Marcus Freeman reveals his biggest concern with Notre Dame having to win out to keep playoff hopes

No. 24 Notre Dame already sits at 0-2 after a three-point loss at No. 10 Miami and a one-point loss to No. 16 Texas A&M. That has the Fighting Irish in a win-out position already in mid-September when it comes to their chances of likely being back in the College Football Playoff.

That said, as he pointed out during his press conference on Monday, Marcus Freeman reminded everyone that the Irish can’t win ten in a row if they don’t start by winning one this weekend. That’s the biggest challenge to their program at this point, especially after being in a similar situation last season, as it’s going to take a day-by-day, game-by-game focus for the rest of this fall from now through November.

“What’s the biggest concern is, how do we make sure that we’re focused on getting this first one? And, that’s the only thing we control. We got one game that’s guaranteed right in front of us, and that’s Purdue,” said Freeman. “But, we got one day that we have and that’s right now. So, how do we maximize this day, this moment, these meetings, this walkthrough? How do we make the most, because that’s going to get us to where we want to go and really where we want to be for Saturday.”

Again, this is the second time in as many years that they’re in this position playoff-wise in South Bend. Notre Dame, coming home to lose to Northern Illinois in game two last year, essentially had to win out after the two-point loss to the Huskies out of the MAC. The Irish did exactly that, ironically enough first again against Purdue along with wins like over Louisville, Georgia Tech, Navy, Florida State, Army, and USC, by closing with ten straight victories to make the CFP. That win streak reached thirteen over four and a half months as they’d go on to reach the national title game before then losing to Ohio State.

Now, just over a year later, Notre Dame finds itself back in that place as they’re winless to this point, albeit being so by four points combined, with a field goal made with just over a minute left and a touchdown throw completed with only seconds left on the clock, against two quality opponents in the Hurricanes and Aggies. That has led them to falling out of the projections for On3’s Andy Staples and Brett McMurphy as well as at ESPN. So, as far as the playoff goes, the Irish will almost absolutely have to win out from here, with games left against Purdue in the Big Ten, at Arkansas in the SEC, Boise State and Navy out of the Group of Five, and five matchups against the ACC.

Notre Dame can’t just be 10-0, though, unless they’re 1-0 after Saturday’s game against the Boilermakers, as they try to avoid a start at 0-3. That’s all that Freeman and the Fighting Irish are focused on, as nothing about their future is for sure as compared to what’s in front of them in the present.

“That’s always been my message, is stay in the moment because we got to win these moments. The only way to win the moment? You’ve got to be right in the moment, and that’s what matters,” said Freeman. “It’s not worrying about the next opponent after that, not worrying about we’ve got to go undefeated. That’s wasting time, as I always say, on an uncertain future.”

“Don’t waste time. Focus on the things that are guaranteed, and that’s what we have right now.”