When Marcus Freeman stepped up to the mic on Wednesday, it marked the first time we’d heard from the Notre Dame head coach since the Irish were left on the outside looking in when the College Football Playoff field was announced. And while the sting of that snub still lingers, Freeman made one thing clear: this team is already looking ahead - and they’re doing it with a chip on their shoulder.
Freeman didn’t sugarcoat the emotions that came with missing the CFP. “Shock and disappointment,” he said, summing up what he and his players felt when the final rankings dropped.
But that’s in the rearview now. The message going forward?
“Leave no doubt.” That’s the mantra for 2026, and it’s not just a catchy phrase - it’s a mindset.
There’s a certain fire that comes from being that close to the top and getting passed over. Freeman isn’t trying to bury that pain.
He’s embracing it. “Keep the pain,” he said, when asked how he plans to channel the emotion from the playoff snub.
For him and his team, that pain is fuel - a constant reminder of what happens when you leave the door open for the committee to say no.
Of course, Notre Dame had the option to play in a bowl game after missing the playoff cut. But Freeman and his players chose to sit it out - a decision that raised a few eyebrows.
Was there any regret? Not from Freeman.
He admitted that the initial call may have been emotional, but he kept going back to his players, asking if they wanted to reconsider. Every time, the answer was the same: no.
That kind of unity and clarity told Freeman all he needed to know - they were aligned as a team, and that decision, tough as it may have been, was the right one for the program.
Now, the focus shifts to the road ahead. The Irish know what it’s like to fall just short. And if Freeman has anything to say about it, they won’t be leaving anything up to chance next time.