The question of Notre Dame's independence — meaning the Fighting Irish aren't attached to a conference — was brought into the foreground ahead of the Orange Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between Marcus Freeman's team and James Franklin's Penn State Nittany Lions.

In December 2024, Freeman’s contract was extended for four more years, with an average annual salary exceeding $9 million. This extension came as a reward for his impressive performance, leading Notre Dame to a 29-9 record over three seasons, including two bowl wins and a College Football Playoff berth.

Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame football team are two wins away from claiming the program’s first national championship since 1988, but Freeman is collecting hardware before the College Football Playoff semifinals can even begin.