There have been plenty of rumors that Penn State could go after Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman after they fired James Franklin earlier this week.
With what he has built with the Irish, it’s hard to imagine that he’d want to leave for a team that is completely dysfunctional at the moment. They’re losing plenty of commits, some of who Notre Dame has turned up the pressure on.
Advertisement
There is always potential for a coach to leave, and the staff here of Tim Healey, Dave Miller and Michael Chen answer which team could possibly lure Marcus Freeman away from Notre Dame.
Tim Healey – contributor
Sep 23, 2023; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day chat before the game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
I’d like to think no team will lure Marcus Freeman away from Notre Dame, at least not if/until he wins a national championship and feels his work in South Bend is done, but money is money and almost everyone has a price.
That said, while Freeman’s name will be attached to Penn State and pretty much any open NFL job, I really only worry about Ohio State swiping him. Penn State is probably too much of a mess. The other current openings would be steps down, and Freeman seems a better fit for college than the pros. But if Ohio State should ever run Ryan Day out of town, I could see Freeman going there. He has the connections to the program and could handle the pressure and the insane boosters/fan base after being at the pressure cooker that is Notre Dame.
Advertisement
Freeman probably isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I think.
Dave Miller – contributor
(NCL_OSUFOOTBALL10_LAURON 9AUG07) Ohio State football players James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, 1, , right, pose for Laurinaitis’ father, Joe, for the 2007-08 team photo during picture day at the Ohio Stadium, August 9, 2007. (Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)
Marcus Freeman is one of the best things to happen to Notre Dame—ever. He led the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff national championship game last season, he’s recruiting at the program’s highest level since Lou Holtz roamed the sidelines in South Bend, and he has a special connection to the players on his roster. This feels like a marriage that will last awhile.
There is no doubt that Freeman will consistently get pursued by suitors when other big-name jobs open, whether it is in the college or pro ranks. Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft would not be doing his due diligence without reaching out to Freeman’s representatives to fill the opening left by James Franklin. However, the only college job I could see Freeman taking would be at alma mater Ohio State.
Advertisement
Now if the NFL comes calling? That could be a different story.
The pro ranks don’t have tireless recruiting, NIL, etc., so it could be deemed as less stressful in some ways. Still, I think Freeman has goals that he’d like to accomplish in South Bend first before a jump to the league is even envisioned.
Michael Chen – site lead
College Football Playoff championship stands between Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day speaks and Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman during a coaches press conference in Atlanta on Jan. 19, 2025.
This is just pure conjecture by all of us, but it seems pretty obvious that Ohio State is the choice if Freeman were to move on from South Bend. There are some factors in him staying with Notre Dame, as Buckeye head coach Ryan Day is coming off a College Football Playoff championship, and has his team ranked No. 1.
Advertisement
You’d have to think that Alabama would be another team that Freeman would leave for, but he doesn’t really have any connections to the school. It’s one of the best jobs in all of college football, and there’s an argument to be made that it is the best. Texas is in the conversation, and it would be hard to pass up the Nike money at Oregon.
There is also a possibility that the NFL comes calling, and that could be a challenge that Freeman would want to take on. At the moment, he’s not going anywhere, after signing a contract extension through 2030. It probably would be wise to get one for even longer, to try and secure him for a long time.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen
This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: We answer what team could lure Marcus Freeman from Notre Dame
