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Newsstand: ESPN reveals where Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman ranks among current head coaches

Kyle Kellyby: Kyle Kelly05/19/25ByKyleKelly

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman solidified his reputation as one of college football’s premier young coaches by guiding the Fighting Irish to the national championship game in his third year at the helm, proving he belongs among the sport’s elite head coaches.

On Friday, ESPN revealed where he ranks among his peers entering the 2025 season. Freeman checked in at No. 4 behind Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney — the only three active coaches to have won a national championship. 

“In just his third year, Freeman coached Notre Dame all the way to the national championship game,” said ESPN’s Jake Trotter, who ranked Freeman as the No. 2 coach on his ballot. “Despite being outgunned by Ohio State, the Fighting Irish hung tough through the fourth quarter. Under Freeman, Notre Dame remarkably has returned to being a top-five program.”

At least nine ESPN reporters submitted ballots for the rankings. Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Penn State’s James Franklin, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell rounded out the top 10. 

Freeman is the second youngest coach ranked behind Lanning, who is three months younger.

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Notre Dame Quote of the Weekend

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— On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power on Notre Dame four-star linebacker commit Kobe Clapper from Cincinnati St. Xavier. 

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