Marcus Freeman

Head coach Marcus Freeman shouldered the blame for Notre Dame's 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday night.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Freeman took responsibility for mistakes and communication breakdowns that resulted in big plays for the Buckeyes:

"You're always making mistakes, but those type of detrimental mistakes when you play a really, really good football team cost you points. I think that's probably the biggest thing that has stuck out to me even in between series, the communication. 'Hey, we're good, we got it.' Well, we can't make mistakes. It falls on my shoulders. And as the head coach, we have to prepare and be better prepared for this moment. These guys gave everything they got."

This wasn't a mistake-filled game in the traditional sense with a lot of penalties and turnovers. The only turnover of the night was Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka's fumble in the fourth quarter.

The Buckeyes had twice as many penalties (six to three) and nearly twice as many penalty yards (58 to 30) as Notre Dame.

Some of the execution, particularly on defense, was where the problems came for the Fighting Irish. Jeremiah Smith's touchdown catch in the second quarter came on a play when Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray appeared to be pointing out where the ball was going, but no one stayed with the Buckeyes star wideout.

The Notre Dame DB knew it was going to Jeremiah Smith and it still didn’t matter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1D8zDwpgG5

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2025

The start of the game couldn't have gone better for the Irish. It was a masterclass of execution, as they went 75 yards on 18 plays and converted two fourth downs to take a 7-0 lead.

Things quickly went downhill when Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first four possessions and put up 31 unanswered points.

Notre Dame was able to rebound with 16 straight points of its own to cut the deficit to 31-23. Freeman did make a questionable decision to attempt a field goal trailing 31-15 with 9:27 remaining from Ohio State's 9-yard line.

Getting into the end zone on a 4th-and-goal when you need nine yards isn't an easy play, but the field-goal attempt keeps it at a two-possession game when you didn't have much time left on the clock.

The move backfired anyway because Mitch Jeter's 27-yard attempt bounced off the left upright to keep the deficit at 16 points.

Despite the disappointing finish to the season, Freeman and the Irish can be proud of a terrific year overall. They won 13 straight after a Sept. 7 loss to Northern Illinois and played in the national title game for the first time since January 2013.

ATLANTA — The greatest strength of these Notre Dame Fighting Irish is a physical and relentless defense.

Led by All-American lineman Howard Cross III and award-winning safety Xavier Watts, the Irish are stacked with veterans on a feisty unit. Notre Dame has yielded 14.2 points per game, the second-best mark in the country behind Ohio State, its opponent in the CFP National Championship Game.

That experience from Cross, Watts, sixth-year linebacker Jack Kiser and others is a main reason for ND's success this season.

But there are younger players on the rise—and a fitting place to start is Drayk Bowen.

A 6'2", 239-pound missile of a linebacker, he enters the national title with the third-most tackles (70) on the team, trailing only Kiser and Watts. Bowen, who largely played special teams as a freshman, earned a starting job this season and has become a pivotal part of an elite defense.

Dig beyond the stats, and the sophomore's ascent is no surprise. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden, with an intense glare, looked through my soul when describing him.

"Drayk Bowen is a warrior."

The praise was stern yet effusive, with compliments for Bowen's instincts, football intellect and physicality while making it very clear how much he cares—the 'Give a S— Factor,' Golden called it.

"He's an athlete first, and he's in a linebacker body," Golden said. "He was a prolific baseball player, great athlete in high school."

I can especially attest to the latter part.

---

I remember seeing Bowen play for the first time.

It was an intrasquad scrimmage in August 2020, at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana; he was a sophomore and lined up at running back.

Bowen caught a screen pass, sprinted toward the left sideline, dropped his shoulder and trucked—and I mean totally flattened—a defender. He decleated that poor, unfortunate soul directly onto the turf, leaving him staring at the heavens while Bowen continued down the field.

I'll assume that former high school teammate tells the story of the time Drayk Bowen sent me into a different dimension. He probably remembers that ill-fated tackle vividly.

Because, buddy, I haven't forgotten it, either.

At that moment in 2020, Bowen had recently received his first scholarship offer. It was from Cincinnati, a fast-rising program with an emerging star at defensive coordinator named Marcus Freeman.

Funny how things work out.

---

By the end of his recruitment, 27 more programs would extend a scholarship. But for Bowen, it was always about the Irish.

After receiving the offer in February 2021, the nearby 4-star talent committed to Notre Dame that November. Bowen quickly became a loud advocate for the Irish to other prospects during the 2023 cycle.

"He's a vocal leader now, same way he was in recruiting," Freeman said. "He's a big piece of that recruiting class."

Bowen saw Auburn and Clemson on unofficial trips early in his process but ultimately was locked in with the Irish. Technically, the only other program he officially visited was also in South Bend.

