Newsstand: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman named Nick Saban replacement candidate at Alabama
Notre Dame just can’t ever seem to elude coaching craziness. Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman was named a replacement candidate for former Alabama head coach Nick Saban on Wednesday.
Saban, arguably the greatest college football coach of all time, is retiring after 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide and 28 total as a collegiate head coach. Naturally, reporters across the country quickly came out with lists of coaches who could succeed him. ESPN’s Pete Thamel and On3’s Andy Staples put Freeman on their initial hot boards.
“We didn’t think anyone would leave Notre Dame before Brian Kelly took the LSU job two years ago. Would Marcus Freeman want to go to a place that can recruit a deeper roster as well? Probably,” Staples wrote. “The question is whether Freeman has shown enough while coaching at Notre Dame to be considered for the job. He’s gone 9-4 and 10-3 but has yet to notch the kind of signature win that would suggest he’s ready for an even higher pressure gig than the one he has.”
Freeman just signed a third consecutive top-10 recruiting class in South Bend. He’s positioned himself as a profound ambassador of the Notre Dame brand ever since he was named defensive coordinator early in 2021. He took over for Kelly in December of that year.
Notre Dame tweets of the day
Some perspective on the Freeman rumors.
The reigning national champion Fighting Irish men’s lacrosse team got back to work this week.
Former Notre Dame and LSU running back Logan Diggs committed to Ole Miss.
Quote of the day
“I think playing some of those games that were close at home gave us some belief for us to really just play the right way and give ourselves a chance.”
— Fighting Irish men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry after beating Georgia Tech
Headlines of the day
How the Irish are making a push for four-star OT Matty Augustine
Comparing Riley Leonard, Sam Hartman Pro Football Focus pass charts
2025 LB Ko’o Kia locked in for crucial South Bend visit this weekend
Three Fighting Irish products land on 2023 NFLPA All-Pro Team
Former Northwestern DB Rod Heard II commits to Notre Dame
What adding Northwestern DB transfer Rod Heard II means for Fighting Irish defense
Transfer Portal: Social media reacts to Jayden Harrison, Rod Heard commitments
Why Rod Heard II gives Notre Dame options in the secondary
Top 175 CB Devin Williams schedules South Bend return visit
Lucky Charms: Notre Dame wide receiver recruiting nuggets
On300 safety Corey Costner schedules first Notre Dame football recruiting visit
