Notre Dame's Freeman Uses CFP Snub as Motivation

Head coach Marcus Freeman says the Fighting Irish can't 'waste' the pain of missing the College Football Playoff in 2025.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:19pm

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After Notre Dame was left out of the 2025 College Football Playoff despite a 10-2 regular season record, head coach Marcus Freeman is using the snub as motivation for his team. Freeman says the Irish can't 'waste' the pain of that moment and must use it as a reminder to 'leave no doubt' this season. He wants his players to focus on the present and embrace the struggle to improve, rather than dwelling on the past.

Why it matters

Notre Dame's exclusion from the 2025 CFP was a disappointment for the program and its fans. Freeman's approach of using that as motivation, rather than letting it linger, could help the Fighting Irish bounce back and reach their goals in 2026.

The details

Freeman said the key is for Notre Dame to not 'blame somebody else' for the CFP snub, but to recognize that they 'left doubt' and need to ensure that doesn't happen again. He plans to occasionally remind the team of the 'pain of that situation' as a motivator, but wants the focus to be on being the 'best version' of themselves in the present moment.

  • In early December 2025, Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoff.

The players

Marcus Freeman

The head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

CJ Carr

The returning starting quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

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What they’re saying

“I think the way we use that is to not waste it. To not just blame somebody else for the situation that we were in. I believe you sleep in the bed you make. God is fair. We left doubt. We left doubt. So don't blame somebody else for the situation that we were in and know that we've got to remember that as we continue to prepare for this year.”

— Marcus Freeman, Head Coach (on3.com)

“Every once in a while, you reach back. But I think it's just a reminder to embrace the moment you're in. That's how great things, to me, occur is that, it's an accumulation of winning these moments. To win these moments, you've got to be in the moment. You hear me say that all the time.”

— Marcus Freeman, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

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