As the college football season nears, college football analyst Paul Finebaum has voiced confidence in Marcus Freeman, calling Notre Dame anything but revamped. Last year, the Irish bounced back from an early loss, punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff with a late-season surge.
Freeman’s squad then took down Indiana, upset Georgia, and outlasted Penn State in the Sugar and Orange Bowls. Meanwhile, Penn State’s James Franklin continues to draw fire. Despite reaching the CFP and posting double-digit wins, his struggles against elite competition remain a glaring concern among critics and fans alike.
Finebaum Confident in Notre Dame’s CFP Future Under Freeman, Critiques Franklin’s Record With Penn State
During an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Paul Finebaum clarified his stance. Under head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame remains a serious threat in the College Football Playoff.
Notre Dame made a deep postseason run last year, falling just short in a narrow loss to Ohio State in the national championship. Freeman’s squad had previously secured wins over Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State. Looking ahead, Notre Dame faces the challenge of replacing quarterback Riley Leonard and several key defensive pieces.
Still, Finebaum is undeterred.
.@finebaum says Notre Dame will make it back to the CFP this season 👀
“The reason is the head coach. Marcus Freeman is elite.” pic.twitter.com/8upCcvxFHC
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 24, 2025
“Yes, and the reason is the head coach. Marcus Freeman is elite,” Finebaum said, emphasizing Freeman’s ability to lead the Irish back into Playoff contention. “He showed that last year, beating and out-coaching James Franklin in the crunch at the Orange Bowl. It was brilliant, it was a masterclass, and he nearly pulled it off against Ohio State,” Finebaum explained.
“He has done more with less talent than anyone in college football, so therefore, even though this team has serious question marks. They have a difficult schedule opening with Miami, I think he will find a way to mold them and push them back into the Playoff and maybe a decent run,” he continued.
This season, Notre Dame has games scheduled against Miami (FL) (to start the year), Texas A&M, Purdue, Arkansas, Boise State, NC State, USC, Navy, Pitt, and Syracuse, among others.
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Sharing the segment was ESPN’s Heather Dinich, who expressed a strong belief in Penn State’s roster entering the 2025 season.
“Yes, it is. It is loaded on paper,” Dinich said when asked if this is Franklin’s best team to date. “There’s no reason for Penn State not to contend for the national title.”
.@CFBHeather believes this is the best Penn State team they’ve had in the modern era 😯
“There’s no reason for Penn State not to contend for the national title.” pic.twitter.com/TbpgPM7f9c
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 24, 2025
She praised both coordinators- Andy Kotelnicki on offense and Jim Knowles on defense — while highlighting quarterback Drew Aller, who was expected to be a first-round NFL Draft pick.
Dinich also mentioned offensive weapons Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, along with defenders Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Still, Finebaum disagreed.
“James Franklin and Penn State will not win the national championship,” he said. “It has nothing to do with the team. They’re excellent. They’re fantastic. It’s the best team that he has had, but they still have the problem that they’ve had since James Franklin arrived from Vanderbilt. They have James Franklin as the head coach.”
Despite a 101-42 record across 11 seasons, Franklin’s critics cite missed opportunities in key games. In 2024, Penn State lost all three contests against top-five opponents: 20-13 to Ohio State, 45-37 to Oregon in the Big Ten title game, and 27-24 to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.
This season won’t be a cakewalk for the Nittany Lions. They begin the season on August 30 against Nevada, host Oregon, travel to UCLA, go to Ohio State, host Indiana, and have a date against Nebraska.
