ESPN Insider Explains Why Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Was Excluded from Top 10 Coaching List.

When ESPN insider analysts released their much-anticipated list of the top 10 college football coaches, many fans were shocked to see that Notre Dame’s head coach, Marcus Freeman, was absent from the prestigious ranking. Known for leading the Fighting Irish with poise and ambition, Freeman has certainly established himself as one of the most promising young coaches in college football. His leadership and strategic mindset have taken Notre Dame to the next level in recent seasons, but according to ESPN, he still has some work to do before breaking into the upper echelon of college football coaching.

The absence of Freeman from this list ignited a wave of discussion across social media platforms and sports talk shows. How could a coach who led Notre Dame to a New Year’s Six bowl in just his second season be left off a list that features veteran coaching icons? Many saw Freeman as a rising star in the coaching world, and his exclusion from the list felt like a slight to the progress he’s made with the program. However, ESPN insiders provided clarity on the decision, offering insights into why Freeman didn’t quite make the cut—despite his promising trajectory.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the reasoning behind the decision to exclude Marcus Freeman from the list and assess what the future holds for Notre Dame under his leadership.

Understanding the Top 10 Coaches List

Before we analyze Marcus Freeman’s omission, it’s important to understand how ESPN compiled its list of top 10 coaches. ESPN insiders take various factors into account when determining the rankings, including recent performance, program success, recruiting, player development, and overall impact on the sport.

The list tends to favor coaches with sustained success over a significant period. Coaches with a lengthy track record of winning conference titles, bowl games, and producing NFL-level talent are typically favored. Coaching acumen, ability to recruit at a high level, and historical success in big games are often deciding factors in this list.

Freeman, who became Notre Dame’s head coach in 2022, has not yet amassed the kind of sustained success that some of the coaches in the top 10 have. While Freeman’s tenure is still in its early stages, the Notre Dame faithful were hopeful that he could immediately lead the team back to College Football Playoff contention. However, ESPN insiders were cautious, and this led to Freeman’s exclusion from the list.

Freeman’s Early Success at Notre Dame

Marcus Freeman’s journey at Notre Dame has been nothing short of fascinating. Taking over from Brian Kelly in 2022, Freeman faced the enormous task of maintaining Notre Dame’s standing as a top-tier football program. Despite inheriting a roster full of talent, Freeman also had to prove that he could step into the spotlight as a first-time head coach at one of the most storied programs in college football history.

In his first season, Freeman faced a series of challenges that included roster turnover, adjusting to a new coaching staff, and working to maintain the strong culture of winning established by Kelly. While the season wasn’t perfect, Freeman guided the Fighting Irish to a 9-4 record, including an impressive victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Gator Bowl. Freeman’s defensive background was evident in his team’s ability to stifle high-powered offenses, and his leadership style resonated well with the players.

Despite these successes, the 2022 season also saw some frustrating losses, including a stunning defeat to Marshall and a season-ending loss to archrival USC. Freeman’s ability to rally his team after these tough moments showcased his resilience, but critics were quick to point out that his team still had some growing pains to work through.

Recruiting and Player Development: A Work in Progress

One area where Freeman has been particularly impressive is in recruiting. Even before becoming head coach, Freeman had developed a reputation as an outstanding recruiter during his time as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were able to secure some of the nation’s top prospects under Freeman’s watch, including five-star cornerback Benjamin Morrison and elite linebacker Jaylen Sneed.

Freeman’s ability to bring in top-tier recruits is something that’s drawn attention from across the college football landscape. Notre Dame, a program known for its academic rigor and high standards, often faces an uphill battle in recruiting against schools in more football-centric states. However, Freeman’s charisma and his ability to sell Notre Dame’s unique blend of academics and football success have helped him bridge that gap.

