving the sport.
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