How Marcus Freeman could make history with a Notre Dame win
The College Football Championship will take place tonight between the Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes and Notre Dame’s coach has the chance to make history.
The College Football Championship final comes to a head tonight as the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS SET 🏆
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 11, 2025
Who ya got, Notre Dame or Ohio State? 🌰☘️ pic.twitter.com/2XBDQmLtJY
Both teams finished their seasons strong, albeit with one confounding loss each. Regardless, in this new era of college football, they were still able to make it to this point. This final features two iconic teams with a long history of success in college football, so we are in for a treat when they face off this evening.
Another interesting storyline surrounds Notre Dame’s head coach Marcus Freeman, who would make history with a win tonight.
How Marcus Freeman could make history
If Notre Dame pulls off the win over Ohio State in the CFP final, coach Marcus Freeman would make history as the first-ever Black and Asian American coach to win the national title.
Freeman’s father is Black and mother is South Korean, and he has in fact already made history as the first coach of Black and Asian descent to be in a title game at all.
Marcus Freeman making history 💯 pic.twitter.com/ktSZesgQ0j
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 10, 2025
Despite the fact that half of the players in college football are Black, there are very few Black head coaches. Currently, just 16 of 134 coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision are Black and just two, including Freeman, who are Asian.
The NCAA is much further behind the NFL, NBA, and MLB when it comes to Black coaches. While Freeman himself is reluctant to “make it about himself”, it can’t be denied that this feat would be a huge milestone for college football.
When Marcus Freeman acknowledged becoming the first Black coach to advance to the national title game, some felt ESPN was injecting race into a moment where it shouldn’t be present.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 18, 2025
But Black coaches can tell you why it should be.
✍️ @davidubben https://t.co/fM80h0eAUZ pic.twitter.com/m4PzqJ2mdS
“If me being a Black and Asian head coach in the college football national championship gives others that opportunity, that’s awesome,” Freeman said. “I’ve always said this: I don’t want this to be about me. I want this to be about others, and about others getting an opportunity. And our team.”
Regardless of his humility, this is a historic moment and should be celebrated, as the need for more diversity in college football remains. In the year 2025, we are just now seeing a Black and Asian head coach fighting for a title, and that’s indeed a big deal. As a pioneer, Freeman is paving the way for future head coaches to have this and more opportunities.
The CFP final between Notre Dame and Ohio State kicks off tonight from Mercedes-Benz Stadium tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment