The Notre Dame Fighting Irish put together an impressive college football campaign in 2024, playing their way to the College Football Playoff national championship game before ultimately falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Marcus Freeman has changed a lot about Notre Dame football in his three going on four years as the Fighting Irish’s head coach. He’s winning his way, not Brian Kelly‘s. One thing hasn’t changed, though.

In a world of major change around conference realignment in college football, Notre Dame remains a fixed point of independence, and that’s something Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman wants to ensure into the future.