As he enters Year 3 of his tenure at Notre Dame, Head Coach Marcus Freeman has reached a tipping point. Crushing losses and uneven performances overshadowed uplifting victories in his first two seasons. To Freeman’s credit, he has improved the roster in terms of talent and depth, and now enters the 2024 season at the helm of a squad with a high ceiling.

Freeman’s task was not a complete rebuild, though. The talent base is now good enough to compete with anyone, and his internal support from the University has reached a level not seen in several decades. He has a staff of highly compensated assistant coaches with strong resumes. The work ethic among both players and coaches is not at all in question. It’s time to parlay these positives into decisive wins.

On the recruiting front, Freeman’s energy has attracted the attention of several outstanding prospects. The promise of a quality education and an historic football program has lured a few to South Bend, but the lack of demonstrated results on the gridiron has discouraged the majority. Just recently, SEC schools and other rivals have swooped in and secured commitments from elite players courted by Freeman for months or even years. The NIL marketplace is not to blame since the school is now competitive in that arena.

The mantra that Notre Dame can compete for championships still rings hollow in the hearts and minds of many. Opposing coaches will continue to push this narrative of negativity as long as the results support it. What, then, can Freeman do to disrupt this cycle of doom?

My answer is Freeman’s Irish must exceed expectations in 2024. He did not accomplish this in his first two seasons for a variety of reasons, but those excuses are gone now. If he were the head coach at another top program and achieved similar results in Years 4 and 5, he would likely find himself out of a job. Notre Dame is historically more patient but they won’t wait long if it is evident that a coach cannot justify the school’s investment in the program. That is why this season is so critical for Freeman and his coaching future.

It may not seem fair, but the defining moment for this season will come in a few weeks when the Irish travel to Texas A&M. They are a solid but not great SEC team that is well coached. Victory is the benchmark Freeman must achieve in order to establish himself and the program once and for all in this dynamic and ruthlessly competitive era of college football. Every successful coach must earn a reputation as a difference-maker, apart from a reliance on great players to paper over coaching inadequacies. Call it the Larry Coker Syndrome.

Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz come to mind in Notre Dame history, as well as others who came and went before my time. Is Marcus Freeman ready to join them?

Note: It is ironic as I write this that Notre Dame just lost left tackle Charles Jagusah for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Jagusah was a key factor in the matchup against A&M’s fierce pass rush. His loss does not make the task any easier but the Irish must find a way to respond. My first instinct is to move Aamil Wagner over from the right side and get veteran Tosh Baker or freshman phenom Guerby Lambert ready to play on the right side. We’ll see what the coaches decide.