Brian Kelly leaving ND for LSU

[Birdman]

Hearing that Notre Dame was very worried that Freeman was going to leave so may not be entirely sad that Kelly left as many at the school feel Freeman is the future of ND football.  Freeman is being discussed as a front runner right now as well, which lends some credence to that.  Still think Fickell is going to be a prime candidate though and that worries me as a UC grad.

I live bout 50 minutes from Cincinnati & word is ND may be after Fickell..u know ND will offer more money

[Celtics2021]

Hearing that Notre Dame was very worried that Freeman was going to leave so may not be entirely sad that Kelly left as many at the school feel Freeman is the future of ND football.  Freeman is being discussed as a front runner right now as well, which lends some credence to that.  Still think Fickell is going to be a prime candidate though and that worries me as a UC grad.

I live bout 50 minutes from Cincinnati & word is ND may be after Fickell..u know ND will offer more money

There's no way Fickell stays at UC if he has his choice.  Notre Dame would definitely be the best for him because he at least knows some of the geography ND recruits.  The talk of him going out West or to the Deep South always seemed suspect to me, because he's not a national name that kids and high school coaches will know, so he'd have to start building a lot of relationships quickly.  And that's generally a recipe for failure.   (He'd still have to recruit nationally with ND, but ND sells itself to a degree).

But he wants a bigger brand than UC, and will go to whichever of them is willing to have him.  My guess is ND, but I could also see Tennessee making a big offer for him if Heupel returns to Oklahoma.

[Donoghus]

There's about a 2% chance of it happening but ND making & winning the CFP with an interim coach would be the ultimate irony.

[Moranis]

It is pretty common knowledge that there are two jobs that Luke Fickell would have a very hard time turning down if offered.  Notre Dame is one of those 2 jobs (the other is obviously Ohio State).  Which is why as a double alumni of Cincinnati, the news of Kelly leaving last night was tough to hear because it meant that Fickell was a real possibility to leave, and Fickell is an awesome coach that has been awesome for Cincinnati.  The two things working against him leaving both relate to timing, though of different sorts.  First, it would be absolutely stunning if Fickell left Cincinnati before the playoffs, so if they beat Houston (and they should as it is a home game and they are the better team), the earliest he'd leave for Notre Dame is basically January, which puts Notre Dame way behind in recruiting, planning, etc., especially if Freeman, their uber recruiter, leaves the program when he doesn't become head coach.  The second timing issue is that Cincinnati is headed to the Big 12, which should allow for better recruiting, more dollars, more exposure, and an easier time making the playoffs (even in a non-OU/UT Big 12), which makes Cincinnati a more desirable job and thus staying more desirable. 

And do not discount Freeman.  He is a rising coaching star that is a mega-recruiter.  Notre Dame's recruiting classes have been epic this year and next year and it is almost solely because of Freeman.  If he doesn't stick around that could really derail what Notre Dame is building, which is why Notre Dame is giving him a very hard look at becoming coach.  He is very young at 35, but we've seen both Oklahoma and Ohio State have established coaches leave and turn the program over to a young rising star with great success.  That isn't to say the new coach wouldn't keep Freeman (they probably would), but I do think if Freeman is passed over he very well might end up as a head coach somewhere else as early as next year, and that would be a big blow to ND. 

[tazzmaniac]

It is pretty common knowledge that there are two jobs that Luke Fickell would have a very hard time turning down if offered.  Notre Dame is one of those 2 jobs (the other is obviously Ohio State).  Which is why as a double alumni of Cincinnati, the news of Kelly leaving last night was tough to hear because it meant that Fickell was a real possibility to leave, and Fickell is an awesome coach that has been awesome for Cincinnati.  The two things working against him leaving both relate to timing, though of different sorts.  First, it would be absolutely stunning if Fickell left Cincinnati before the playoffs, so if they beat Houston (and they should as it is a home game and they are the better team), the earliest he'd leave for Notre Dame is basically January, which puts Notre Dame way behind in recruiting, planning, etc., especially if Freeman, their uber recruiter, leaves the program when he doesn't become head coach.  The second timing issue is that Cincinnati is headed to the Big 12, which should allow for better recruiting, more dollars, more exposure, and an easier time making the playoffs (even in a non-OU/UT Big 12), which makes Cincinnati a more desirable job and thus staying more desirable. 

And do not discount Freeman.  He is a rising coaching star that is a mega-recruiter.  Notre Dame's recruiting classes have been epic this year and next year and it is almost solely because of Freeman.  If he doesn't stick around that could really derail what Notre Dame is building, which is why Notre Dame is giving him a very hard look at becoming coach.  He is very young at 35, but we've seen both Oklahoma and Ohio State have established coaches leave and turn the program over to a young rising star with great success.  That isn't to say the new coach wouldn't keep Freeman (they probably would), but I do think if Freeman is passed over he very well might end up as a head coach somewhere else as early as next year, and that would be a big blow to ND.

