Notre Dame football: 3 bold predictions for the Irish in 2023

1. Notre Dame wins a New Year’s Six bowl

A couple of seasons ago, Marcus Freeman took the reins of the program right before the Fiesta Bowl as Brian Kelly left suddenly for LSU. It looked like he was on the verge of picking up his first win as head coach of the Irish, racing out to a 28-7 lead over Oklahoma State in the first half.

But then things crumbled for Notre Dame and Freeman looked like a first-time head coach in the second half. That three-touchdown lead melted away and Oklahoma State came back to win, 37-35.

You just know that game kept Freeman up at night all offseason heading into 2022. And after he lost to Ohio State and Marshall to start his first full season, he probably thought he would never win a game as head coach.

Notre Dame won eight of its next nine games and Freeman became much more comfortable in his head coaching position. The Irish made the Gator Bowl and took down South Carolina.

What a bounce-back.

Freeman and Co. will take it one step further in 2023 and get back to a New Year’s Six bowl and avenging that 2021 game will be on the mind. He’ll do just that, picking up his second straight bowl win and first New Year’s Six victory as Notre Dame head coach.

What a roller-coaster Freeman’s coaching career has been.