On Jan. 20, 2025, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Beyond the star-studded rosters and historic programs lies a storyline that only elevates the game’s glamour: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman was once a standout defender for the Buckeyes.
Marcus Freeman Says Facing Alma Mater in National Championship Doesn’t Add Extra Motivation
As both squads gear up for the title bout, Freeman was quick to play down any role his ties to the Buckeyes have on the contest:
“This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school. This is about this opportunity that lies right ahead of us.”
Freeman grew up in Huber Heights, Ohio, and starred for Wayne High School, where he was an All-American and a four-star linebacker recruit. Despite holding offers from Florida, Miami, and even Notre Dame, Freeman chose the home state Buckeyes as his collegiate destination.
After primarily playing on special teams as a true freshman, Freeman entered 2005 with a chance to make an impact on defense. Yet, a knee injury in the first game of the season knocked him out for the rest of the year and earned him a redshirt.
But Freeman came back stronger and started at the second level of Ohio State’s for the next three seasons, finishing his career with 268 total tackles, 21.5 TFLs, six sacks, two INTs, 13 PBUs, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery.
His play helped the Buckeyes secure four conference titles, three BCS bowls, and two trips to the national championship while booking his ticket to the 2009 Senior Bowl.
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The Chicago Bears selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, but after quickly bouncing between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, Freeman retired in May 2010 due to an enlarged heart condition.
The Ohio native wasted no time in beginning his next career, rejoining the Buckeyes as a graduate assistant under his former head coach, Jim Tressel. The program went 12-1 and won the Sugar Bowl over Arkansas, but Tressel resigned at the end of the season with heavy pressure from NCAA violations barreling down.
From there, Freeman coached at various programs, with every contract and salary coming from a team in the Midwest (Kent State, Purdue, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame). He worked his way up the ranks from a GA to linebackers coach, defensive coordinator, and now, head coach.
In fact, Freeman has done so well in just three years (33-9 record, 5-1 in bowls) that he received a reported four-year, $9 million annual extension from the Irish in December.
However, the program faces its toughest test yet and against an opponent who Freeman hasn’t defeated as a head coach (0-2): his alma mater. Just last season, the Buckeyes knocked off the Irish 17-14 with a 1-yard rushing score in the final seconds. However, Freeman isn’t using the loss, or the 21-10 defeat in 2022, as extra motivation for his program.
“If you need that to motivate you to get ready for this game, then you’re not the right person,” Freeman said. “That’s the reality of it. We don’t need motivation to be prepared for this game. We’ve got a chance to play in the national championship game. … Ohio State will present a tough challenge; we know that. We’re looking forward to this opportunity to play in the College Football National Championship Game.”
As the stage is set for the natty, Freeman’s journey from Buckeye big shot to Irish illuminator adds a compelling subplot to an already monumental clash — one that promises to leave a lasting mark on the legacy of both programs.
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