Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is stepping into the analyst chair for ESPN’s College GameDay on Monday, Jan. 19, as the show sets the stage for the national championship clash between No. 1 Indiana and No.
10 Miami. With kickoff set for 7:45 p.m.
ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, GameDay coverage will begin at 5 p.m., and Freeman will be right in the mix, offering insights from a coach who’s faced both contenders.
Freeman’s presence on the broadcast is more than just guest commentary-it’s a full-circle moment for a coach whose team has had a front-row seat to the rise of both programs this season. Notre Dame handed Indiana a 27-17 loss in the opening round of last year’s inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. That win was a statement, showcasing the Irish’s physicality and game-planning against a Hoosiers team that has since climbed to the top of the rankings.
On the flip side, Notre Dame opened its 2025 campaign with a narrow 27-24 loss to Miami-a game that carried more weight than anyone realized at the time. That early-season stumble proved costly, as it ultimately gave the Hurricanes the edge in the final CFP rankings released on December 7, pushing Notre Dame out of the playoff picture.
So when Freeman takes his spot on set Monday evening, he won’t just be offering generic takes-he’ll be breaking down two teams he knows intimately. His insights will come from game-week preparation, sideline adjustments, and the kind of film study only a head coach can provide. Expect him to shed light on how Indiana’s disciplined approach has evolved since their playoff loss, and how Miami’s explosive playmakers managed to edge his squad in a tight September showdown.
Freeman’s appearance also helps quiet some of the noise surrounding his future. With nine NFL head coaching jobs opening up in recent months, his name had surfaced in several speculative conversations. But Freeman made it clear this week that his focus remains in South Bend.
“I've said this before, that individual recognition, individual success, NFL interest-those are all reflections of team success and where this football program is,” Freeman said Wednesday when asked about his 2026 plans. “I've used some of the interest from the NFL to personally gain wisdom from maybe some of the GMs or the front office executives that you get a chance to talk to about your players, but also about what they view as a successful coach.”
It’s a measured response from a coach who’s still building something in South Bend-and who clearly values the opportunity to grow, even when the NFL comes calling.
Freeman’s connection to College GameDay is part of a long-running relationship between the iconic show and the Fighting Irish. The program made its debut at the 1993 showdown between No.
1 Florida State and No. 2 Notre Dame, a game the Irish won 31-24 in one of the most memorable clashes of the decade.
Since then, GameDay has broadcast 12 games from Notre Dame’s campus in South Bend, each one a high-stakes, high-profile matchup that helped shape the college football landscape.
Here’s a look back at those GameDay appearances at Notre Dame:
- Nov. 13, 1993 - No.
1 Florida State at No. 2 Notre Dame (Irish won, 31-24)
- Sept. 10, 1994 - No.
6 Michigan at No. 3 Notre Dame (Wolverines won, 26-24)
- Oct. 21, 1995 - No.
5 USC at No. 17 Notre Dame (Irish won, 38-10)
- Sept. 28, 1996 - No.
4 Ohio State at No. 5 Notre Dame (Buckeyes won, 29-16)
- Sept. 5, 1998 - No.
5 Michigan at No. 22 Notre Dame (Irish won, 36-20)
- Sept. 9, 2000 - No.
1 Nebraska at No. 23 Notre Dame (Cornhuskers won, 27-24 in OT)
- Oct. 15, 2005 - No.
1 USC at No. 9 Notre Dame (Trojans won, 34-31)
- Oct. 13, 2012 - No.
17 Stanford at No. 7 Notre Dame (Irish won, 20-13 in OT)
- Sept. 1, 2018 - No.
14 Michigan at No. 12 Notre Dame (Irish won, 24-17)
- Nov. 7, 2020 - No.
1 Clemson at No. 4 Notre Dame (Irish won, 47-40 in double OT)
- Sept. 23, 2023 - No.
6 Ohio State at No. 9 Notre Dame (Buckeyes won, 17-14)
- Dec. 20, 2024 - No.
10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame (Irish won, 27-17)
That history adds another layer to Freeman’s appearance. He’s not just representing Notre Dame as a coach-he’s stepping into a role that reflects the program’s long-standing relevance in the national conversation.
And with Indiana favored by 8.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, Monday’s title game promises to be a fascinating chess match. Freeman’s breakdowns will be must-watch TV for fans looking to understand what makes these teams tick-and what it might take to knock off the top-seeded Hoosiers.
One thing’s for sure: when Marcus Freeman talks football, people listen. And on Monday night, he’ll have the mic.