Since Notre Dame football unknowingly concluded its 2025 campaign in the early morning hours of Nov. 30 in Palo Alto, California, the program has dominated the college football news cycle with multiple headlining stories. Despite the primetime 49-20 victory over Stanford, the Irish were omitted from the College Football Playoff, and then in an equally surprising decision opted not to participate in a postseason bowl game.
Both decisions sparked intense debate within the college football landscape, and depending on varying perspectives, either reaffirmed Notre Dame’s status as whiny or signaled the continuity of the program’s feud with mega conferences and ESPN. But even as the calendar turned to 2026 and only in-state foe Indiana and heated rival Miami remain alive in the CFP, the Fighting Irish have continued to take the top headline in football news. From declining the interest of nearly every NFL team with an opening, to a disputed legal incident to his role in signing the number two transfer portal class in the country, head coach Marcus Freeman has been the topic of conversation for college football fans, pundits and analysts everywhere.
Freeman to stay at Notre Dame despite NFL interest
While Notre Dame football’s 10-2 mark did not earn it a spot in the 2025 College Football Playoff, Freeman continued to generate interest in the professional ranks. The 40-year-old has had quite a successful career since being elevated to the helm of the program in 2021, including leading the team to the National Championships in just his third full season. Freeman’s captivating personality, strong leadership and on-field success led many National Football League teams to reach out and gauge his interest in potentially making the leap.
In a press conference last December, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua advocated for Freeman to remain in South Bend, and made it very clear that the University would do whatever it could to ensure that. Bevacqua also referenced that Freeman has a “living, breathing contract” and would be willing to compensate the coach and resource the program to the top tier of college football.
Bevacqua and Freeman have both acknowledged the mystique of the NFL, and Freeman hasn’t ruled out a future move, but the coach is content and motivated in South Bend for 2026.
“Maybe some time in the future if it’s the right time and I think it’s what’s right for me, then maybe I’ll pursue it,” Freeman said. "I don’t love wasting time thinking about things that aren’t right in front of me. Right now, I am convicted and motivated to being the best head coach of Notre Dame football.”
While the NFL noise will accompany Freeman as long as success continues, Notre Dame will employ Freeman again for at least the 2026 football season.
Prosecutors decline to charge Freeman following accusations of battery
Freeman opened his 40-minute press conference on Tuesday by expressing his gratitude for the Notre Dame administration’s unwavering support throughout the allegations of battery made against him by a local high school wrestling coach. He also commended the journalists who were aware of the Jan. 3 incident at Penn High School but waited to report details until the Mishawaka Police Department had concluded their report.
Feeling as if he and his family had “been dragged through the mud with clickbait headlines,” Freeman was accused in a police report published by The South Bend Tribune of two-hand-pushing New Prairie High School wrestling coach Chris Fleeger during an altercation following a match involving Freeman’s son, Vinny. Fleeger’s account of the incident was that Freeman shouted at him and made forcible contact after Vinny lost a match at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational.
Notre Dame responded by releasing a statement that it was Vinny who had been verbally accosted, and that Freeman and his wife, Joanna, had simply removed their son from the situation. The statement went on to attest that the police report, which included video evidence, would fully exonerate the Irish head coach.
Eventually, security footage from the gymnasium was made available, and although blurry, it was evident that Freeman’s hands never left his pockets during the brief interaction with Fleeger. After being handed the police investigation, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office declined to pursue any charges. The office cited that the existing evidence would have made it difficult to prove that any crime occurred.
Freeman concluded his remarks on the incident by saying, “I behaved in a respectful and professional manner while protecting my family, and that should have been the only headline.”
Irish overcome slow start to secure highest-ranked transfer class
Immersed in the current chaos of the transfer portal and NIL, the Irish looked to retain most of the impact players from a squad that finished a few snaps away from the CFP. Notre Dame’s offseason began slowly with the departure of quarterback-depth in redshirt sophomore backup Kenny Minchey and walk-on Anthony Rezac. The Irish lost fourth-string running back Gi’Bran Payne to the portal, which amounts to a loss of three running backs, including Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price to the NFL. Other offensive contributors that left include receivers KK Smith and Scrap Richardson.
On the defensive side, the Irish lost Karson Hobbs, and Joshua Burnham, with the latter heading four hours south to suit up for the Hoosiers. On special teams, backup kicker Marcello Diomede also transferred. Despite all of these exits, Notre Dame is one of the few programs in the country to not have a starting player enter the portal.
As Freeman and staff turned the page to 2026, Notre Dame looked to bring in pass rushing help on defense and explosive skill position players on offense. To do this, the Irish spurned decades of tradition and targeted undergraduate transfers with multiple years of eligibility. Much to the ire of previous coaching staffs, the precedent of only acquiring graduate transfers has remained due to rigorous academic standards, but Freeman was able to secure the change. Despite such a fact, Freeman made it clear on Tuesday that the standards within his football program wouldn’t be loosened to accommodate new talent when he said, “If you’re coming here to just play football, it’s not going to work. You have to understand you’re coming to a place to where you have to put the team before yourself.”
While the additions came later and in fewer numbers, Notre Dame has once again found success in the portal. The most important player added on the offense was Quincy Porter, a former five-star recruit and the No. 2 receiver in the class of 2025, who comes from Ohio State. The Irish also added Porter's teammate, Mylan Graham, a four-star receiver with three years of eligibility.
To bolster the defensive front, Notre Dame brought in Keon Keeley from Alabama, a previous five-star edge rusher with two years of eligibility remaining, as well as Pitt freshman All-American defensive lineman Francis Brewu. In the secondary, the Irish secured safety DJ McKinney from Colorado, who started 22 games in Boulder, and cornerback Jayden Sanders from Michigan. To solve the inconsistent and injury-filled kicking room, special teams acquired Purdue kicker Spencer Porath.
At the direction of their tireless, and perhaps persuasive leader, the Irish have bucked tradition and embraced the new world of college athletics. If there were any doubts or apprehension from administration about the ideological shift, Freeman made sure to quell those by securing the No. 1 class in America.
