UHND.com - Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting

I wasn't even super angry about this loss as it was happening (which is a bad sign) because, sadly, it was almost a validation of all of our worst fears from three years ago when we hired a first-time head coach. It was the first time during Freeman's tenure that I really thought that he just might never get over the hump at Notre Dame. And if he doesn't we are in for more mediocrity for years to come.

Unless this thing really goes off the rails, I don't see Notre Dame making a move this year. I think we'd have to go like 7-5 or 6-6 for a change to be considered by the University - no inside info there at all, just my assumption based on the situation. But let's say Notre Dame goes 9-4 again. If that happens, with this roster, I think we all will know how this eventually ends. And after Saturday, 9-4 or better is no longer a given.

So let's think about the disaster scenario for a minute. Let's say Notre Dame goes 9-4 or 8-5 and decides on one more year of Freeman. Recruiting for 2025 and 2026 will fall off a cliff. There'll be multiple decommits for next year and the class of 2026 that looked so promising is going to end up being ranked in high teens/low 20s. So by the time ND potentially makes a move, we're looking at maybe 2027 or 2028 until ND could seriously challenge again. And that's IF Notre Dame could lure an elite coach which we haven't really see the University be able to do in four of the last five head coaching searches. (TBF to Kelly he was considered the best coach available at the time).

Until Saturday, I didn't think that a disaster scenario was a possibility. After Saturday, sadly I think it's now a possibility. And that's what makes this loss more deflating than infuriating to me.