Fresh off massive Ws, Penn State smashed Boise State, and Notre Dame sent Georgia packing. Now, it’s a showdown of epic proportions as these two powerhouses gear up to collide. And here’s the exciting twist: this is not your ordinary CFP battle. It’s a momentous occasion in the making. Imagine the exhilarating vibes of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, but in the realm of college football. Two exceptional Black head coaches, Marcus Freeman and James Franklin, are battling head-to-head, guaranteeing a first-ever spot in the natty. Buckle up; this one’s got all the feels

Well, this time the playoffs will look a lot different from the rest of the seasons. With all the top four seed teams out of the league, it’s like writing a new kind of playbook for future players. Moreover, it’s more special because, for the first time since 1998, a Black head coach will be in the national championship game, and no one is more satisfied than Marcus Freeman, who is head over heels to be the first African Asian coach in the playoffs after 27 long years, as he says on ESPN.

“I want to make sure that I give my mom a shout-out because I got a chance to be the first Asian—half Black, half Asian—head coach to coach in the college football championship game. But it’s a great reminder that you’re a representation for many, and many of those guys that look like me are in our team meeting room.” Marcus Freeman knows how to keep it real and stick to his roots. It’s not just about repping his race; it’s about honoring the deep history this program carries. Talk about staying grounded while making waves.

Moreover, talking about this new wave of chance this season, even James Franklin couldn’t help but draw parallels to the iconic Super Bowl XLI, where Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith made history as the first Black head coaches to face off on the NFL’s grandest stage. During that period, Franklin was the offensive coordinator at Kansas State, working under Ron Prince, a pioneering black head coach who was breaking barriers. It’s a powerful, poignant moment, especially now when you are a part of this groundbreaking story.

But now comes the interesting part, the much-awaited clash that’s going to shape the future of both teams. Let’s be honest: who doesn’t want to be in the finals? And if you talk about gameplay, we all know how vigorous Notre Dame’s defense is. Remember their game against Georgia? Big plays and special teams didn’t let them breathe for a moment. Which obviously gives them an upper hand against Penn State. However, it looks like Marcus Freeman’s team is missing out on something important.

Is Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish in a tough spot?

So far it’s pretty evident that Marcus Freeman and his Fighting Irish are on the brink of making history. As the last time Notre Dame won a national championship was back in 1988, under head coach Lou Holtz, and just so you know, coach Freeman was barely two back then. But today Freeman has a legit shot at being the first Black coach to win the national title. However, what’s standing in his way? It’s obviously James Franklin and his Penn State squad, another Black coach with the same goal. As of now, till they face each other on January 9, there’s a lot of drama to unpack.

Now, here’s where it gets wild. The trouble began when the Sugar Bowl game between Notre Dame and Georgia, originally scheduled for January 1st, got postponed to the 2nd following a deadly attack in New Orleans. With just six days between the quarterfinals and the semifinals, you know the internet’s buzzing about how unfair that is. But Marcus Freeman isn’t letting all this create stress for the players. As he addressed the press ahead of the Orange Bowl, he said, “Like I said, man, how you handle the unpredictable things in life will determine success.” ss.” So it’s basically Freeman telling the fans to chill out and trust the process.

Moreover, Marcus Freeman continues his work. He’s all about keeping the team focused and making the most of the time they’ve got. As he says, “The greatest thing about this week is that it’s just a normal game week.” Having played a similar schedule in ten out of twelve regular season games, Notre Dame is used to this kind of pressure. So, while some might complain about the lack of rest, Freeman’s all about making every moment count, with no excuses. Let’s see if that mindset pays off because even after coming out of a bye week, Georgia lost against Notre Dame with a margin of 10-23, so it’s clear that a bye’ doesn’t really count.