Notre Dame, Ind. – Another year, another road trip to kick off the season for Notre Dame. The Irish haven’t started a season in South Bend since 2019, and Sunday night’s showdown with Miami will be Marcus Freeman’s third straight opener away from home as head coach.
Quick Hits:
- Notre Dame opens the season on the road for the fifth straight year
- Freeman said he embraces the challenge, calling it an “us against the world” mentality
- The Irish are 0–6 in their last six trips to Miami, including a loss in 2017
- Road openers have become routine: Ohio State (2022), Navy in Ireland (2023), Texas A&M (2024)
- Freeman believes road starts sharpen focus and eliminates distractions
Freeman Embraces the Road
Asked if he likes starting seasons away from home, Freeman admitted he would prefer Notre Dame Stadium but welcomed the challenge.
“I embrace it. Would I rather start at home? I think you always would rather play at home, no matter when you get the opportunity. But there’s something about going on the road, man,” Freeman said. “It’s you against the world. It’s your group, right? There’s no distractions. It’s just you guys. And you’re taking your show on the road versus a great opponent at night. What a way to start college football season.”
Freeman added that opening in a primetime game against a ranked opponent is exactly why players come to Notre Dame.
“That’s what you go to Notre Dame for. That’s why you come to coach at Notre Dame, to play in games like this throughout the year, but especially Week 1. Night game, prime time, everybody’s watching you versus a heck of an opponent. That’s what any competitor wants.”
A Familiar Script
Since Freeman arrived as defensive coordinator in 2021, Notre Dame has grown accustomed to leaving South Bend for the opening weekend:
- 2021 (DC) – vs. Florida State (Tallahassee)
- 2022 (HC) – at Ohio State
- 2023 – vs. Navy (Dublin, Ireland)
- 2024 – at Texas A&M
- 2025 – at Miami
That stretch has turned road openers from occasional to expected.
“When you have a huge matchup Sunday night versus a great opponent, I think it raises the anticipation. There’s no lack of motivation. Our guys are extremely driven, focused, motivated, and hopefully more than anything, you have some great practices as you lead up to that game,” Freeman said.
History in Miami
Notre Dame has plenty of history at Hard Rock Stadium — but not much success against Miami on the road.
“We were 0-6 the last six times we played down there,” Freeman noted. “We’ve been to Hard Rock Stadium, but the environment we know will be completely different than it was for the Orange Bowl. And so we’ll be prepared for that and we know the challenge that is at hand.”
The Irish last played a true road game at Miami in 2017, a lopsided loss that remains fresh in the minds of many fans.
What It Means
Notre Dame will once again start a season in hostile territory, but Freeman insists his team is built for the challenge. With captains and leaders established and CJ Carr named the starting quarterback, the Irish enter Sunday night’s showdown prepared for both the pressure and the stage.
