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Notre Dame

Evaluating what Ohio State loss says about Notre Dame's future

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh09/29/23griffin_mcveigh
freeman (65)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. (Photo by Chad Weaver)

Notre Dame was one play away from taking a step forward as a program. One defensive stop on the goal line against Ohio State and the narrative around Marcus Freeman‘s program would be a lot different. Even so, there is a reason for the Fighting Irish to have hope for the immediate and long-term future.

On3’s Andy Staples does feel the end story will be different for Notre Dame under Freeman. Mainly because of the talent he brought to South Bend. Brian Kelly did do a solid job recruiting but Freeman’s personality and the modern landscape of college football take them to a new level.

“They’re definitely heading in the right direction,” Staples said via Pardon My Take. “Getting Sam (Hartman) helps in that respect. But elite offensive line. Their freshmen running backs are really good and then they have some freshmen receivers that can play. Marcus Freeman, since he’s gotten there, has upgraded the talent.

“They’ve got to upgrade a little more on the D-Line, I think that’s really the important place that they’re missing right now. But I think they are deeper and more talented than they ever were in the Brian Kelly era. Feels like the NIL era and Freeman just makes that easier to do.”

The last two recruiting classes have ranked inside of the top 10 for Notre Dame, with the 2024 class on track to be as well. It’s not something they did too often under Kelly, usually hovering around 15th in the country. While it may not seem like a huge difference, every extra star on the roster counts.

Staples believes the NCAA transfer portal plays a huge factor in the equation as well. Notre Dame is still one of the premier programs in the sport and could be an attractive destination for players looking to play one final season.

“They’re a transfer destination as well — for the grad transfers,” Staples said. “Because guys that have been in college three, four years are smart. They look at the big picture and say ‘Oh my God. If I’m a star at Notre Dame, I’m going to make bank.'”

Yes, the loss to Ohio State stings and likely will for some time. But everything is not lost for Notre Dame. Freeman has the program in a good spot and technically, the College Football Playoff dream in 2023 is still alive. Having talent on campus just makes a huge difference.