It’s a question you know Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman has heard before. He’s going to keep hearing it as well.
At least, he will as long as Notre Dame holds its status as independent in the world of college football.
It’s the age-old question for Notre Dame football. The Fighting Irish have been independent since 1899. They’ve been heavily courted by multiple conferences in the past, though.
The Big Ten has tried to get Notre Dame football. The ACC is always seemingly giving it a shot. The old Big East also tried to make a run at the Fighting Irish in the ’90s.
It makes sense, too, from a conference perspective. But does it make sense for Notre Dame to join a conference?
That’s the question Freeman has certainly heard before. He was asked again by Taylor Lewan on a recent episode of the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast.
“I think there’s advantages to being in a conference, and there’s advantages not being in a conference. There’s a lot of positive things that trust me, nobody was complaining about when we made the Playoffs the year before,” Freeman said (h/t On3).
Marcus Freeman still believes in independence for Notre Dame
Although there would certainly be advantages for Notre Dame, specifically as it relates to the College Football Playoff, it’s worth noting that Freeman didn’t sound convinced that joining up with a conference would be best.
“The Independents… we look at it as a positive,” he explained. “Listen, we lost two games and didn’t make the Playoffs. So, if our administration ever feels like we are truly at a competitive disadvantage by not being in a conference, I’m sure we’ll join a conference. But, we just shouldn’t have lost two games. Simple as that.”
Freeman is right in saying that if Notre Dame ever joins up with a conference like the Big Ten, SEC or ACC, that will be a decision that will come from far above even his pay grade. Ultimately, those conversations will be centered around revenue and television dollars.
Those two losses he mentioned are an interesting sticking point, though. One of the positives of independence for Notre Dame is that the Fighting Irish can schedule marquee matchups at their own discretion.
If they win those games, it looks really good to the CFP selection committee. If they lose, though…well, we saw the results of that in 2025.
The Fighting Irish lost to No. 10 Miami and No. 16 Texas A&M to start the season before winning out. In the meantime, the national champions, Indiana, played Old Dominion and Kennesaw State to start the 2025 season.
That’s the disadvantage for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish don’t have the built-in strength of schedule that being in a conference would provide.
Even with that said, it is interesting to hear that Freeman, at least, thinks independence is still an advantage for the Fighting Irish.
