'About Us': Marcus Freeman Sends Message To Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman joined "College GameDay" to discuss what he learned from last year's matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman is playing against the Ohio State Buckeyes for the second time in his young coaching career.

Last season didn't go according to plan in his first-ever game since putting on the headset. However, Freeman joined "College GameDay" Saturday morning and revealed what his message was to the "special" team he has for the rematch against the Buckeyes.

"I tell these guys all the time: this is about us reaching our full potential," Freeman said. "There's many different ways we have to go out there and execute that, but this really is about us. It's about what we do, and can this group reach its full potential against a great opponent tonight at 7:30."

Sept. 3, 2022, was a hectic day in Columbus, Ohio. Not only were the Buckeyes looking to get back to the College Football Playoff after settling for a Rose Bowl victory the year prior, but their first defense of Ohio Stadium was against a top-five team in the country.

While Ohio State had pressure, there was plenty on the opposite sideline as well. Freeman was coaching in his first game while returning to the campus where he played three seasons, made two national championship appearances and racked up 139 career tackles.

"I think you go into your first game of your first season at your alma mater, there's a lot of distractions and a lot of noise that really doesn't dictate the outcome of the game," Freeman said. "For me, to go fast forward into year 2, going into Week 5 for us, the experience there's no substitution for. And so, to be able to say you can turn down the volume of the noise that really doesn't dictate the outcome of the game and focus on the things that matter."

Freeman told his team to soak in the pregame atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday.

"This is special," Freeman said. "I told our players to embrace it but once we go back in to that locker room, turn down that noise and let's get ready to go play this game."