Notre Dame will play Rice in the home opener, then Michigan State at home before the Irish travel southwest to challenge in-state rival Purdue. The natural inclination is that this three-game stretch features three "easy wins". However, Freeman knows better than anybody that Notre Dame shouldn't underestimate early season opponents.

The offensive line at Notre Dame has always been a strength in the program. With Marcus Freeman, the strength has seemed to only be magnified, as he constantly preaches that games are won at the line of scrimmage. This season, Notre Dame will have the offensive line to dominate much of the line of scrimmage in almost every game.

There is little doubt that the renewal of the matchup would result in intense and passionate gridiron battles. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s former QB, won the coveted Heisman Trophy last season, and current betting odds show CJ Carr, Notre Dame’s current Sophomore QB, as this season's frontrunner Heisman candidate. A duel between Coach Cignetti and Coach Freeman would be riveting for sports fans as a whole. Hopefully, the near future will contain a Sycamore State showdown betw

An opposing coach who faced Carr and the Fighting Irish agreed with Freeman, saying, "he was good. He made some big-time throws against us that I was like, 'OK, that's an NFL arm.' I was more impressed with Jeremiyah Love, but he was poised. We tried to do some things to throw him off, and he was just smart. Like, for a younger player, smart, made some really good decisions, was never flustered. His future is super bright."