Notre Dame advanced to the championship game after Marcus Freeman was forced to acknowledge a “embarrassing” error.

In the highly competitive world of college football, there are few moments as defining as the championship game. It’s the culmination of a season’s worth of hard work, preparation, and, at times, mistakes. For Marcus Freeman, the head coach of Notre Dame, the journey to the 2025 College Football Playoff Championship was anything but easy. His team’s remarkable rise to the top came on the heels of his candid admission of an “embarrassing” error that, in many ways, propelled the Fighting Irish to success.

This article explores the missteps, growth, and eventual triumph of Freeman’s Notre Dame team, dissecting how his acknowledgment of his mistakes ultimately strengthened the team and led them to the championship game. To understand the magnitude of this situation, we must first delve into the circumstances surrounding Freeman’s coaching philosophy and the errors that led to his public reflection.

The Rise of Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame

When Marcus Freeman was hired as the 30th head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2021, the expectations were sky-high. Freeman was taking over a program with a storied history, one that was looking to reclaim its position as one of college football’s elite teams. Freeman, a former Notre Dame linebacker and defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, was seen as the next great leader for the Irish. His energy, enthusiasm, and deep understanding of the game were all factors that led Notre Dame’s administration to place their trust in him.

However, stepping into the shoes of a legend like Brian Kelly, who had built a consistently strong program, was no easy task. Freeman faced immediate pressure to produce results, and the road to the top was filled with challenges. In his first full season as head coach, Freeman navigated a rollercoaster of highs and lows. While his team showed immense potential, the road to the College Football Playoff was paved with obstacles that Freeman had to learn from quickly.

The Critical Error: Acknowledging the Mistake

As the 2025 season progressed, Notre Dame had to overcome several hurdles to make it to the College Football Playoff. One of the most significant moments came after a tough loss to a top-ranked opponent. While the loss itself wasn’t the primary reason for Freeman’s public reflection, it was the series of events following the game that led him to a painful realization.

In a post-game interview, Freeman admitted that he had made a crucial error in the team’s preparation. His mistake wasn’t about a specific play or an in-game decision, but rather about how he had handled the overall strategy and mentality leading up to the game. Freeman acknowledged that he had misjudged the team’s readiness and hadn’t communicated properly with his players during the week of preparation. He called it “embarrassing” because, as a coach, his job was to ensure that his players were mentally and physically prepared to face any opponent, no matter the circumstances.

The “embarrassing” mistake Freeman referred to was a failure in managing the balance between confidence and humility. In a bid to instill a sense of invincibility in his players, Freeman had allowed the team to overlook the importance of humility. As a result, Notre Dame came into the game with a sense of overconfidence, which was exploited by their opponents. Freeman took full responsibility for not instilling the right mentality within the team, and this self-awareness became a defining moment in his coaching career.

The Ripple Effect: How Acknowledging the Mistake Changed the Team

While many coaches might shy away from acknowledging such an error, Freeman’s decision to take full responsibility had an unexpectedly positive effect on his team. His transparency and vulnerability in front of the media created a sense of accountability within the locker room. The players respected Freeman for not only owning up to his mistake but also for using it as a learning opportunity.

This moment of introspection became a rallying cry for the Fighting Irish. Freeman’s honesty set the tone for the remainder of the season. Instead of wallowing in self-doubt, the team embraced the challenge of proving themselves once again. They worked harder in practice, sharpened their mental focus, and began to develop a stronger bond than ever before. Freeman’s mistake became a lesson that they could carry forward as they prepared for the rest of their season.

The next few weeks saw Notre Dame playing with renewed energy and a more disciplined approach. The Fighting Irish went on to secure key victories over rival schools, including a thrilling win over Michigan State that had playoff implications. Each victory became more than just a game—it was a testament to the resilience of a team that had learned from its mistakes and embraced its coach’s leadership.

Overcoming the Hurdles: The Road to the Championship

As the season unfolded, Notre Dame continued to climb the rankings. The loss that had caused Freeman so much distress early in the season began to fade into the background, overshadowed by the team’s relentless drive toward excellence. They finished the regular season with a 12-1 record, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The team’s journey to the championship game wasn’t without its challenges, however. Notre Dame faced formidable opponents in the semifinals, including a tough battle against the defending champions, Georgia. But Freeman’s ability to navigate pressure situations and lead his players with confidence paid off. His transparent leadership, combined with the team’s newly instilled focus and discipline, allowed the Irish to edge out Georgia in a thrilling game that would go down as one of the most memorable playoff matchups in recent memory.

Throughout the season, Freeman’s decisions were more measured, and his leadership more focused. His growth as a coach was evident in the way he adapted to the changing dynamics of his team. He no longer made the mistake of overconfidence but, rather, emphasized preparation, humility, and mental fortitude.

The Championship Game: A Moment of Redemption

The championship game presented yet another monumental challenge for Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. They were facing a team that had been dominant all season—Alabama, led by one of the country’s most seasoned coaches, Nick Saban. It was a matchup that many had anticipated would be a defining moment in college football.

In the lead-up to the game, Freeman’s focus was on maintaining his team’s mental discipline. He reminded them constantly of the lessons they had learned from earlier in the season, particularly the importance of maintaining focus and not letting external expectations or pressures affect their performance. The message was clear: every game is a new challenge, and past success means nothing if they don’t stay grounded.

On the night of the championship, Notre Dame came out with a fire and determination that surprised many. They played a flawless first half, with Freeman’s defensive game plan stifling Alabama’s high-powered offense. On the offensive side, quarterback Tyler Buchner played the game of his life, executing the plays with precision and keeping Alabama’s defense off balance. The Irish went into the halftime break with a slight lead, but they knew that the hardest part was yet to come.

In the second half, Alabama mounted a fierce comeback, but Freeman’s calm under pressure allowed his team to stay composed. Notre Dame held strong and, in a thrilling final drive, secured a victory to win their first national championship in decades.

The Legacy of Marcus Freeman’s Leadership

As the confetti fell and the Fighting Irish celebrated their victory, Marcus Freeman stood on the sidelines, reflecting on the journey that had brought him to this moment. His decision to acknowledge his earlier mistakes and use them as stepping stones for improvement had turned out to be the catalyst for his team’s success. It was a moment of redemption not just for Freeman, but for the entire Notre Dame program.

Freeman’s journey from admitting his “embarrassing” error to hoisting the championship trophy was a testament to the power of self-reflection, humility, and growth. In the highly competitive world of college football, success isn’t just about winning games—it’s about learning from mistakes, adapting to challenges, and leading with integrity. Freeman’s leadership not only led his team to victory but also inspired a generation of coaches and players to embrace vulnerability and learn from their failures.

The 2025 College Football Playoff Championship will forever be remembered as the season when Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish rose from the ashes of early-season setbacks to claim the ultimate prize. His acknowledgment of his error, once seen as an embarrassing moment, ultimately became the turning point for one of the most memorable championship runs in recent college football history.