Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman shrugs off first CFP ranking
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said the first CFP committee ranking doesn't really matter.
The Miami game likely decides the Irish's season and playoff hopes.
Background
Marcus Freeman is the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. Notre Dame is 6-1 after beating Navy 35-13 on Oct. 31 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, a game in which Navy controlled time of possession 22 minutes to Notre Dame's five in the first half. The first College Football Playoff (the four-team postseason bracket, now expanded) committee ranking placed the Irish lower than many expected, and Freeman addressed it ahead of the Miami game, which will most likely dictate the Irish's future for the rest of the season.
How it unfolded
- Oct 31, 2026No. 5 Notre Dame beat Navy 35-13 at Gillette Stadium; Navy controlled time of possession 22 minutes to Notre Dame's five in the first half, and Notre Dame led only 14-13 at halftime.
- Oct 31, 2026Drayk Bowen, Francis Brewu and Jason Onye were injured for Notre Dame against Navy; Brewu and Onye left in the first quarter with knee injuries and were listed as questionable against Miami.
- Nov 2, 2026Freeman said he does not think Navy's blocking was intentional and expressed respect for Navy coach Brian Newberry.
- Nov 3, 2026Freeman held his game week press conference, wrapping up the Navy win and previewing Miami.
- Nov 5, 2026Freeman shrugged off the first College Football Playoff committee ranking, which put the Irish lower than many expected.
Key terms
- CFP
- An annual single-elimination tournament determining the national champion of NCAA Division I FBS college football.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Freeman said the CFP committee ranking doesn't really matter and that winning every remaining game is more important than a preliminary ranking.
- Analysts
- ESPN college football insider Heather Dinich wrote on X that Notre Dame's run defense was getting gashed in the first half against Navy.
- Public
- Some in the Irish fan base called for the century-old Navy rivalry to be canceled after injuries to Drayk Bowen, Francis Brewu and Jason Onye on Oct. 31.
Still unverified
The CFP committee rating was described as controversial, putting the Irish a lot lower than many expected; Francis Brewu and Jason Onye were listed as questionable on Monday's availability report ahead of Miami; whether Leonard Moore will shadow Malachi Toney was not stated by Freeman, though there is a possibility.