Cam Newton claims Notre Dame 'hasn't been relevant in years' despite making 2024 national championship

Former NFL MVP and Heisman winner Cam Newton reignited his long-running criticism of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on ESPN’s First Take on Friday. He dismissed the program’s recent success, despite their appearance in the national title game to conclude the 2024 season.

“When you think about all these different things — the preferential treatment that Notre Dame has gotten, will get and continue to get? That’s why I’m like, bump Notre Dame,” Newton said. “Notre Dame hasn’t been relevant in years.”

Co-host Shae Cornette quickly pushed back on the claim, pointing out the obvious contradiction. Cornette reminded Newton that the Fighting Irish just played for the national title last season. But Newton did not care.

“They haven’t been relevant in years,” he replied. “You take that one national championship appearance with Coach Marcus Freeman away, and they haven’t been relevant in years.”

The comments mark the latest escalation in Newton’s public skepticism of Notre Dame’s standing in the modern college football landscape. Throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Newton frequently questioned the Irish’s résumé, branding, and path to the playoff. 

At one point, he compared the program to the Dallas Cowboys. As any football fan recognizes, they represent a team often criticized for living off its legacy rather than recent championships.

Moreover, Newton previously argued that Notre Dame “cake-walked” its way into the Playoff and insisted that few fans wanted to see the Irish included in 2024. He even declared that the winner of the Cotton Bowl, between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns, would ultimately win the national championship, a prediction that proved correct.

Despite his broader disdain for the program, Newton temporarily softened his stance during Notre Dame’s run to the title game, citing one specific reason: their head coach, Freeman.

“It’s because of one reason,” Newton said at the time. “Marcus Freeman? He’s the first Black coach to coach in a national championship and potentially win a national championship. Other than that, I could care less.”

Still, Newton openly acknowledged that his support had little to do with Notre Dame itself. It had everything to do with Freeman’s historic position in the sport.

That context makes his latest comments all the more jarring for Irish supporters. While Notre Dame fell short of a championship and then the playoff this past season, the program’s appearance on college football’s biggest stage under Freeman was widely viewed as a major step forward, especially in this era defined by expanded playoffs and conference realignment.

For Newton, however, that moment wasn’t enough to rewrite his long-standing view. In his eyes, Notre Dame’s brand still outweighs its sustained results, even as the program continues to reach milestones others fail to match.

Whether fans agree or not, Newton’s remarks ensure one thing. Notre Dame remains a lightning rod, whether you want to admit it or not.