yankton_net
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman relishes the strategic back-and-forth that each college football season brings. He particularly enjoys it when the Fighting Irish take their talents to opposing stadiums.
While Freeman appreciates the tradition and atmosphere of playing at home in South Bend, with its iconic Touchdown Jesus and passionate fans, he finds a distinct appeal in road games. "Let's go play against the best on their home field, in their environment, where it's us against everybody," Freeman said on Monday, showing a rare flash of intensity. "I kind of like it there. Obviously, I love playing at home, but there's something about going on the road when it's us against everybody and it makes you say, 'OK, we've got to do this together,' and I love it."
That next opportunity arrives Saturday when the second-ranked Irish (6-0) put their 16-game winning streak on the line against No. 8 BYU (5-0) in one of two top-10 matchups this weekend. The other features undefeated No. 5 Indiana hosting No. 4 Ohio State in a rematch of last year's Big Ten championship game. All four teams are vying for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
For Notre Dame, which opted out of a bowl game last season after being snubbed by the CFP selection committee, this is their first—and perhaps best—chance to prove they can contend for their first national championship since 1988. It also represents the toughest test so far for BYU.
Freeman, now in his fifth full season as Notre Dame's coach, knows what to expect. The crowd will be loud and hostile because when Notre Dame travels, it's always the opponent's biggest game. "Like this is what Notre Dame football does," Freeman said. "We go into different places, and it's a big game and that's what we expect. That's why we're here. That's why we choose to come to Notre Dame. We love this. I love it, they love it, like this is exactly why we're at Notre Dame."
This trip will be somewhat unusual for the Irish players and coaches. The teams last met in 2022 in Las Vegas, with Notre Dame winning 28-20. But this one is in Provo, Utah, a city that sits 4,551 feet above sea level and where the Irish have only played twice—winning 45-20 in 1993 and losing 20-17 in 2004. Freeman has been researching best practices for playing at altitude and recovering from it. He may even consult cornerback DJ McKinney, who spent his previous two seasons at Colorado.
The unknowns don't bother Freeman. He's ready to hit the road. "Part of it is the competitor inside who you are," he said. "You want to play against the best and you know this is going to be, on paper, the best opponent we're going to see, to date. I love it. They love it because they're competitors. So let's go do it."
Key Analysis
Freeman's embrace of road challenges reflects a strategic mindset that could serve Notre Dame well in its pursuit of a playoff berth. The game against BYU not only tests the Irish's physical and mental toughness but also provides a platform to showcase their championship credentials. With altitude and a hostile environment in play, how Notre Dame adapts could reveal much about its ceiling this season.
Originally reported by yankton_net.