Every so often, college football surprises with performances that amaze fans and rivals equally. In these moments of elevating beyond sport to legendary status, the most reasonable response popping up is, “Did that really just happen?” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had those moments during the 2024 season. These weren’t solely the moments of extreme highs. There were lows as well that made the Irish fans wonder, ‘What, really?’ It includes a blunder, an embarrassing moment that perhaps saved their season.
Notre Dame’s 2024 season unfolded like a classic ballad. It had equal parts of triumph and some unique plot twists that make you question the script altogether. In his third season, Marcus Freeman adeptly juggled being a visionary leader and crisis manager. The season started strong with a big win over Texas A&M, sparking praise for Freeman. Fans got excited, but hopes dimmed when Notre Dame unexpectedly lost to Northern Illinois, casting doubt on their playoff chances.
On3’s JD PicKell talked to Marcus Freeman about the season and, specifically, about that start to the season. “What do you feel were the biggest learnings for you from last season?” PicKell asked. As a fan, your head immediately goes to the last game, the natty final. Could the team have done anything different against the Buckeyes? However, a head coach can’t start at the end when talking about the whole year. What propelled them to that end?
“I think when you lose a game to Northern Illinois, and you look back at that situation where week one you have a huge win on top of the college football world, and then week two, you’re pretty much the embarrassment of college football,” Freeman said when he was asked, by J.D Pickell of the On3 show.
Remember college analysts dumping on Notre Dame after their Week 2 loss? The receipts were out. Chris Vannini, senior writer for The Athletic, had this to say: “Marcus Freeman has lost to Northern Illinois, Marshall, and a 3-9 Stanford team all at home in his three years as Notre Dame head coach.” The Irish were outmatched, out-athleted and out-coached in what marked the one of the lowest moments in Freeman’s young coaching career. The 14-16 scoreline doesn’t do justice to what happened on the field. Riley Leonard and his offense never got going. On the other hand, the Huskies came at the Irish like hungry dogs.
“What we had to learn from that game is how to handle success,” Freeman said. The team struggled with winning because the Fighting Irish, unaccustomed to success, forgot the sport’s basics after securing their first major victory. Freeman also confessed, “This was the first time in my three years as a head coach here that we won that first game, that first big game. You know, the two previous years, we lost a big one early and and kind of came from behind.”
That was a season-defining loss. However, losses define seasons only when you let them define your seasons. For Marcus Freeman, it was a slap in the face, but a slap he could recover from. Boy, did he recover!
From the lows to the highs
The Week 2 loss became a marker. Never again! And never again it was until the championship game. It also helped that the Irish had a relatively easier schedule compared to SEC and B1G teams. However, you can only beat what is in front of you.
That began an unbeaten run. In came Purdue! Beaten. The same for the Miami RedHawks. Louisville gave a scare at the end, but it was managed. Stanford never stood a chance. Nor did Georgia Tech. Navy? Navy who? A 51-14 thrashing. Florida State was still recovering from their playoff snub in 2023. Virginia, Army, and then USC. The last one became a touchdown exchange game. Marcus Freeman’s team prevailed.
However, all of this was in the regular season. The playoffs were going to prove a different fight altogether. A chance for the Irish to show that they belong. Well, they belonged. The Hoosiers were running high on momentum, but they were no match for Notre Dame. Georgia never came to play, and then Penn State, a game that could have gone anywhere.
All in all, every game is a learning! The losses became part of your lore if you let them be that. Marcus Freeman learned and prevailed.
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