The clock is ticking, and Marcus Freeman needs to separate the wheat from the chaff. And he has got more time to do that! The College Football Playoff is here, and this 11-win season has set the stage for a big moment for Notre Dame. They say pressure makes diamonds. This is Freeman’s diamond moment. How he handles this pressure will define his coaching legacy. With Curt Cignetti achieving commendable success, Freeman stands ready to secure his own accolades that could surpass all others in terms of both flair and substance.

Notre Dame’s success this season is not only about their remarkable gameplay but also because of the hard work put in by their head coach, Marcus Freeman, to get a sure-shot place for them in the playoffs. The team is currently standing at an exceptional record of 11-1 this season and waiting for their ultimate battle against the Indiana Hoosiers. This surely calls for big rewards, and Freeman actually got one. On December 16, CFB reporter Heather Dinich confirmed the news, saying, “Can confirm Marcus Freeman has agreed to a long-term contract extension, believed to be a four-year extension that locks him up for 6 more years, according to a source.”

Marcus Freeman’s four-year extension keeps him with the team for six more years. This echoes Curt Cignetti’s impact on the Hoosiers and how he made a notable impact with a team that no one thought would outshine in the league. And even with doubts rising over their easy schedule being the reason for their success, Coach Cignetti made sure that his team reached the playoffs with flying colors. Interestingly, Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti also got an 8-year contract extension after securing a playoff spot, mirroring Freeman’s deal.

With two years remaining in his current contract, Marcus Freeman is becoming Notre Dame’s only hope for success. Even Freeman seems to be filled with excitement over the fact that the board members are putting so much trust in him. “I am grateful for the support of the Board of Trustees, led by John Veihmeyer, President Fr. Bob Dowd, C.S.C., and Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua. The investment they continue to pour into our program is invaluable to our student-athletes and staff. This commitment goes well beyond myself, as they are dedicated to ensuring all aspects of our program are competitive within the upper echelon of college football,” he said.

This extension makes Marcus Freeman one of the highest-paid coaches in the country, adding another remarkable season to his Notre Dame record.

Marcus Freeman’s successful ride with Notre Dame

Well, a long-term extension of Marcus Freeman’s tenure is something every Notre Dame fan saw coming after already taking the team to the playoffs in his very first season with 10 straight wins. Had it not been for Brian Kelly, Notre Dame would have missed their revolutionary mentor, and Marcus would have remained their defensive coordinator.

When coach Kelly left for LSU, that was a turning point in Notre Dame’s future. Even though things started rough for him in the start, with the team trailing behind Marshall in their second game in 2022, coach Freeman made his mark with a final record of 9-4 that season. From there, Marcus Freeman never looked back and always focused on improving his team for a better outcome.

Moreover, Notre Dame impressed last year with a 10-3 record, culminating in a resounding 40-8 Sun Bowl win versus Oregon State. This perfectly showcases how Marcus Freeman’s coaching techniques have dramatically improved the team.

Now this season has to be Freeman’s best at the helm, and Notre Dame’s performance was enough to make the HC a reliable option for the team as he is on his way to leading them to their first national championship since 1988. The question is whether they can beat the Hoosiers and prove themselves as tough competitors against the Dawgs or not.