Full of bitter disappointment, No. 11 Notre Dame ended its season after 12 games, choosing not to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl after being kept out of the College Football Playoff.
The Fighting Irish can better use the down time to hit the transfer portal and recruiting trail to make the 2026 team a force the CFP selection committee cannot deny.
During his news conference on Tuesday, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua suggested that retaining head coach Marcus Freeman is one of the Irish’s greatest goals this offseason.
Via Pete Sampson of The Athletic:
“Pete Bevacqua on the possibility of Marcus Freeman departing for the NFL and matching other contract offers. Said Notre Dame will make sure Freeman is at the ‘Top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation for college football coaches.'”
