Irish Breakdown

Marcus Freeman Wins Major Award as Notre Dame Head Coach

This was nearly impossible to see coming back on September 7
Nick Shepkowski|
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates a touchdown scored during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates a touchdown scored during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana. | Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman has been named the winner of a major award in college football.

Freeman has been named the winner of the 2024 Bobby Dodd Trophy for Coach of the Year.

The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the FBS football coach whose program represents three pillars of success: Scholarship, Leadership and Integrity.

Freeman becomes the second Notre Dame head coach to ever win the award, joining Brian Kelly who win it in 2018.

Notre Dame's Response to Improbable Northern Illinois Upset Loss

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman during a 2024 game against Northern Illinoi
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman jogs the field during warm ups before a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Northern Illinois at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend. | Michael Clubb / USA TODAY NETWORK

Marcus Freeman winning any postseason award back on the evening of September 7 felt nearly impossible to picture. Notre Dame had just lost at home to Northern Illinois and a week after gaining national praise for beating Texas A&M, became the laughingstock of college football nationally.

But Freeman didn't run from the loss, instead using it as a motivator for Notre Dame in 2024. As a result the Fighting Irish have won 11-straight games and put up some of the most impressive numbers in the nation as they get ready for a Sugar Bowl date with mighty Georgia on Wednesday night.

From the Notre Dame Press Release on Marcus Freeman Winning Bobby Dodd Trophy

Through the regular season and the first round of the playoffs, Notre Dame ranks among the top teams in the nation in multiple statistical categories, including: first in team passing efficiency defense (96.94), first in turnovers gained (29), first in defensive touchdowns (6), third in scoring defense (13.8), third in turnover margin (1.23), fourth in scoring offense (38.8), fourth in passing yards allowed (162.3), fourth in interceptions (18), fifth in fourth-down success rate (0.760), seventh in third down defense (0.308), seventh in fourth down defense (0.361), eighth in total defense (295.3), ninth in fumbles recovered (11), ninth in red zone defense (0.727), 10th in passes had intercepted (6) and 11th in rushing offense (222.4).

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Kirby Smart Breaks Down Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman Ahead of Sugar Bowl

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Nick Shepkowski
NICK SHEPKOWSKI

Managing Editor for Notre Dame On SI. Started covering Chicago sports teams for WSCR the Score, and over the years worked with CBS Radio, Audacy, NBC Sports, and FOX Sports as a contributor before running the Notre Dame wire site for USA TODAY.

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