While Freeman has been successful in attracting talent, player development is still a crucial aspect of his program that needs improvement. While Notre Dame has produced NFL-caliber players, there has been a perception that the Fighting Irish have struggled to develop elite talent into consistent high-level performers. For instance, while players like quarterback Tyler Buchner and running back Audric Estime have shown flashes of brilliance, they have not yet developed into the star players that are expected to lead Notre Dame back to national prominence.

The issue is not that Freeman lacks the resources to develop his players; rather, it’s the need to show that he can elevate his team to championship-level play. His ability to foster a more consistent level of excellence in player development will be essential in ensuring that his recruits can translate their potential into victories on the field.

The Tough Competition in the Coaching Landscape

Another important factor in Marcus Freeman’s exclusion from ESPN’s top 10 coaching list is the immense competition he faces from other coaches. College football has no shortage of successful coaches who have not only won titles but also created dynasties at their respective programs. Coaches like Nick Saban (Alabama), Kirby Smart (Georgia), and Dabo Swinney (Clemson) have built unparalleled legacies and will likely remain fixtures in the top 10 for years to come.

Saban has built an Alabama dynasty that includes multiple national championships, while Smart has done the same at Georgia, leading the Bulldogs to national titles in 2021 and 2022. These coaches have proven track records, and their programs have set the gold standard for success in college football. While Freeman’s potential is clear, he has not yet had the opportunity to show that he can replicate the sustained success these coaches have achieved.

Moreover, there are other young coaches, such as Ryan Day at Ohio State and Lincoln Riley at USC, who have also shown great promise and could be ahead of Freeman in the rankings. Day has consistently led Ohio State to the College Football Playoff, while Riley has turned USC into a Pac-12 powerhouse.

In such a competitive coaching landscape, Freeman’s exclusion from the top 10 is a reflection of how difficult it is to break into that elite tier. Coaches must prove themselves consistently over a period of time before they can establish themselves among the sport’s elite.

What Does the Future Hold for Marcus Freeman?

Despite being left off ESPN’s top 10 coaching list, Marcus Freeman’s future at Notre Dame remains incredibly bright. The Fighting Irish are a storied program with a rich football history, and Freeman has all the tools to lead them back to national relevance. He possesses a unique combination of recruiting prowess, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the game. His ability to develop the team and adjust to the modern college football landscape will ultimately determine how successful he becomes.

As Freeman continues to build on his early successes, it is likely that he will find himself climbing up the ranks of top coaches in the coming years. His success in recruiting, particularly his ability to bring in high-quality athletes, gives Notre Dame a strong foundation for the future. With more time, Freeman can prove that he is capable of developing his players into national contenders and competing with the best in the game.

Freeman’s Commitment to Notre Dame’s Tradition

One of the most important aspects of Marcus Freeman’s coaching philosophy is his respect for Notre Dame’s rich football tradition. The Fighting Irish have always prided themselves on being a program that not only wins but does so with class and integrity. Freeman has worked tirelessly to maintain that tradition while also modernizing the program to keep up with the changing landscape of college football. His ability to balance tradition with innovation will be key in elevating Notre Dame to national championship contention.

Freeman has already shown that he is capable of leading the team through adversity, and if he can continue to develop his players, recruit elite talent, and win big games, it won’t be long before he is considered one of the top coaches in the country.

The omission of Marcus Freeman from ESPN’s top 10 coaching list serves as a reminder that success in college football, especially at a program like Notre Dame, is a process that takes time. While Freeman has shown tremendous promise as a head coach, his exclusion from the list is understandable given the immense competition and the fact that he is still in the early stages of his career. However, Freeman’s trajectory is one that continues to excite Notre Dame fans, and with a strong recruiting class and a commitment to excellence, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a fixture in the ranks of college football’s top coaches.

Freeman has all the right tools to elevate Notre Dame back to national prominence. His leadership, recruiting ability, and understanding of the game are qualities that will propel him forward in the coming years. Whether or not Freeman is included in next year’s rankings is less important than his ability to continue developing his team and leading Notre Dame to success on the national stage.