In high school, after all, Bowen played third base and hit cleanup for a state championship-winning group. He's also a member of Notre Dame's baseball team, one of several dual-sport athletes on the football roster. The school's history—with Jeff Samardzija, Golden Tate and Cole Kmet, for example—played a key role in Bowen's commitment.

"I work with the coaches a lot," he told B/R. "I work with football, baseball, they work together so it's never too much on my body. They're always asking me how I'm doing, how I'm feeling. [The key is] knowing what I'm going to, when I'm going to it."

Bowen said his focus throughout the season is overwhelmingly on football. He tries to make a weekly stop at the baseball facilities to hit, but he's otherwise locked on a different kind of hitting.

Those collisions are demanding attention.

"His physicality jumps off—tough, hard-nosed football player, will really thump you," Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. "You gotta make sure you get a hat on him. He can key and diagnose plays really well. I've been really, really impressed with watching him on tape."

Cross echoed that sentiment.

"Anytime you see a Drayk highlight, it's literally just him running at full speed, no matter who's in front of him and then just lowering his shoulder—no matter if it's an offensive lineman or running back or a tight end," Cross said. "It's always fun to watch. He definitely is a symbol of what we want our tenacity on defense to be."

Bowen has provided 16 tackles for the Irish during their run to the national championship, making eight stops in last week's Orange Bowl victory over Penn State. His role has only grown as the season has progressed.

Now, aggression without knowledge can be wasted effort, but Golden and Freeman noted Bowen's intelligence and vocal leadership. That combination is evident when you notice him shouting pre-snap adjustments to motions or formations, for instance.

Against the Buckeyes, Kiser will be the main voice of the defense. Looking ahead to the 2025 season, though, it's easy to believe Bowen can command that responsibility.

The evidence, from his production and leadership to his preparation and execution, is all there.

Within a few days, Bowen's priority will shift from ripping apart blocking schemes to ripping line drives. He'll trade a helmet and shoulder pads on the gridiron for a glove and an aluminum bat on a diamond.

But first, there's a national championship at stake.

Notre Dame is the underdog, yet the Irish are built to win because of this defense. And right in the middle of it, between an All-American lineman and safety, alongside a linebacker with the most games played in program history, is a sophomore turning into a cornerstone.

We might just remember Monday as the moment Bowen, a tenacious warrior who gives a s—, truly introduced himself to the nation.

And if that happens, Ohio State certainly won't forget.

Marcus Freeman's success at Notre Dame has put him on the radar for NFL teams looking for a new head coach, but he's not interested in talking about anything but the task at hand for his current club.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Freeman said he has given "zero thought" to the NFL and all of his attention has been on helping the Fighting Irish prepare for the College Football Playoff Championship Game against Ohio State.

Freeman has been connected to the Chicago Bears since before the NFL regular season came to an end. Peter Schrager of Fox Sports floated him as a potential candidate back on Dec. 1.

According to @PSchrags, the Bears fired Matt Eberflus Friday just minutes after his morning media session.

Also, Schrager has the latest on Jets veterans Aaron Rodgers and Tyron Smith.

Plus, snow warning in Buffalo tonight ❄️❄️ How will the conditions look for 49ers-Bills? pic.twitter.com/i1HN5ARiDt

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 1, 2024

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Jan. 12 that the Bears want to interview Freeman, but it would be "unlikely" he would entertain any offers before the CFP title game.

The Bears are looking to interview Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman for their HC opening, per @TomPelissero. pic.twitter.com/fjujUFyVKW

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 12, 2025

The Bears have completed 14 interviews and have two more scheduled for Saturday. One of their interviews was with Mike Vrabel, who wound up being hired as head coach of the New England Patriots.

Freeman, a former linebacker, was actually drafted by the Bears in the fifth round in 2009. He was waived prior to the start of the regular season, then had brief stints with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before retiring in May 2010.

After his playing career ended, Freeman moved into coaching as a graduate assistant at Ohio State. He was hired as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame on Brian Kelly's staff in January 2021.

When Kelly surprisingly left the Fighting Irish to go to LSU, Freeman was promoted to head coach in December 2021. He has led the program to a 33-9 record since taking over.

Notre Dame rewarded Freeman with a new deal in December that is believed to keep him under contract for six seasons and made him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, per ESPN's Heather Dinich.

The extent of Freeman's interest in an NFL job will likely be made clear after the College Football Playoff Championship Game.

For now, though, Freeman will lead Notre Dame against Ohio State on Monday night looking for the program's first national title since 1988.

While most of the attention is going to be on Deion Sanders for the Dallas Cowboys' vacant head-coaching position, Jerry Jones is expected to look at other options from the college ranks.

