There was a time when Notre Dame football fans worried that head coach Marcus Freeman might eventually depart South Bend for Columbus and Ohio State. In recent years, the focus of where Freeman might go has changed from OSU to the NFL. So how do prominent Fighting Irish alums and media personalities feel? Are the Buckeyes still a program that could eventually steal Freeman away if Ryan Day leaves for greener pastures?
Scarlet & Game's Andrew Hughes recently spoke with several Irish luminaries at the 2026 American Century Championship about Freeman's future. Chief among those key people were NBC Sports' on-field reporter, Kathryn Tappen, former star quarterback Joe Theismann, and former star running back Jerome "The Bus" Bettis.
While none of the three could rule out the Notre Dame coach eventually leaving for the Big Ten power, all three agreed that if it happens, it won't be anytime soon. Tappen summed up what the trio thinks is best. She believes Freeman will stay in South Bend at least until he wins a national title or it becomes clear it's never going to happen.
“Marcus is probably getting, I don't know what's going on behind closed doors, but I'm sure there are a lot of teams that were interested and probably wanted to make an offer to him," she told Hughes. "But he believes in Notre Dame. I love that he stands by this program. I think, quite frankly, Marcus is not going to leave Notre Dame until he wins a national title, and he probably will... think Marcus will go if he wants to go to the NFL. When or if he goes, good for him. And it just means he's doing a great job where he's at, that all of these NFL teams are interested in him."
Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame football future looks safer than old Ohio State fears suggested
She also knows that while Freeman has a special place in his heart for Ohio State, the two jobs are different enough that he may not even want to coach in Columbus these days.
"I guess it would be a timing thing for Marcus if it did open up, but again, the Ohio State football team is very different than the Notre Dame football team. I think what he's got at Notre Dame, and having covered Notre Dame for gosh, I mean, I don't even know, 13 years, 14 years now, it's a unique place…Marcus is extremely spiritual. His family really loves it there. He has a lot of pride. I think that is a perfect fit for him right now, and I don't think he's even thinking about Ohio State."
Bettis echoed many of Tappen's sentiments, saying he doesn't believe Freeman would leave for just any job. He thinks Ohio State is still a possibility, but not something that shines as a beacon like it once did. He also believes that while the NFL might call the Irish head coach, he won't take just any job at that level.
The consensus among those Hughes spoke with is that, at some point, Notre Dame will have to address Marcus Freeman's departure. However, unlike some coaches in his position, he doesn't have one foot out the door, and it would have to take an incredible offer to pull him away.
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