The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a clear line separating them from other programs: their values. Head coach Marcus Freeman is vouching that Notre Dame can win without offering lucrative NIL deals. 

“I think it it for us like the players we’re recruiting,” Freeman said on July 1. “It's not going to be a decision based off money, right? Like put money aside. Do you see the value in everything outside of football here?”

His take comes as Notre Dame fully embraced the play-for-pay schemes and is relying on heavy financial backing. According to a report by ON3, the school has been a top spender in college football this time around. 

A Big Ten manager, competing against the Fighting Irish, reportedly said that the program increased an offer from $400,000 to $450,000 to secure a commitment. However, many of the Fighting Irish’s commits were not Big Ten targets necessarily. 

For example, Julius Jones Jr., Albert Simien, Olu Olubobola and Abraham Sesay’s final groups did not involve names like Ohio State, Indiana, or Michigan. Freeman is well aware that he and his program hold little chance against these big names in the recruiting standoff. 

Even if the Fighting Irish were to spend money above at level or above their playing field, Freeman wants to take in players who don’t value NIL deals foremost.

“Because the same things…that we are going to show young people about the game of football are the same things that the top schools in the country are going to continue to sell about their program,” he said on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward. “And so we have to continue to show them why you do certain things differently here, why it's this small school, but the value of it.”

This is where Notre Dame’s 4-for-40 model comes into play. Their pitch to recruits is simple: play for years, earn a degree from a program committed to academic excellence and find success for the next 40 years. 

Freeman has laid out the guiding principles for the his future in the programs. Not just for the recruits but himself too. 

“plan on being here a long time”: Marcus Freeman shares honest thoughts on offers from NFL

Marcus Freeman arrived at South Bend in 2021. Since his taking over, the program has held a 43-12 overall record. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have made 5-2 postseason bowl appearances. 

His success and functionality earned him offers from the NFL and he too gave them a chance. In the conversation with Cam Heyward, Freeman revealed the epiphany those NFL interviews offer gave him.

“I listened, I was intrigued what the opportunity would be like in the NFL, and ultimately I declined to interview anywhere because … I needed to hear those things and talk to those teams to know I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I want to retire one day from (Notre Dame). … But this is such a special place, I plan on being here a long time.” 

Freeman is certain on what kind of a squad he wants to builds. Will NIL overshadow his aimed principles for the team? 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar