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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
