Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman isn’t messing around: he’s openly pushing for a bigger College Football Playoff, and he’s not even pretending it’s for the good of the sport. The Irish are riding a wild 16-game winning streak and sitting pretty at No. 2 right now, but Freeman knows their independence leaves them hanging. Just last season, a 10-2 Notre Dame team got left out of the 12-team playoff, a brutal reminder of how vulnerable they are without a conference to back them up. Now, with a 24-team expansion reportedly close to a done deal, Freeman sees his shot to protect that independence and carve out a much easier path to the postseason.
Freeman Lays Out The Cold, Hard Truth
Freeman absolutely went for it on The Pat McAfee Show, not holding back about why he’s all-in on expanding the playoff. According to an X post by SportsCenter, he said, “I’m biased because I’m opinionated towards Notre Dame. I’m not saying this is what’s best for college football. What do I believe in that’s best for Notre Dame? And that’s the more opportunities we have to get into the playoffs, the better. So I’m a proponent on expanding it.” You gotta respect the honesty! He believes 24 teams “is going to give Notre Dame football a better chance to get in the playoffs and probably keep our independence,” making it crystal clear his focus is 100% on the Fighting Irish. This reported 24-team format, set to kick off in 2027, is a huge win for independents like Notre Dame. Under the proposed setup, the top eight seeds snag first-round byes, while teams seeded ninth through 16th get to host opening-round games. Think about it: if this system was in place last year, that 10-2 Notre Dame squad would have been in the field and hosted a playoff game. That’s a massive shift from being snubbed entirely.
The “Tougher Schedule” Catch Is Real
But here’s the kicker: getting that sweet playoff access probably means Notre Dame has to embrace a much tougher schedule. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that as part of this deal, we should expect Notre Dame to play SEC and Big Ten powerhouses way more often. Their athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, is apparently a key player in these negotiations with ESPN. The SEC already mandates its teams play a Power Four opponent, or Notre Dame, among their three non-conference games. So the schedule is already getting spicy: Auburn is on the books for next season, then Arkansas and Texas in 2028, and finally Alabama and Texas in 2029. That’s a gauntlet! The Irish typically play five ACC opponents each season while maintaining their independent status, so adding these SEC and Big Ten beasts on top of that is a serious commitment.
So what’s next for Notre Dame? They’re currently red-hot at No. 2, riding that 16-game win streak. This move to a 24-team playoff starting in 2027 is a game-changer for their future, ensuring they have a much clearer path to championship contention, even if it means some absolute slugfests on their schedule. It’s a calculated gamble, but one that Marcus Freeman is clearly ready to make.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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