Marcus Freeman Wins The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has been named the top coach in college football for the 2024 season, winning the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award. Freeman is just the second Irish head coach to win the award since its inception in 1976.

The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award has been given out annually since 1976, and it goes to the coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Freeman's teams have excelled in all three of his seasons in the classroom and community, but in 2024 his team also thrived on the field.

Freeman has led Notre Dame to an impressive 12-1 record, which ties the program record for most wins in a season, which Notre Dame also accomplished in 1988, 2012 and 2018. The Fighting Irish take on Georgia tomorrow in the Sugar Bowl as the team looks to set the all-time record. Notre Dame is also battling for a chance to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals in the first year of the 12-team playoff.

Notre Dame has won five games against ranked opponents this season, and eight of the 13 opponents so far have spent time ranked in the Top 25 at some point during the season.

The Fighting Irish have had to overcome plenty of adversity this season, which makes the achievement even more impressive. Notre Dame began the season with a young squad that had 12 players in the starting lineup who had freshman or sophomore eligibility. Notre Dame overcame that youth and several crushing injuries. Notre Dame has had six starters go down with season-ending injuries, including two starting offensive linemen and three defensive linemen. Four other starters have missed game action with injuries before returning.

During Freeman's three seasons in South Bend, the Irish have beat 12 opponents that were ranked in the AP Top 25 when the game was played, which sets an all-time Notre Dame record for the first three seasons of a coach's tenure.