JD Bertrand
Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman holds a helmet while posing for a portrait with University president John I. Jenkins and Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick during a news conference Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 at the Irish Athletic Center in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame formally introduced Freeman as its new football coach, a meteoric rise for the defensive coordinator. (Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP)
No. 5 Irish enjoy spirited workouts under new coach Freeman

By John Fineran Dec. 21, 2021 07:52 PM EST

FILE - Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman watches during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Navy in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Notre Dame is working on a deal to promote defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to head coach to replace Brian Kelly, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday night, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Notre Dame promotes Freeman, 35, to replace Kelly as coach

By John Fineran Dec. 03, 2021 09:24 AM EST

Notre Dame's Logan Diggs (22) runs past Georgia Tech's Quez Jackson (4) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame 11/20/2021

Nov. 20, 2021 04:21 PM EST

Navy quarterback Tai Lavatai runs withe the ball against Cincinnati during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
No. 8 Irish get ready for Navy's triple-option wizardry

By John Fineran Nov. 04, 2021 02:28 PM EDT

Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams (23) stiff arms a North Carolina defender for a 91-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
No. 8 Notre Dame renews long-time rivalry with Navy

By The Associated Press Nov. 04, 2021 02:11 PM EDT

Notre Dame wide receiver Avery Davis (3) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina , Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
North Carolina at Notre Dame 10/30/2021

Oct. 30, 2021 08:43 PM EDT

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) tries to leap over Notre Dame's Clarence Lewis (6) and Houston Griffith (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Cincinnati at Notre Dame 10/2/2021

Oct. 02, 2021 04:17 PM EDT

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell speaks with quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio) in Cincinnati, in this Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, file photo. Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell talks about the opportunity the No. 7 Bearcats have to impress the nation when they travel to South Bend, Indiana, to face No. 9 Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Bearcats coming: Marcus Freeman, Irish defense on the spot

By Caroline Pineda Sep. 29, 2021 04:50 PM EDT

Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams (23) runs in for a touchdown in front of Purdue linebacker Jalen Graham (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kelly ties Rockne as No. 12 Irish hold off Purdue 27-13

John Fineran Sep. 18, 2021 06:35 PM EDT

Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams (23) runs in for a touchdown in front of Purdue linebacker Jalen Graham (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue at Notre Dame 9/18/2021

Sep. 18, 2021 04:15 PM EDT

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly walks to a huddle as his team plays Toledo in the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. Notre Dame won 32-29. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Boilermakers hoping to be spoilers against Fighting Irish

By The Associated Press Sep. 16, 2021 01:30 PM EDT

Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm argues a call during the second half of an NCAA football game against Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Kelly has solutions for No. 12 Irish against visiting Purdue

By John Fineran Sep. 13, 2021 04:48 PM EDT

Fans tailgate before Toledo played Notre Dame in an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Toledo at Notre Dame 9/11/2021

Sep. 11, 2021 12:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 1, 2021, file photo, Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees talks with players during a timeout in the Blue-Gold NCAA spring football game in South Bend, Ind. The 2021 challenge for Rees is to improve considerably from last season’s scoring output of 33.4 points per game. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin, File)
No. 9 Irish opener at Florida State like 2019 at Louisville

By John Fineran Aug. 30, 2021 05:54 PM EDT

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly during Notre Dame Fall Camp on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, at Irish Athletics Center in South Bend, Ind. (John Mersits/South Bend Tribune via AP)
Freeman has new aggressive plan for Notre Dame defense

By John Fineran Aug. 11, 2021 03:58 PM EDT