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Colin Cowherd suggests Penn State pay $15 million per year to hire Marcus Freeman

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels10/15/25ChandlerVessels
marcus freeman (1)
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Colin Cowherd sees no reason why Penn State shouldn’t try its luck in making an offer to Marcus Freeman that he can’t refuse. He also believes that Notre Dame should do everything in its power to make sure that he does and keep him in South Bend.

On3’s Pete Nakos reported Tuesday that Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft planned to take a couple of “big swings” during his coaching search, with Freeman being a potential name. The coach would likely come with a hefty price tag after leading the Fighting Irish to a runner up finish in last year’s College Football Playoff.

This season, Notre Dame is paying Freeman a little more than $7.4 million according to the South Bend Tribune. Cowherd believes the Nittany Lions should be willing to double his annual salary in effort to lure him away.

“I saw another story where Penn State was reportedly gonna pursue Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman. Freeman’s a great coach,” he said on Wednesday’s episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “That’s the smart move. Curt Cignetti, I don’t know. Freeman feels like you’ve got 20 years. But here’s what’s funny about it: Notre Dame, just spend the money. Double Marcus Freeman’s contract. Because if I was Penn State, I would pay $15 million a year to get Marcus Freeman.

“Penn State football last year made $240 million. Is the coach worth $15 million? Absolutely. Notre Dame, step up and pay it. …Penn State right now is doing a $700 million Beaver Stadium upgrade. They paid $45 million to get rid of James Franklin. And they would pay $100 million to get Marcus Freeman.”

Freeman took over the Notre Dame job at the end of the 2021 season after Brian Kelly left for LSU. He has since directed the Fighting Irish to a 37-12 record since, including defeating Penn State in the Orange Bowl this past season to reach the national championship.

One could certainly argue that Notre Dame is at least on the same level if not more of a prestigious job than Penn State given its place in college football history. However, money talks, and if the Fighting Irish aren’t willing to match the Nittany Lions’ offer, Freeman will have something to think about. Given the coach’s early success, Cowherd believes Notre Dame can’t make that mistake.

“If I’m Notre Dame today, I call Marcus Freeman’s agent,” he said. “I don’t talk to Marcus. Marcus is preparing for USC. I just pay whatever I’ve got to pay. If I have to rip his contract up and give him a new contract, that dude’s got the look, the vibe, the recruiting, the touch, the feel, the toughness. That is what a college football coach is and Penn State should go after him.

“Penn State took Ohio State’s best coordinator. I’d go after Marcus Freeman too. You don’t have to pay Cignetti at Indiana what you’re gonna have to pay Marcus Freeman. So by all means, Penn State, go after him. Notre Dame, don’t let him go.”