Marcus Freeman Rides Historic Streak Into Coach Of Year Race

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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is already a top contender for coach of the year honors after a perfect 6-0 start. This is not just a good season; it is a historic run that has the entire college football world watching South Bend. According to Yahoo Sports, Freeman has landed on the 2026 Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List, a group that only includes the very best leaders in the game.

The numbers backing this rise are hard to ignore. In both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the Associated Press poll, the Irish hold the No. 2 ranking. Their defense is the stingiest in the nation, allowing just 214.2 yards per game. With a margin exceeding 25 yards over the nearest rival, the unit demonstrates true dominance. Offensively, they are scoring at a clip few can match, averaging 44.0 points per game and sitting fourth in the nation.

A Historic Win Streak

Freeman has built something special that goes beyond a single season. Since September 20, 2025, he has guided Notre Dame to 16 straight victories with double-digit scores. The FBS boasts no longer active double-digit win streak, and this marks the program’s all-time record. In college football history, this achievement sits tied for the third-highest rank ever. That kind of consistency is rare and proves he can keep winning year after year.

His overall record as a head coach stands at 49-12. He entered the 2026 season after guiding the team to a 10-2 record and a final No. 10 ranking last year. Under his leadership, the team has produced major individual awards too. Jeremiyah Love became the first-ever Doak Walker Award winner for Notre Dame, while Leonard Moore earned Unanimous All-American honors. These player achievements reflect directly on the coach’s ability to develop talent.

Why the Dodd Trophy Matters

The award itself looks for more than just wins. The Dodd Trophy recognizes head coaches who balance gridiron success with a commitment to scholarship, leadership, and integrity. Legendary coach Bobby Dodd built his philosophy upon these three core pillars. The award recognizes a program that upholds the highest standards on and off the field, honoring the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coach.

Freeman is not the only past winner on this list. He joins three other previous Dodd Trophy winners on the watch list: Curt Cignetti, Willie Fritz, and Kirk Ferentz. Freeman actually won the award in 2024, so he knows what it takes to get there again. Being named to this list this early in the season shows that his team is already operating at the highest level.

Dominance on Both Sides of the Ball

It is rare to see a team this good on both offense and defense. With only 11.0 points allowed per game, Notre Dame has the lowest total among teams that faced at least four Power Four opponents this season. The Irish have outscored their opponents by 198 points through six games. That is the second-best scoring differential in the country. Such a huge gap means the team is not just winning; they are blowing out the competition.

This level of performance puts Freeman in a unique spot. He is managing a team that feels like a machine. The combination of a top-ranked defense and a high-powered offense creates a team that is very hard to stop. Fans in South Bend have waited a long time for this kind of dominance, and Freeman is delivering it right now.

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