Per ESPN's Dan Graziano, USC's Lincoln Riley, Texas' Steve Sarkisian, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman and Iowa State's Matt Campbell are among the college coaches people around the NFL are expecting the Cowboys to at least check in on to gauge their interest.

Jones announced on Monday that Mike McCarthy wouldn't return as head coach in 2025 after five seasons as head coach.

Thank you, Coach McCarthy#DallasCowboys | 📰 https://t.co/lZcM1wJESO pic.twitter.com/FKAHQ2MFWB

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 13, 2025

Hours after that announcement, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported Jones had a conversation with Sanders about the Cowboys' job and talks were expected to continue as they also interview other candidates.

Sanders told ESPN's Adam Schefter it was "truly delightful" to speak with Jones, but he's still focused on his current job at Colorado.

“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing,” Deion Sanders told ESPN on Monday night. “I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team,… pic.twitter.com/OMossS9iOx

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2025

Freeman, who has led Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff Championship Game, has become an attractive candidate to NFL teams. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday the Chicago Bears want to interview him.

Schefter noted on The Pat McAfee Show that Freeman is "happy" with his current job at Notre Dame, but Sarkisian's name "has swirled around" league circles for weeks if he wants to leave Texas.

"I have heard that Marcus Freeman is happy at Notre Dame..

Steve Sarkisian is a name that has swirled around out there in NFL circles for weeks now..

We'll see if he has interest in going back to the NFL" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ZpVcKpHSS1

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 13, 2025

Riley's NFL prospects are hard to pin down because he's really struggled since leaving Oklahoma for USC. He went 55-10 in five seasons with the Sooners, but is just 26-14 in three years at USC.

Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated noted in November that Riley wasn't generating much "excitement" from NFL teams.

Campbell just led Iowa State to a single-season program record 11 wins and an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game this season. He's a four-time conference Coach of the Year, including three times in the Big 12 and once in the MAC.

Sarkisian is the only member of this group with previous experience working in the NFL. He was a quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2004 and spent two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2017 to '18.

The Cowboys are looking for a new head coach after a disappointing 7-10 record this season. They have a good roster foundation in place led by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons to build around.

McCarthy went 49-35 with three playoff appearances and two NFC East titles during his tenure in Dallas.

Despite a recent report that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman was drawing interest from the NFL, it doesn't sound like he's going anywhere anytime soon.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that he's "heard that Marcus Freeman is happy at Notre Dame."

"I have heard that Marcus Freeman is happy at Notre Dame..

Steve Sarkisian is a name that has swirled around out there in NFL circles for weeks now..

We'll see if he has interest in going back to the NFL" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ZpVcKpHSS1

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 13, 2025

Schefter's report comes after NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday that Freeman was being eyed for a potential interview by the Chicago Bears in their head coaching search.

"The Bears have done extensive research for months on Marcus Freeman," Pelissero said. "He is only 39 years old, it would not be a shock if at some point he at least considers going to the NFL."

Freeman is preparing to lead the Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff national championship game against Ohio State on Jan. 20, and Pelissero added that it is "unlikely that he would entertain NFL overtures prior to" the game. Notre Dame will be trying to win its first national title since 1988 and 12th in program history.

Freeman took over as Notre Dame's head coach at the end of the 2021 campaign, so making the jump to the NFL would be a swift rise for the 39-year-old. However, a win in the national championship game would lead to even more interest from NFL teams, and it could be hard to resist moving up to the professional level.

The Chicago Bears may look toward the college game for their next head coach.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Sunday that Chicago "wants to interview" Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman for its vacancy. While Pelissero noted it is "unlikely that he would entertain NFL overtures prior to" the Fighting Irish's national championship game against Ohio State on Jan. 20, the coach has been on Chicago's radar.

"The Bears have done extensive research for months on Marcus Freeman," Pelissero reported. "He is only 39 years old, it would not be a shock if at some point he at least considers going to the NFL."

The Bears are looking to interview Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman for their HC opening, per @TomPelissero. pic.twitter.com/fjujUFyVKW

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 12, 2025

This is not the first time Freeman was on the Bears' radar, as they drafted him in the fifth round in 2009 after his linebacking career at Ohio State.

While he never played in a regular-season game, he was also a member of the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans at times before starting his coaching career.

While Freeman might be something of a surprising candidate seeing how he doesn't have any head-coaching experience, it is impossible not to be impressed with his quick rise in the college ranks.

After spending time as a graduate assistant with Ohio State, linebackers coach at Kent State, and linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator at Purdue, Freeman joined Cincinnati as its defensive coordinator for the 2017 campaign. He and head coach Luke Fickell helped turn the program around from a 4-8 team in 2016 to a College Football contender.

