Unlocking the Mystery: The Definitive Ranking of Every Notre Dame Game Under Marcus Freeman Revealed!

Over the past three seasons, Marcus Freeman’s reign as the head coach of Notre Dame football has been nothing short of a rollercoaster — a wild ride packed with exhilarating victories, nail-biting finishes, and some head-scratching setbacks that have left fans and critics alike buzzing. This is your one-stop, no-holds-barred ranking of every game that’s unfolded under Freeman’s watch, breaking down the heartbreaks, the triumphs, and the moments that defined an era still very much in progress. Buckle up, because from upsets that shook the program to statement wins that hinted at brighter days, we’re diving deep into the full gamut of Freeman’s Notre Dame journey. Ready for the ultimate recap? Here we go. LEARN MOREPerhaps the ultimate forgettable game: a mid-season, non-blowout win against a random ACC team playing its backup quarterback. Although, it did have the novelty of being in Mercedez-Benz Stadium, and it saw Zac Yoakam make his first career field goal and Tyler Buchner convert a first down on a fake kick.

43. 2024: Northern Illinois 16, Notre Dame 14

A&M isn’t a historical power, but they’re a talented SEC program with fan and booster investment. That made a season opening trip to College Station a golden opportunity for a tone-setting win to launch Freeman’s third year. The following week’s faceplant against NIU dulled the shine of the win, but at the time the systematic approach of the offense and suffocating defense made for an exhilarating victory.

42. 2022: Stanford 16, Notre Dame 14

Yes, this Florida State team was hot garbage, but it’s Florida State. Smacking the Seminoles is always a good time, and seeing Deion Colzie catch a touchdown pass and former walk-on Luke Talich record a pick-6 made it that much sweeter.

41. 2022: Marshall 26, Notre Dame 21

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After NIU, this was as nice a mouth cleanser as you could ask for. It didn’t fully wash away the stink of such an atrocious loss, and it probably contributed more to the quarterback controversy since Riley Leonard still failed to throw a touchdown pass through three games while Steve Angeli recorded two in this one. But putting up 66 on a rival, even one as poorly coached as this Boilermakers team, is fun.

37. *2021: Oklahoma State 37, Notre Dame 35

Jordan Faison’s first career action came with a bang as the then-preferred walk-on caught a touchdown pass. But Jack Plummer’s 17-24, 145-yard passing performance was enough to outplay the early-season Heisman candidate Sam Hartman, whose bald-faced frustration with his deficient wide receiver corps led to forced throws and three interceptions as part of a five-turnover game for the Irish.

36. 2022: Notre Dame 24, Cal 17

Two weeks after losing at Clemson, Sam Hartman had a senior day matchup against his former team. The Demon Deacons scored in part thanks to a trick play and Hartman wasn’t the sharpest, but it was enough to pull away and give Steve Angeli an opportunity to throw a touchdown pass. Still, the luster on the season had faded after collapsing against the Tigers.

35. 2022: Notre Dame 35, Navy 32

Last season’s home finale and Chris Tyree’s return to Notre Dame Stadium. It had the stereotypical senior day hiccups, but it was an easy win for a team that still had (and ultimately fulfilled) its Playoff hopes, which improved the mood.

34. 2024: Notre Dame 28, Miami (OH) 3

It’s never fun when you’re the opponent against whom your biggest rival’s starting quarterback solidifies his Heisman Trophy victory. Notre Dame’s defense couldn’t keep contain on Caleb Williams and Drew Pyne’s 23-26 passing performance was sullied by an unforced fumble and a fourth-quarter interception that turned a 10-point game into a forgone conclusion.

33. 2022: Notre Dame 44, UNLV 21

Revenge for the prior year’s loss in a game that was an inflection point for last season. After opening the game with a fumble that got the Irish down 7-0, they built a 21-7 lead thanks to Leonard Moore stripping Tyler Shough and Kennedy Urlacher recovering Louisville’s overhead punt snap at the goal line. The Cardinals got back into it when the Irish offense went stagnant, but Notre Dame popped a screen pass to Jeremiyah Love for a touchdown that got them over the finish line.

32. 2022: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10

A prototypical lookahead spot. The Irish were in a malaise, being up just seven points after the first half. Eventually they separated, but not before Sam Hartman was rolled up on at a point in the game when he should have been on the bench resting for the next week’s matchup with Ohio State.

31. 2023: Notre Dame 45, Wake Forest 7

A win worse than some losses? Yes. This was an awful game made slightly more sentimental by Tommy Rees’ “do your f*cking job!” rant in the midst of a disastrous first half by first-time starter Drew Pyne. Even after rallying in the second half, a JD Bertrand targeting call on Clarence Lewis’ potential game-sealing interception and Brandon Joseph’s attempt to intercept rather than knock down Cal’s final Hail Mary gave the Golden Bears too many anxiety-inducing opportunities to scrub Freeman’s Irish head coaching tenure before it ever had a chance to launch.

30. 2023: Notre Dame 41, Central Michigan 17

The first ever College Football Playoff game of the 12-team format, highlighted by Jeremiyah Love’s 98-yard touchdown run. If not for the postseason pomp and circumstance, it would be a largely forgettable game, especially considering how Indiana only made the game optically close thanks to two garbage-time scores.

