Considering Notre Dame is playing for its College Football Playoff life today, it felt strange for Marcus Freeman to answer questions about independence and his own job prospects this week. Yet, when No. 9 Notre Dame (7-2) faces No. 23 Pittsburgh (7-2) at Acrisure Stadium (Noon, ABC), there will be chatter beyond what happens after kickoff.
Freeman didn’t take the bait earlier this week when asked about his position on independence after Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire zinged Notre Dame last weekend. He didn’t have much to say about job prospects outside of Notre Dame either, even as he continues to pop up on hot boards and speculative lists around college football and the NFL. Freeman signed a lucrative contract extension with Notre Dame less than a year ago.
“I’m sure I’ve said before, like just because somebody else might be saying my name’s up for whatever job or being considered, that isn’t the noise that I’m going to put in my head or I need, that ain’t my noise,” Freeman said. “And so, I can address it directly, indirectly. If I’m going to spend time talking about something like that, I’ve got to make sure it’s in a way that it’s beneficial for the players, right? Your time in front of the players is so limited.”