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Marcus Freeman Rides Historic Streak Into Coach Of Year Race

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is cementing his case for 2026 Coach of the Year honors with a historic start to the season. The Irish have begun the year with a flawless 6-0 record, including a dominant 58-7 victory over Stanford, and now sit atop multiple national polls as the nation’s second-ranked team.

Freeman’s defensive unit leads the FBS in stinginess, surrendering just 214.2 yards per contest, while the offense averages 44.0 points per game—ranked fourth nationally. Beyond the win-loss column, Freeman has extended Notre Dame’s streak to 16 consecutive double-digit victories since September 2025, a program record and the longest active streak in FBS history.

His overall coaching record stands at 49-12, and his ability to develop elite talent has been on full display, with players like Jeremiyah Love (2025 Doak Walker Award winner) and Leonard Moore (unanimous All-American) leading the way. Freeman’s inclusion on the 2026 Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List underscores his dual excellence on and off the field, as the award recognizes coaches who balance success with leadership and integrity—a standard Freeman already met when he won the trophy in 2024.

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