Marcus Freeman elevates Notre Dame football, exceeding the Brian Kelly era with CFP victories and a whole new vibe.

Four of the five Notre Dame coaches who have won national titles did so in their third seasons. Marcus Freeman, now in his third season, could join them this month.

Coach Marcus Freeman says Notre Dame will treat this week like any other game week but that the Irish have to "expedite the preparation" with two fewer days to get ready than Penn State for the Orange Bowl.

Notre Dame football won its 11th consensus national championship in 1988 under Lou Holtz and is three wins from ending that 36-year title drought.

Freeman's predecessor, Brian Kelly, went 0-2 with Notre Dame in the CFP. Clemson rocked the Irish 30-3 in the semifinal in 2018. Alabama crushed Notre Dame 31-14 in the semifinal in 2020. When Kelly jumped ship to take the LSU job before the 2022 season, he listed "winning championships" as a reason he took the job with the Tigers.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman speaks on his team's mindset following the terror attack in New Orleans on Wednesday

When No. 6 Penn State and No. 7 Notre Dame take the field Thursday for their College Football Playoff semifinal in the Orange Bowl, head coaches James Franklin and Marcus Freeman will be on the brink of history.

A junior from Philadelphia, Abdul Carter is 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds of menace off the edge for Penn State football.

Al Golden was once a candidate to be Penn State's head coach. Now, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator will try to end the Nittany Lions' College Football Playoff run.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman found similarities between his team and the Penn State Nittany Lions ahead of the Orange Bowl.