Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman isn’t mincing words when it comes to the annual rivalry with USC. The coach is someone who said that he’s long thought that the rivalry was very important to the sporting world. He knew that the Trojans and Irish playing every year was big for the college football world in general.
Freeman also clarified that he doesn’t care what part of the season they play the rivalry game, as long as it gets played. It was the most direct comment anyone from the program has made since rumors that the series might be going away started circling social media a few weeks ago.
Jaden Greathouse is someone Marcus Freeman is looking at for a breakout
If there are any players returning for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish that more people are excited about, it would have to be wide receiver Jaden Greathouse. The veteran wideout had a relatively quiet 2024 season until the team got to the playoffs.
In those playoffs, Greathouse found a way to stand out from the pack. During a meeting with local media on Thursday, head coach Marcus Freeman talked about Greathouse and made it clear he believes it could be a massive, massive season in part because he realized how to make himself a weapon even against the best opponent.
More important than that, Freeman thinks the Irish coaching staff learned how to use Greathouse. Because of all that, he thinks 2025 could be huge for the veteran Notre Dame star.
Defense isn’t a concern for Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Greathouse wasn’t the only player Freeman talked about on Thursday. He was also asked about the defensive line and singled out Jordan Botelho and Boubar Traore among the most important pieces.
Freeman said that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense is deep enough that he thinks if Botelho and Traore are able to come back and be healthy, the defensive front is going to be plenty good.