While taking a mild step back from flaming the ACC, Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua marched two paces forward to draw a line in the sand on the topic of keeping his head coach.
Marcus Freeman led the Irish to a 10-2 record in 2025 as the encore to the national championship game appearance in January. His extended run of success caught the attention of NFL teams in February, and Bevacqua banks on others pushing toward the front of the line again to bid on the 39-year-old.
“Everybody has eyes on Marcus,” Bevacqua said. “College has eyes on Marcus; NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus. … He’s the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop, one of the greatest college coaches in the country.”
Market value for top-tier coaches at elite college football outposts hit a new stratosphere with Lane Kiffin jumping to LSU last month and in the process joining Georgia’s Kirby Smart in the $13 million club. Smart, according to the USA Today coaching salary database, is the highest-paid coach in college football, but Kiffin just closed the gap.
Since being hired by Bevacqua’s predecessor, Jack Swarbrick, to replace Brian Kelly in 2022, Freeman is 43-12. Smart is 51-5, with two national titles, and enters the 2025 College Football Playoff with the best record in college football over the past four seasons.
Last season, Freeman and the Irish sent Georgia home from the College Football Playoff with a 23-10 decision in the Sugar Bowl.
The game was played after Freeman signed a four-year contract extension that runs through 2030. Bevacqua said Tuesday the program and Freeman share the understanding that his contract will be updated to keep his salary among the highest in the game. It’s part of a commitment, the AD said, the program considers a vow to never let Freeman doubt his importance to the Fighting Irish.
“I can say with 100% certainty he feels that way, and Notre Dame is totally aligned around the importance of college football for Notre Dame,” Bevacqua said. “I make sure that he knows that he will be where he deserves to be, and that is at the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation every year.”
