‘Marcus Freeman leaving…’: Notre Dame's CFP blow could result in the worst; NFL team interested

Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football are left high and dry after CFP selection

Published on: Dec 8, 2025, 24:12:40 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football are left high and dry. After a stellar season, including a 10-game winning streak and a massive finale win, the school was left out of the final CFP bracket. No. 9 Alabama and No. Miami made the cut.

Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Texas A&M Aggies (Getty Images via AFP)

Now, there are speculations about Freeman's future at Notre Dame. It appears like these are just rumors. Reacting to the CFP selection, the head coach said," It is time to join a conference," indicating he is likely to stay where he is.

Fans had several reactions. “Will be future ramifications. Marcus Freeman leaving. Joining a conference,” one person posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“See ya Marcus Freeman. Go and take the NY Giants job,” another one added.

This comes as Freeman has reportedly attracted some attention from the NFL. There was chatter around the New York Giants, where team insiders reportedly view him as an emerging candidate.

The New York Post’s Paul Schwartz recently noted that several figures inside the Giants organization “hold Freeman in high regard,” sparking speculation about whether the 38-year-old coach could be bound for the pros. To this point, though, there has been no indication from Freeman that he intends to pursue an NFL opportunity.

Speaking with the New York Post earlier this week, Freeman addressed the noise directly. Rather than fuel speculation, he emphasized how meaningful it is simply to be mentioned.

He described the recognition from a storied franchise like the Giants as “gratifying,” saying it serves as a reminder of the privilege of leading Notre Dame’s program. Freeman added that his name wouldn’t be circulating in NFL circles if not for Notre Dame’s success under his guidance, a fact that anchors him even more firmly in his current role.

CFB bracket 2025-26

Indiana (13-0)*

Ohio State (12-1)

Georgia (12-1)*

Texas Tech (12-1)*

Oregon (11-1)

Ole Miss (11-1)

Texas A&M (11-1)

Oklahoma (10-2)

Alabama (10-3)

Miami (10-2)

Tulane (11-2)

James Madison (12-1)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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