Marcus Freeman choked once more.
In what’s turning into a trademark of Notre Dame beneath Freeman’s watch, the Irish blew a sport that they had no enterprise dropping on Saturday in opposition to Northern Illinois (2-0).
No. 5 Notre Dame (1-1) misplaced 16-14 as NIU kicked the profitable subject objective with 31 seconds remaining.
Notre Dame’s 62-yard try on the last buzzer was blocked, giving Freeman one other embarrassing residence loss so as to add to his resume.
As The Athletic’s Chris Vannini famous afterward, the Irish additionally misplaced in 2022 at residence to Marshall and Stanford, the latter of which completed that season 3-9.
The Motion Community’s Brett McMurphy added that the Irish had been 16-point favorites in opposition to the Cardinal and 20-point favorites in opposition to the Thundering Herd, making Saturday’s loss to the Huskies the largest upset of the Freeman period.
Notre Dame was favored by 28 factors coming into the sport in opposition to NIU.
One loss as a two-possession favourite for a head coach is dangerous sufficient, however three is inexcusable.
Taking part in all the way down to its competitors has turn into ingrained in Notre Dame’s id with Freeman. It is not a virus; it is a part of this system’s code.
Notre Dame had a golden path to the playoff, however that is gone up in smoke. Even in a 12-team playoff, a loss to a Mid-American Convention crew could possibly be disqualifying.
Nevertheless, the Irish have larger issues than their playoff hopes. Notre Dame has a head coach who routinely comes up quick in video games that should not be main hurdles.
Freeman ought to have moved past these struggles. Good coaches do. In any case, Nick Saban misplaced to UL-Monroe in his first season as Alabama head coach, solely to go on to win six nationwide titles with the Tide.
However Freeman hasn’t improved from his first season as head coach. As a substitute, he is constructed Notre Dame right into a crew the place there is no such factor as a straightforward win.