The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a disappointing end to their college football season, going 10-2 without a College Football Playoff spot.
Drama ensued when the team declined to participate in a college bowl game, drawing ire from various individuals over that significant decision.
Still, headlines continue to surface about Notre Dame, including recent news that star running back Jeremiyah Love has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. In addition, rumors are swirling about head coach Marcus Freeman being a strong candidate for various NFL head coaching jobs.
Freeman, 39, is 43-12 in his time as head coach of the Fighting Irish, with three-straight seasons of three losses or fewer. Last season, he guided the team to the CFP and an appearance in the championship game, which they lost to Ohio State.
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During a recent episode of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” former Boise State and Washington head coach Chris Petersen appeared on the show and weighed in on Freeman’s NFL possibilities.
“I love Marcus Freeman. I like Notre Dame a lot. I think it’s really a bummer that they are left out of this playoff, because I look at it like this. This is a team that could have a chance to win the tournament, and you’re left out. That hurts,” Petersen told Cowherd.
Petersen also agreed that Notre Dame shouldn’t have gone into the CFP over Miami (FL), which beat them this season.
“I think college football is so nuts right now and so crazy. If I’m a Marcus Freeman type young coach, big career in front of me, I’m looking really hard at the NFL,” he said.
He called the current college football environment “24/7 365 of nonsense” with the “good part” on Saturdays when games happen. He suggested the “behind the scenes” stuff is way too much, though.
Petersen sounded off about college coaches looking at players who aren’t even in the transfer portal yet.
“If I had an owner that I thought was outstanding and the GM, and I’m soul to soul and got alignment with that, I’m looking really hard at the NFL, because it’s just a better way of life right now, and I would never have said that eight years ago,” he told Cowherd.
Interestingly, others have contended that Freeman is better off sticking with the high-profile Notre Dame job, as he seemingly has more control there than he would in the NFL. Time will tell if Freeman decides to remain with the Fighting Irish or take his talents to the professional league.
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