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Notre Dame fans, media blast Marcus Freeman after embarrassing loss to Northern Illinois
By Mark Kern
Published:
Notre Dame had one of the biggest wins in the country in Week 1, as it went and won on the road to knock off Texas A&M.
On Saturday, it was a completely different feeling for coach Marcus Freeman as the Fighting Irish were knocked off at home, 16-14, by Northern Illinois in one of the biggest upsets in recent college football memory.
While the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams this year, Notre Dame is at a disadvantage as they aren’t in a conference. That already means they can’t finish in the top 4, and now with this loss, it will be a challenge for Notre Dame to make the CFP. The team doesn’t have a ton of big matchups that would help the team late in the season, so Freeman and his team are likely going to have to run the table to be in the conversation.
As you can imagine, Notre Dame fans and media were voicing some loud frustrations on social media after the defeat.
Yeah Brian Kelly made the playoff 3 times and is the best coach in modern Notre Dame history but have you considered that Marcus Freeman is very handsome (just ignore the multiple losses to MAC teams)
— Ben Alterman (@ben_alterman) September 7, 2024
Lmao Marcus Freeman has lost to Marshall, NIU, and a terrible Stanford squad at home in his tenure. You Notre Dame fans need to shut up bout Brian Kelly for awhile
— … (@myteamzstink) September 7, 2024
Marcus Freeman gotta go too @NDFootball
— Mark Dope (@JustB3ingHonest) September 7, 2024
Why does Marcus Freeman never have his team prepared to play against inferior teams. Time and time again it happens. Unacceptable https://t.co/treBBMpTY2
— ErikOzman (@ErikOzman) September 7, 2024
Marcus Freeman should be fired. This
And
Marshall
This is the best roster we have had in recent memory, and he can't get his team ready to play. They always play to the level of the competition
NIU Hell of a game by you guys.— Joshua Engels (@JoshuaEngels3) September 7, 2024
Don't let that Riley Leonard interception distract your from the fact that Marcus Freeman called 3 pass plays in a row while winning in the 4th quarter with 6 minutes to go.
— Jack (@Jack2925_) September 7, 2024
Marcus Freeman has lost to Northern Illinois, Marshall and a 3-9 Stanford team all at home in his three years as Notre Dame head coach.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 7, 2024
That is the worst loss in Notre Dame football history.
Marcus Freeman losing to Northern Illinois at home in his third season as a 28-point favorite is something that should end his career as Notre Dame’s head coach.
It is something for which you cannot recover.
— Walker Carey (@walkerRcarey) September 7, 2024
Marcus Freeman has lost to Northern Illinois, Marshall and a 3-9 Stanford team all at home in his three years as Notre Dame head coach.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 7, 2024
Everyone loves Marcus Freeman but by this point in his career as a head coach Notre Dame should be beyond these types of flat performances against clearly inferior teams. It just happens way way way too often.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 7, 2024
There is still a lot of season left, but the Fighting Irish have their work cut out for them now. They have to make sure that this 1 loss doesn’t turn into another and snowball.
Notre Dame hits the road next week to take on the Purdue Boilermakers. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET from West Lafayette.
