Looking back at it now, Brian Kelly and LSU might have done Notre Dame a favor.
It’s hard to argue with the results.
Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish are one win away from the program’s first national championship game appearance in 12 years.
Kelly’s stint at LSU, meanwhile, is drawing some comparisons to Jimbo Fisher’s disastrous tenure at Texas A&M after his second four-loss season in three years at LSU.
Kelly did a lot of good in South Bend, Ind. He had four top-10 finishes, seven seasons of 10 wins or more and is the school’s all-time winningest coach with 113 victories.
Nevertheless, he struggled against elite competition. In four major bowl games, Notre Dame went winless, losing those games by an average of 22 points.
That was highlighted by the 2012 BCS national championship game against Alabama, a 42-14 whipping. Kelly went 1-7 against top-five teams.
Freeman — a surprise hire in December 2021 since he had never been a head coach when Notre Dame promoted the then-defensive coordinator after Kelly bolted for LSU — hasn’t had the same problems.
He already owns 13 wins over top-25 opponents, including commanding College Football Playoff victories over No. 9 Indiana and No. 2 Georgia in recent weeks.
The most impressive aspect of this season is how Notre Dame responded after that stunning home loss to Northern Illinois as a 28-point favorite. Freeman accepted blame, offering no excuses.
He faulted himself and his staff for not having his players prepared.
“We’ve got to own this. Every coach. Every person in here. We all have to own this,” he said at the time.
Because the schedule didn’t include an elite team, there was immense pressure for Notre Dame the rest of the way.
It had to win every week and do so in impressive fashion.
The Irish got the job done and will enter Thursday night’s semifinal against Penn State with a 338-point differential, the country’s fourth-ranked scoring offense (39.4) and second-ranked scoring defense (13.6).
Last month, Notre Dame announced a four-year contract extension for the 38-year-old Freeman that extends through the 2030 season.
Since signing it, he has led the Irish to two of their biggest wins in several years.
Two more victories, and Freeman would instantly become a Notre Dame coaching legend.
The school should be grateful to Kelly for leaving. Who knows where this program would be had he stayed.
Look at Drew
The NFL will have its eye on Thursday’s Orange Bowl for one specific reason: Drew Allar.
The Penn State quarterback has already announced that he’s returning to college for his senior season.
But could another big performance change that? It is a weak quarterback draft.
The Athletic recently reported that several NFL general managers believe Allar may still enter the draft.
He had a solid season — throwing 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions and completing 67.4 percent of his passes.
It is conceivable that the 6-foot-5 Allar would be the first quarterback taken if he opts to go pro, especially if he can guide Penn State past Notre Dame and further showcase his ability against an elite defense.
Look at Ew’
There might not be a more intriguing figure in the two semifinal contests than Quinn Ewers, the Texas quarterback.
The Texan is looking to lead the Longhorns to their first national championship since 2005, and to get there, he has to get past his former school, Ohio State, in the Cotton Bowl on Friday.
Then there is his uncertain future.
Does Ewers go pro or transfer?
It’s very unlikely he will return to Texas, since the school appears ready to turn over the reins to Arch Manning.
Ewers didn’t have a great season considering the preseason Heisman Trophy hype, but he has performed well of late, particularly in the quarterfinals, when the junior threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns.
This is almost certainly it for Ewers as a Longhorn.
What better way to go out than as a champion.
Look at who?
No matter who wins it all, there will be a new champion.
Ohio State (2014) would be the most recent winner. Texas (2005), Notre Dame (1988) and Penn State (1986) have much longer droughts.
For a sport dominated by the likes of Georgia, Alabama and Clemson over the past decade, fresh faces are a positive development.
