In 2024, Marcus Freeman entered his third season at a fork in the road. When studying the rich history of Notre Dame football is the third year is the most important in judging if a coach will succeed or fail. Following records of 9-4 and 10-3, Marcus Freeman produced a blockbuster NCAAF future odds campaign that ended with a 14-2 record and a loss in the national championship game. Now, Freeman begins his fourth season at Notre Dame with his fourth different starting QB, so it could be a season of transition.
2025 SBG College Football Futures Notre Dame Fighting Irish
| Odds to Win National Championship: | +1400 |
|---|---|
| Over/Under Win Total: | 10.5 |
2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule
- Aug 31 at Miami-FL
- Sep 6 OFF
- Sep 13 vs. Texas A&M
- Sep 20 vs. Purdue
- Sep 27 at Arkansas
- Oct 4 vs. Boise State
- Oct 11 vs. NC State
- Oct 18 vs. USC
- Oct 25 OFF
- Nov 1 at Boston College
- Nov 8 vs. Navy
- Nov 15 Pitt
- Nov 22 vs. Syracuse
- Nov 29 at Stanford
In 2024, Marcus Freeman passed the most important offshore betting test of his coaching career. To show, Notre Dame football coaches are ultimately revealed as successes or failures in their third season. Namely, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, Lou Holtz, and Brian Kelly made it. Charlie Weis, Tyronne Willingham, Gerry Faust, and Bob Davie did not.
The Fighting Irish got a taste of high-level success last season with a trip to the national championship game. Next mission is simple: bring a title back to South Bend.
Coach Marcus Freeman’s team is poised for another deep 2025 college football futures run this fall. Hence, they can hoist the big trophy if unproven quarterback CJ Carr delivers on his 5-star hype. But Notre Dame won’t have to lean on Carr to win games. Caused by a rushing attack powered by Heisman candidate Jeremiyah Love.
Also, there is an offensive line that ranks among the best in college football. Additionally, the Fighting Irish also have an improving receiving corps thanks to the emergence of Jaden Greathouse in the College Football Playoff. And then there was the arrival of Malachi Fields (Virginia) from the transfer portal.
New defensive coordinator Chris Ash has holes to fill with only five returning starters. However, one of those is shutdown corner Leonard Moore, who returns to anchor the secondary. Additionally, there is plenty of talent waiting in the wings. A road trip to Miami (Fla.) is a tough way to start ’25. Still, Notre Dame could be favored in its other 11 contests.
Certainly, the Fighting Irish have the perfect deal. First, it has its friends-with-benefits situation with the ACC, which includes the bowl games. But Notre Dame gets to keep all of its money. All of that College Football Playoff dough went to South Bend.
Specifically for 2025, the Irish face Miami, NC State, Boston College, Pitt, Syracuse, and Stanford from the ACC. That means they miss Cal, Duke, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, SMU, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.
In sum, the Fighting Irish should go 10-2 but still find their way into the back end of the CFP as a road team seeded 9-12. They could lose one of the two road games to Miami or Arkansas and drop one of the tougher home games. Yet they can repeat their performance from last season and push past everyone else.