What Marcus Freeman getting an extension means for Notre Dame football and more

Notre Dame football has made sure its guy sticks in South Bend for the foreseeable future.

The university has extended its head football coach after an 11-1 season and a College Football Playoff berth with a long-term deal that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

Across three seasons, Freeman has a 30-9 record in South Bend.

"I am grateful for the support of the Board of Trustees," Freeman said in a statement released by the athletic department, according to the Associated Press. "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."

This extension comes after a rollercoaster of a season that included a season-opening win over Texas A&M on the road, immediately followed by a loss to Northern Illinois as a 28-point favorite at home. After that loss, Notre Dame went on a 10-game winning streak to clinch its playoff berth.

Here's what the move, which sent ripples across the football world in the Midwest, means:

Notre Dame isn't letting Freeman go

After watching Brian Kelly depart for LSU, Notre Dame was faced with the reality of starting over after a decade of success in South Bend. With Freeman, he hit the ground running.

There have been bad losses – NIU, Stanford, Marshall and Louisville come to mind – but Freeman has taken the Irish to nine, 10 and 11 wins in his first three seasons. The improvement, combined with the recruiting wins and NIL success, have earned Freeman his extension.

It's unsure what kind of interest there was in Freeman outside of South Bend. But, the university made it clear there were not going to let someone they perceive as a rising star slip between their fingers when the potential of new heights in a new-look college football landscape. 

Freeman opted to stick at Notre Dame over potential bigger openings

To be clear: There was some interest in Freeman outside of South Bend.

NFL national reporters and some local reporters in Chicago listed Freeman as a potential candidate to replace Matt Eberflus after the Bears fired Eberflus mid-season. The Bears were looking for high-level leadership qualities, and it was reported Freeman's ability to bounce Notre Dame back after the loss to NIU caught the eye of some in the NFL.

However, it goes beyond the Bears.

There are rumors that Ohio State could have head coach Ryan Day on the hot seat after his fourth-straight loss to Michigan in The Game. Day, who has led OSU to the College Football Playoff four times including a national championship game appearance in 2020, has struggled to beat Michigan as of late which has soured the Buckeyes' fan base. Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said he expects Day to return in 2025.

If Ohio State decided to make a head coaching change, it's easy to believe Freeman would have been at the top of that candidate list. Freeman is an Ohio State alum, having played linebacker for the Buckeyes. Freeman was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2009. 

Those rumors are moot now. Notre Dame has locked up its head coach and is paying him like a head coach they believe can win a national championship at Notre Dame.