For Marcus Freeman to Win a National Championship at Notre Dame, He Must Elevate Execution, Recruiting, and Game-Day Management
Marcus Freeman has brought new life to Notre Dame football since taking over as head coach. In just a few short seasons, he has energized the fan base, rejuvenated recruiting efforts, and laid the foundation for a modern, aggressive, and culturally aligned program. Yet despite the optimism and impressive progress, the ultimate goal remains unfulfilled — bringing a national championship back to South Bend for the first time since 1988. The path is steep, the pressure is immense, and the expectations are real. To finally reach the pinnacle of college football, Freeman must take deliberate, strategic steps across all facets of the program.
The first and most obvious key to winning a national championship is recruiting — but not just good recruiting. Elite recruiting. Freeman has already improved Notre Dame’s recruiting profile, routinely landing top-10 classes and competing for blue-chip talent across the country. However, closing the gap with perennial national championship contenders like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State requires not only landing elite players at skill positions but also building dominant depth in the trenches. Championship teams are built inside out. That means consistently securing top-tier offensive and defensive linemen year after year.
Freeman’s early classes have shown promise in this area, but sustaining that level and improving it is critical. The Irish must get to a place where their third-string linemen could start at most Power Five programs — and where no drop-off occurs when injuries strike. Additionally, while Notre Dame’s historical success at tight end and offensive line is well-documented, Freeman must now deliver elite talent at quarterback, wide receiver, and cornerback. These are the positions where games are often won in the modern college football landscape. Without elite speed on the outside and a top-tier signal-caller, Notre Dame will continue to fall short against the nation’s best.
Quarterback play is especially crucial. Freeman must ensure that Notre Dame is not just good at quarterback — but exceptional. In the playoff era, every national champion has had elite quarterback production, whether it’s Joe Burrow at LSU, Bryce Young at Alabama, or Stetson Bennett managing Georgia’s high-powered machine with surgical precision. Freeman’s staff must identify, recruit, and develop quarterbacks who can make the difference in big moments. Riley Leonard is the present answer for 2025, but looking beyond, Freeman must cultivate future stars like Deuce Knight and surround them with quarterbacks coaches and systems that promote explosive, mistake-free football.
Game-day management is another area Freeman must continue to sharpen. In his early tenure, he’s shown growth as a game manager, but also experienced costly errors in clock management, decision-making on fourth downs, and handling high-pressure scenarios. Championship-level coaches minimize these mistakes. Freeman doesn’t have the same margin for error that more talent-rich programs enjoy. His staff must operate with surgical precision, particularly in marquee games. Close losses to Ohio State and Clemson in previous seasons demonstrated how small lapses — a substitution miscue, a failed challenge, a missed timeout — can swing a season off course.
That leads to another crucial factor: staff development and cohesion. Freeman is still young by head coaching standards, and part of growing into the role means building a staff that complements his strengths and covers his weaknesses. Hiring veteran coordinators like Mike Denbrock and Al Golden has helped stabilize the offense and defense, respectively. But as the program evolves, Freeman must continue to evaluate whether his staff is optimizing player development, innovating in scheme, and recruiting at an elite level. In an era where coaching turnover is common, especially among assistants, continuity and effectiveness on the staff will be paramount in making a title run.
Offensive philosophy is also a major piece of the puzzle. Notre Dame cannot afford to rely solely on ball control, power run football, and old-school tactics. The top teams in the country average over 40 points per game and can score in bunches. That doesn’t mean abandoning identity — Notre Dame can still be a physical, downhill team — but it does mean incorporating explosive play designs, tempo variation, and unpredictability. Freeman must empower Denbrock and his offensive staff to evolve the Irish offense into a unit capable of winning shootouts if necessary. The 2025 roster has the talent to do it, but execution and creativity will be key.
On the defensive side, Notre Dame must maintain its identity as a fundamentally sound, aggressive, and disciplined unit. Under Freeman and Al Golden, the defense has often been excellent, especially against the run. But to reach the next level, Notre Dame must create more havoc. That means more sacks, more turnovers, and more disruption. Freeman knows defense — it’s his calling card — and he must ensure that his unit not only contains but attacks. Championship defenses don’t just bend and hold; they break opponents’ wills by creating game-changing plays. Developing elite edge rushers, lockdown corners, and turnover-hungry safeties will be crucial.
Special teams should not be overlooked either. Field position, punt coverage, return units, and consistent placekicking are often overlooked but can be the difference in high-stakes playoff games. Freeman has done well here so far, with steady special teams play and moments of brilliance. But to win a national title, Notre Dame must be excellent in all three phases. That means emphasis in practice, better depth on coverage units, and game awareness from returners.
Perhaps one of Freeman’s most important challenges lies in program culture and internal belief. While he has done an admirable job modernizing Notre Dame’s image — bringing energy, authenticity, and relatability to the forefront — the championship mindset must be internalized by every player, every staffer, and every fan. The belief that Notre Dame can win a title is one thing. The daily, relentless commitment to doing it is another. Freeman must continue to drive a culture of accountability, physicality, and competitive excellence. Every practice rep, every meeting, every weight-room session must carry the weight of championship expectations.
That culture must also withstand adversity. Every title team faces challenges: injuries, close losses, outside noise. Freeman must ensure that when those moments come, the team doesn’t fracture. The best teams in the country respond to setbacks with resolve, not regression. He must instill the kind of mental toughness that can endure the pressure cooker of November playoff races and postseason spotlight.
The NIL landscape and transfer portal era also present challenges Freeman must navigate wisely. Maintaining a balance between developing homegrown talent and selectively adding through the portal is an art form. Freeman has shown he’s not afraid to bring in veterans at key positions — like Leonard at quarterback — but must do so without stalling the development of younger players or disrupting team chemistry. The national title blueprint now includes strategic portal usage, and Freeman must continue to be both aggressive and careful in its application.
Finally, Freeman must win the biggest games. There’s no way around it. At Notre Dame, double-digit wins and bowl appearances are nice, but national championships are the standard. That means beating the likes of Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, and Clemson — not just playing them close. Freeman’s Irish have shown they can compete with anyone, but true success will be measured by whether they can finish the job. One-score losses have been too common. The next step is turning those into signature wins.
The 2025 season could be the year where all of this converges. The roster is deep and talented. The quarterback situation is solid. The coaching staff is experienced. The schedule provides opportunities for marquee wins. The national respect is there. If Freeman can combine elite recruiting, smarter in-game management, explosive offensive play, suffocating defense, and unwavering belief, Notre Dame will be in prime position to break its championship drought.
Winning a national championship is the hardest thing in college football. Only a handful of programs have done it in the playoff era. But Notre Dame has the history, resources, fan base, and now — perhaps — the coach who can bring it all together. Marcus Freeman doesn’t need to be perfect. But if he can evolve, lead, and execute at the highest level, he has a real chance to return Notre Dame to the top of the sport. The climb is long. The stakes are high. But the opportunity is real — and the time is now.
