Notre Dame football steps into spotlight
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While Purdue and IU football have the allure of the new-look Big Ten to drive excitement, Notre Dame is preparing to grab the national spotlight by simply being one of the best teams in the nation.
Why it matters: The No. 7 ranked Fighting Irish are expected to have their strongest team since Marcus Freeman became head coach in 2021.
- Last season they went 10-3, including an impressive 5-1 record at home.
Driving the news: Notre Dame begins their pursuit of a 12th national championship on the road Saturday against No. 20 Texas A&M.
- Their home opener is Sept. 7 against Northern Illinois.
What they're saying: "We know it's going to be a challenge," Freeman said during this week's press conference. "It'll be a great environment, and we're looking forward to the opportunity to face another top 20 program Saturday night."
Zoom in: Fans will get a behind-the-scenes look at the program this season via "Here Come the Irish," a Peacock docuseries that follows the football team on and off the field.
- The first two episodes debuted yesterday. Episodes 3 and 4 go live Dec. 5; episodes 5 and 6 on Dec. 19; and the finale on Jan. 16.
- The series will feature interviews with members of the current coaching staff, former head coach Lou Holtz, and players including quarterback Riley Leonard and cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
- Peacock will also air all of Notre Dame's home matchups and the Shamrock Series game against Army at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 23.
Zoom out: Here's a look at the start of the season for Indiana's other D1 football programs.
Ball State Cardinals
Head coach: Mike Neu, 37–56 overall coaching record.
First game of 2024: 2pm Sept. 7 against the Missouri State Bears.
How 2023 ended: 3-5 in the MAC conference, 4-8 overall.
Butler Bulldogs
Head coach: Mike Uremovich, 47–53 overall coaching record.
First game of 2024: 1pm Saturday against the Upper Iowa Peacocks
How 2023 ended: 5-3 in the Pioneer League conference, 7-4 overall.
Indiana State Sycamores
Head coach: Curt Mallory, 20–47 overall coaching record.
First game of 2024: 12pm Saturday against the Purdue Boilermakers.
How 2023 ended: 1-7 in the Missouri Valley conference, 1-10 overall.
Valparaiso Beacons
Head coach: Landon Fox, 17–35 overall coaching record.
First game of 2024: 5pm Saturday against the Northern Iowa Panthers.
How 2023 ended: 2-6 in the Pioneer League conference, 3-8 overall.
Go deeper: The latest on Purdue, IU and the expanded Big Ten Conference.