29. 2023: Notre Dame 56, Tennessee State 3

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A trip to Baltimore for the annual matchup with the Midshipmen, the Irish ended the first half with a 35-13 lead thanks to a pair of quick touchdowns, the second of which was set up by one of Brian Mason’s patented punt blocks. Then the offense completely folded against cover zero in the second half and the Irish held on for dear life to escape with a win.

27. 2024: Notre Dame 35, Virginia 14

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In the moment this felt like time was a flat circle and ]Freeman had made zero tangible progress as a head coach. Notre Dame had zero passing touchdowns through two games and was pulling the same stunts as in Freeman’s first year against Marshall and Stanford. Nothing should ever be worse than this, and if it is then it will take this game’s title of “worst loss in program history.”

25. 2024: Notre Dame 51, Navy 14

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Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Forget about this one? Marcus Freeman’s first game as head coach came in the 2021 Fiesta Bowl following his promotion. A red-hot first half saw Notre Dame take a 28-7 lead before giving up a 14-0 run to the Cowboys spanning the end of the first half and start of the second. Jack Coan had a school-record 68 passing attempts as the Irish forfeited any attempt at rushing the ball before kickoff and choked away the game, letting Mike Gundy spoil Freeman’s head coaching debut.

22. 2022: Notre Dame 45, North Carolina 32

Another forgettable game from last season’s lackluster schedule. The most memorable aspect was Micah Gilbert dropping a sure-fire touchdown pass from Steve Angeli.

21. 2023: Notre Dame 56, Stanford 23

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A weird game, typical of the 2022 squad, but entertaining nonetheless. Brandon Joseph’s only interception in a Notre Dame uniform turned into a pick-6 on the first play. The Orange’s starting quarterback went down with an injury and their backup began sparking a would-be comeback until Marist Liufau intercepted a tipped pass and a blocked punt set up a score to blow the game open.

18. 2023: Notre Dame 42, Navy 3

The moment I got duped into thinking Notre Dame’s 2023 offense was legit. They were boom or bust, but the booms were fun, aside from the thunderstorm that delayed the game. Audric Estime ate a hot dog during the delay and scored a touchdown on the first play out of it, and the Irish secondary had Brennan Armstrong seeing ghosts with three interceptions.

17. 2023: Notre Dame 58, Pitt 7

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The game that made apparent that the 2022 Irish squad played to the level of their competition. Michael Mayer had a great catch, Steve Angeli came in for a snap after Drew Pyne took a hit to the head and Isaiah Foskey blocked two punts. Otherwise, this Peacock game goes in the forgettable bin.

15. 2023: Notre Dame 40, Oregon State 8

Tyler Buchner accounted for seven touchdowns, including two pick-6s, in his return from injury. The Irish should’ve won going away against a Gamecocks squad rife with opt-outs, but the Gator Bowl was made entertaining by allowing South Carolina to stay in it and seeing the two best special teams in the country call trick plays.

14. 2024: Notre Dame 66, Purdue 7

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Notre Dame’s first matchup against an FCS program. Offensive fireworks flew, Steve Angeli through his first career touchdown pass and Clarence Lewis had a pick-6. But for a fun home opener with all the hope and promise of the early Sam Hartman days, it was still just a blowout of an FCS team.

12. 2024: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23

Dabo Swinney might not be Clemson’s head coach right now if Notre Dame had taken care of business against the lurching Tigers. Instead, Sam Hartman was inconsistent and Audric Estime only got three carries in a second half that turned into a punt-off. The Irish were kept in the game by Clemson’s self-inflicted errors but ultimately choked away any chance of getting a New Years’ Six bowl berth.

11. 2023: Notre Dame 45, NC State 24

The first of a trifecta of matchups with Freeman’s alma mater. The Irish were competitive despite being clearly outgunned. The ball-control game plan worked for a half but Notre Dame ran out of gas after an ill-timed double-safety blitz that spoiled a to-that-point outstanding effort by the defense in Al Golden’s debut as defensive coordinator.

10. 2022: Notre Dame 45, South Carolina 38

Coming off the Marshall loss and the middling Cal win, there was a thought that maybe Mack Brown could actually get a win over Notre Dame. But then his defensive sieve gave way to a running game powered by Audric Estime, Chris Tyree and a rejuvenated Logan Diggs. Maybe if the game had gone the other way Jordan Hudson wouldn’t be coaching the Tar Heels right now.

9. 2024: Notre Dame 31, Louisville 24

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Blowing out Pat Narduzzi is always fun. Blowing out him and Phil Jurkovec simultaneously is even more fun. It’s incredible to believe Jurkovec finished his collegiate career at tight end for the Panthers while the quarterback who actually played threw four interceptions, including one for a Jaden Mickey pick-6.

7. 2023: Notre Dame 48, USC 20

A blowout of a ranked Navy team. Stop me if you’ve heard that one before.

5. 2022: Notre Dame 35, Clemson 14

Sam Hartman turned the ball over twice in the first half, at which point Gerad Parker tried to make up for his season-long mishandling of Audric Estime’s Doak Walker campaign. It was too-little-too-late to make Estime a finalist for the award, but he finished the game with a career-high 238 rushing yards and set the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 18. Oh, and Javonte Jean-Baptiste had a touchdown return off a blocked field goal.

3. 2024: Notre Dame 23, Texas A&M 13

A (totally definitive) ranking of every Notre Dame football game from Marcus Freeman’s three* years a head coach. Onward.

2. 2024: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10