Marcus Freeman ranked fourth among college football coaches by ESPN
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 10, 2026, 5:20 PM
Last updated Jul 10, 2026
ESPN has ranked Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman as the fourth-best head coach entering the 2026 season. He trails only Curt Cignetti of Indiana, Kirby Smart of Georgia, and Ryan Day of Ohio State. This ranking is supported by Freeman's impressive record, including five bowl wins since 2022 and a 10-game winning streak in the past two years. Analysts suggest that Freeman's position might improve if Notre Dame performs well in the upcoming College Football Playoff. The recognition follows Freeman's inclusion in the preseason Dodd Award watch list.
- •Freeman is ranked fourth by ESPN among college football coaches.
- •He has five bowl wins since 2022, the most among FBS coaches.
- •Freeman's team is expected to contend for the College Football Playoff.
- •He joined the Dodd Award watch list ahead of the 2026 season.
- 5:20 PMYahoo Sports — ESPN ranks Marcus Freeman as a top coache in college football
"ESPN recently ranked its top head coaches entering the 2026 season and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman was extremely high on their list.
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