Cincinnati reached the Peach Bowl in Freeman's final season as D.C. and the CFP in the first year after he left to become Notre Dame's D.C., although he surely helped set the foundation for the program's success.

And he was only the D.C. at Notre Dame for one season before taking over as head coach when Brian Kelly left for LSU.

Freeman is 33-9 overall with the Fighting Irish and one win away from leading them to their first national championship since the 1988 campaign. They have already defeated Indiana, Georgia and Penn State leading into the showdown with the coach's alma mater.

The team's success under Freeman has surely caught the attention of the Bears, who need their own turnaround.

They haven't won a playoff game since the 2010 season and are coming off a 5-12 effort in 2024 despite elevated expectations heading into the campaign after selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Williams' ability to live up to his potential will ultimately determine Chicago's ceiling in the coming years, which may be reason to hesitate when it comes to Freeman. After all, he has a defensive background and might not be the perfect candidate to help a young quarterback fulfill that potential.

It would make the offensive coordinator hire all the more important if Chicago did decide to hire Freeman.

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts revealed that head coach Marcus Freeman was upset about comments that Penn State head coach James Franklin made prior to a 27-24 win by the Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff on Thursday night.

"He was angry," Watts said, per Pete Sampson of The Athletic. "He was angry with the press conference thing, whatever was going on between that. He was mad about that. All the anger went toward us and that anger went onto the field."

During a joint press conference with the two coaches prior to Thursday's contest, Franklin playfully asked Freeman how old he was and emphasized that "everybody should be in a conference."

"This is no knock at coach or Notre Dame, but I think everybody should be in a conference." 👀

James Franklin shares his thoughts about the consistency across the college football landscape during a presser with Marcus Freeman ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/apfFqZfNzx

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 8, 2025

Notre Dame is one of three FBS independents, and the only one to qualify for the playoff.

Freeman's team started off slow on Thursday, facing a 10-3 halftime deficit. The Irish tied the game in the third quarter, but ended up trailing 24-17 with just under eight minutes remaining in the fourth.

Quarterback Riley Leonard found sophomore wide receiver Jaden Greathouse for a 54-yard touchdown to tie the contest once again, then an interception by cornerback Christian Gray off Nittany Lions passer Drew Allar set up a 41-yard field goal that clinched the victory.

GOOD FROM 4️⃣1️⃣

MITCH JETER IS CLUTCH.

MR. JANUARY. #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/W3HO408OHQ

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) January 10, 2025

Freeman and Franklin had a brief conversation on the field after the final result.

All the respect between Marcus Freeman and James Franklin 🙌 pic.twitter.com/tcWjXr1Ykb

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 10, 2025

Tensions between both sides didn't appear to be high following the game, as Franklin complimented his opponent when speaking to reporters.

"If you're going to lose to somebody — I don't want to lose to anybody, to be honest with you, but you've got to give Notre Dame credit," Franklin said, via 247Sports' Tyler Donohue. "I know Marcus will do a phenomenal job, and I'm happy for him and their university."

Freeman has experienced immediate success with the Irish, as their win total has improved in each of his first three full years leading the team. With Thursday's win, Notre Dame sits at 14-1 and will have an opportunity to win a national championship for the first time since 1988.

While the Irish may not have needed extra motivation to compete against Penn State, Franklin's comments seemingly added some fuel to the fire.

While coaching candidates such as Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn have generated much of the attention and headlines during the ongoing NFL cycle, some teams reportedly have their eye on a college coach still competing for a championship.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Thursday that "Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is firmly on the NFL radar entering the Fighting Irish's College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State. Teams have done their homework on him."

Freeman has quickly moved up the coaching ladder in the college game with stops as a defensive assistant for Purdue, defensive coordinator for Cincinnati and defensive coordinator for Notre Dame before taking over the head coaching position.

The Bearcats went 9-1 and reached the Peach Bowl in large part because of his defense during the 2020 campaign, which convinced the Fighting Irish to bring him in as defensive coordinator. The powerhouse then made him the head coach after just one season when Brian Kelly left for LSU.

He is since 32-9 overall in the position and has Notre Dame just two wins away from the inaugural 12-team CFP championship. Freeman has also been praised for his leadership and the culture he has built in just three years as the head coach, which surely helped the team bounce back from a shocking loss to Northern Illinois to reach such heights this season.

That leadership is undoubtedly intriguing to NFL teams, and his defensive background could help a team needing to make strides on that side of the ball.

Any NFL team interested in him will have to wait until the Fighting Irish's championship pursuit is over to potentially interview him. The team has already defeated Indiana and Georgia by double digits and has a semifinal showdown with Penn State looming on Thursday.

If Notre Dame wins that, it will face either Ohio State or Texas for the national championship. That could create a situation where Freeman would go out on top if he was interested in making the leap to the NFL.