Notre Dame football: Would Brian Kelly take Marcus Freeman to LSU?
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football is reportedly losing head coach Brian Kelly to LSU, and one big question is whether or not he takes Marcus Freeman with him.
On Monday, it was reported that Notre Dame football head coach Brian Kelly would be leaving South Bend, agreeing to a job with the LSU Tigers. The Tigers are a few years removed from winning a national title, but things have soured in the Bayou when it comes to head coach Ed Orgeron, and the two parties parted ways this season.
Now, Kelly will head to LSU to try and win a national title of his own, something he was unable to do during his time with the Notre Dame football team. Losing Kelly is a monstrous blow to the program, one that appeared to be on the brink of becoming a legitimate national title contender.
Also, the Irish will now have to worry about losing his top assistant coach, Marcus Freeman, who is widely regarded as a head coach in waiting.
Notre Dame football could lose both coaches
When Lincoln Riley bolted Oklahoma for USC, he took a bunch of his coaches with him, which could be the case here with Freeman and Kelly. LSU tried their hardest to get Freeman to be their defensive coordinator this past offseason, but he eventually landed in South Bend and has turned the defense into an elite unit.
In the past four games, the Irish have allowed only 23 total points, including 14 the last time out against Stanford. That stretch has put them in line to possibly make it to the College Football Playoff for the second straight season, which was something that seemed impossible after the loss to Cincinnati.
If Freeman does bolt South Bend for LSU with Kelly, it would be devastating for the program moving forward. Freeman was a catalyst in bringing some top recruits to the program in 2022 and 2023, and if he leaves, you have to think some of those elite prospects could go with him.
For the Irish, it will be a waiting game.