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Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman made his team’s case to make the College Football Playoff after their 49-20 win Saturday night against the Stanford Cardinal.
The Fighting Irish came into the game ranked No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings with much debate swirling over whether they deserved to be put higher than the No. 12 Miami Hurricanes.
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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman reacts on the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stanford, California. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Freeman said that the Fighting Irish’s growth over the season proved they should be considered.
“We have improved as much as anybody in the country, been playing as well as anybody in the country and we have, in my opinion, the best player in the country,” Freeman said. “That’s what you want. You want the best teams in the country now. Who’s the best teams for the playoffs right now? I truly believe we’re one.”
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Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) is tackled by Stanford safety Charlie Eckhardt (39) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stanford, California. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Notre Dame doesn’t have a conference championship to play for because they’re independent. The only team ahead of them to lose during the holiday weekend was No. 3 Texas A&M. It’s unclear if the win over the Cardinal would be enough to move them up.
The Fighting Irish moved to 9-2 on the season.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love rushed for 66 yards and scored his 21st touchdown of the season, breaking Jerome Bettis’ record for overall touchdowns and tying Audrice Estime’s record of 18 rushing touchdowns in a season.
Love had an injury scare that caused him to leave the game for a bit. He said he suffered a bruise.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, center, gestures from the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stanford, California. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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The final College Football Playoff rankings will be released next week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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