The 2024 season is the critical Year 3 for Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame.
Freeman’s predecessor, Brian Kelly, went 12-0 in the regular season and appeared in the BCS National Championship Game in his third season with the Fighting Irish. Lou Holtz, the last Notre Dame head coach to win a national title, did so in his third campaign in 1988.
Freeman went 9-4 and 10-3 in his first two years in South Bend, capping both seasons off with bowl victories. With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams in 2024, the pressure will be on to secure Notre Dame’s first appearance in the event since 2020.
The good news for the Fighting Irish is they are set up for success this fall. Notre Dame returns several critical starters on defense, including safety Xavier Watts, a unanimous All-American and Bronco Nagurski Trophy winner in 2023.
On offense, the Irish lose tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, but have a deep group of potential reinforcements at both spots. Speaking of reinforcements, Notre Dame landed one of the top transfer quarterbacks in Duke’s Riley Leonard, as well as several key wide receivers out of the portal for him to throw to.
Additionally, the Fighting Irish schedule for 2024 is conducive to a big year. Anything less than double-digit wins would be a disappointment.
We’re still six months away from actual games, but for now, here’s how we see Notre Dame’s 2024 season unfolding.
At Texas A&M (Aug. 31)
A tough first test for the Irish. The Aggies disappointed in 2023 but have plenty of talent, and new head coach Mike Elko is generating buzz. Elko knows both programs well, having been the defensive coordinator at ND in 2017 and A&M from 2018-21. He also coached Leonard for the last two seasons at Duke, where he nearly pulled off an upset of the Fighting Irish last September.
Elko gets that upset here. Behind a raucous home crowd, the Aggies knock off a top 10 Notre Dame team in a close one. Record: 0-1.
NIU (Sept. 7)
The heat is officially on, and Freeman and the Irish have little margin for error now the rest of the way. They won’t need it for this game, as NIU provides little resistance in the home opener. Record: 1-1.
At Purdue (Sept. 14)
Notre Dame and Purdue renew their longtime in-state rivalry with the Irish’s first trip to West Lafayette since 2013. The Boilermakers will be fired up for this one, but ND’s talent is too much. Record: 2-1.
Miami (Ohio) (Sept. 21)
Another home game against an overmatched MAC opponent, another Irish win, though the Redhawks and ex-Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin went 11-2 in 2023 and might at least prove pesky for a while. Record: 3-1.
Louisville (Sept. 28)
No doubt Notre Dame has this game circled on its calendar. In 2023, the Irish went into Louisville with a 5-1 record and were beaten soundly in primetime, ending their Playoff hopes. The Cardinals should begin the season in the top 25, but Freeman and Co. get their revenge this time, led by Leonard and the passing game. Record: 4-1.
Stanford (Oct. 12)
Coming off a bye, there will be no letdown loss at home to the Cardinal like there was in Freeman’s first season two years ago. Notre Dame romps in one of its annual rivalry matchups. Record: 5-1.
At Georgia Tech (Oct. 19)
The Irish will play their first of two straight games at an NFL venue when they face the Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A powerful rushing attack, led by sophomore Jeremiyah Love, will propel ND to its sixth win in a row. Record: 6-1.
Navy (Oct. 26)
Once again, Notre Dame will face the Midshipmen at a neutral site. Last season, it was in Ireland, while this time around the rivalry matchup is set for the Swamps of Jersey and MetLife Stadium. The result is the same as 2023: a Notre Dame blowout. Record: 7-1.
Florida State (Nov. 9)
Off a second bye, the Fighting Irish return to South Bend for their Game of the Year. Expect the Seminoles to also come into this one highly-ranked and having College Football Playoff hopes. If neither team has more than one loss coming in, could this be the site for College GameDay? Record: 8-1.
Virginia (Nov. 16)
If this game was on the road, we’d say beware the letdown coming off the massive win over FSU. However, playing at home will allow the Irish to settle in and get comfortable before pulling away. Record: 9-1.
Army (Nov. 23)
Notre Dame and Army at Yankee Stadium hearkens back to a different era. It’s fitting these two programs will meet in the Bronx this fall for the 100th anniversary of Grantland Rice and the Four Horsemen.
This year’s Fighting Irish backfield isn’t quite that legendary, but it’s plenty good, and Love, Jadarian Price and Gi’Bran Payne all get in the end zone in a rollicking victory at the “House that Ruth Built.” Record: 10-1.
At USC (Nov. 30)
Heading into the finale against their arch rival, Notre Dame finds itself virtually locked into a Playoff spot, but needing a win to secure a first round home game.
Unfortunately, the nearly three-month long win streak ends at the Coliseum, as Lincoln Riley and the Trojans exact some payback for last year’s embarrassing blowout loss. Miller Moss leads last-minute scoring drive for the W. Record: 10-2.
Overall, a disappointing start and a painful finish with plenty of good times in between. Notre Dame’s 10-2 record is a one-game improvement on 2023 and good enough for one of the final spots in the 12-team CFP field.