Notre Dame’s offseason started a bit earlier than most expected entering the 2025 campaign.
The Fighting Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff, as the committee forced a narrative of Miami vs. Notre Dame when, in reality, it should have been Miami and Notre Dame vs. Alabama and Oklahoma.
Cameras capture the stunning moment inside The Gug and Marcus Freeman had seconds to address his program. The message in real time centered around not having answers – the only words one could say in the moment.
That tone changed once the program reconvened after winter break.
“As we look at that moment a month plus later, it was obviously disappointing, but you have to move forward and that's what we've done as a program,” stated Freeman. “That's what I've done as a leader and as I reminded the group on our team meeting on Sunday, it's our responsibility to make sure we leave no doubt.”
Notre Dame is done playing the blame game. Instead, the focus has shifted squarely to the work required to ensure the committee never faces a similar decision next December.
“Moving forward, we can't blame it on somebody else,” explained Freeman. “Although I may be confused about some of the criteria and the committee's rankings and all those different things, it's our job as we move forward to make sure we leave no doubt.”
Entering his fifth season as head coach, Freeman has never spoken about big-picture goals, but the committee likely has pushed him to delve deeper into his ultra-competitive mindset.
In fact, it could be a program-defining moment.
“You often hear me say, keep the pain,” Freeman said. “Those are for moments that we need reminders. At times as humans, we often need reminders, but again, our mindset has to be to attack moving forward, to leave no doubt in all areas of who we are as human beings and us as a team. I challenge you to leave no doubt who the starter should be. You leave no doubt who the leader should be. We have to leave no doubt how good of a team we are as we go into 2026 and this season.
“I hate looking so far down the road, but again, it's our job to make sure that we take care of what we have to do to get and reach the goals that we have.”
Freeman admitted the sting of not playing meaningful football has lingered as the College Football Playoff has unfolded. Monday’s national championship game will be another reminder, especially after Notre Dame played on that stage just one year ago.
“I don't know if it was the Pop-Tart Bowl that I thought that, but maybe it was the first round of playoffs,” Freeman responded when asked if he wished Notre Dame decided to play in a bowl game. “I was like, “Man, I wish we were playing. Then the second round and the third round and I'm sure the national championship game, I'll think that. But no, I don't second-guess the decision we made.”
It’s clear the team has fully bought into Freeman’s messaging. Notre Dame posted the best roster retention in the country this offseason. Outside of quarterback Kenny Minchey, the Irish lost just one player who likely would have impacted the 2026 season, defensive end Joshua Burnham.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback CJ Carr returns and it gives Freeman his first returning starter at the position during his tenure, which isn’t lost on him.
“I'll tell you what, I'm excited because I've never been in this position where you have a returning starter at quarterback and the same offensive coordinator,” Freeman explained. “That's something that the consistency with what our offensive and defensive plans will be, but also the consistency in what that quarterback position will be, is really exciting.
“You're at a different level in terms of how you go through your process. It's not teaching CJ, okay, here's how to become a starting quarterback. He knows the expectations. Now the challenge is how does he elevate and advance?”
Freeman has already seen the benefits of that continuity.
“I was walking into Coach (Gino) Guidugli’s office two days ago and he's in there. He was watching Matthew Stafford. Last year CJ would have been trying to learn what we're asking him to do, but now he's trying to elevate at a different level.
“He's as talented of a player as I've ever been around and I'm really excited about what his future holds here this season, but also our offense.”
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