Fickell would be stupid to worry about timing if he wants the ND job.  Top job offers don't come around that often.  You have to take advantage of them when they do.  You may be a hot commodity one year and a bum the next.   ND has made the playoffs 2 of the past 3 seasons and might make it again this season.  They have a good shot to make the playoffs now and will have a better shot when the playoffs expand. 

ND would be taking a big chance on Freeman who has no head coaching experience and only 1 year at ND.  To call his recruiting epic is overblown.  ND won't finish in the top 5.  They generally finish in the 10 to 15 range.  They'll probably finish 7 or 8 in 2022 class assuming they don't have much loss with Kelly leaving. 

[Moranis]

It is pretty common knowledge that there are two jobs that Luke Fickell would have a very hard time turning down if offered.  Notre Dame is one of those 2 jobs (the other is obviously Ohio State).  Which is why as a double alumni of Cincinnati, the news of Kelly leaving last night was tough to hear because it meant that Fickell was a real possibility to leave, and Fickell is an awesome coach that has been awesome for Cincinnati.  The two things working against him leaving both relate to timing, though of different sorts.  First, it would be absolutely stunning if Fickell left Cincinnati before the playoffs, so if they beat Houston (and they should as it is a home game and they are the better team), the earliest he'd leave for Notre Dame is basically January, which puts Notre Dame way behind in recruiting, planning, etc., especially if Freeman, their uber recruiter, leaves the program when he doesn't become head coach.  The second timing issue is that Cincinnati is headed to the Big 12, which should allow for better recruiting, more dollars, more exposure, and an easier time making the playoffs (even in a non-OU/UT Big 12), which makes Cincinnati a more desirable job and thus staying more desirable. 

And do not discount Freeman.  He is a rising coaching star that is a mega-recruiter.  Notre Dame's recruiting classes have been epic this year and next year and it is almost solely because of Freeman.  If he doesn't stick around that could really derail what Notre Dame is building, which is why Notre Dame is giving him a very hard look at becoming coach.  He is very young at 35, but we've seen both Oklahoma and Ohio State have established coaches leave and turn the program over to a young rising star with great success.  That isn't to say the new coach wouldn't keep Freeman (they probably would), but I do think if Freeman is passed over he very well might end up as a head coach somewhere else as early as next year, and that would be a big blow to ND.

Fickell would be stupid to worry about timing if he wants the ND job.  Top job offers don't come around that often.  You have to take advantage of them when they do.  You may be a hot commodity one year and a bum the next.   ND has made the playoffs 2 of the past 3 seasons and might make it again this season.  They have a good shot to make the playoffs now and will have a better shot when the playoffs expand. 

ND would be taking a big chance on Freeman who has no head coaching experience and only 1 year at ND.  To call his recruiting epic is overblown.  ND won't finish in the top 5.  They generally finish in the 10 to 15 range.  They'll probably finish 7 or 8 in 2022 class assuming they don't have much loss with Kelly leaving.

Recruiting class ranks from rivals pre-Freeman (5 stars)
2020 - 22nd (1)
2019 - 14th (0)
2018 - 11th (0)
2017 - 13th (0)
2016 - 13th (1)

Now here are the 2 with Freeman

2021 - 9th (1)
2022 - 4th (0)

And the super early commits from 2023
2023 - 2nd - 6 recruits all 4*

Freeman has revitalized Notre Dame's recruiting.  They haven't had that level of success on the recruiting trail in a very long time.  2013 was their last top 10 finish.  They haven't had back-to-back top 10 finishes since 2007 and 2008 (2006 was also top 10).

[tazzmaniac]

It is pretty common knowledge that there are two jobs that Luke Fickell would have a very hard time turning down if offered.  Notre Dame is one of those 2 jobs (the other is obviously Ohio State).  Which is why as a double alumni of Cincinnati, the news of Kelly leaving last night was tough to hear because it meant that Fickell was a real possibility to leave, and Fickell is an awesome coach that has been awesome for Cincinnati.  The two things working against him leaving both relate to timing, though of different sorts.  First, it would be absolutely stunning if Fickell left Cincinnati before the playoffs, so if they beat Houston (and they should as it is a home game and they are the better team), the earliest he'd leave for Notre Dame is basically January, which puts Notre Dame way behind in recruiting, planning, etc., especially if Freeman, their uber recruiter, leaves the program when he doesn't become head coach.  The second timing issue is that Cincinnati is headed to the Big 12, which should allow for better recruiting, more dollars, more exposure, and an easier time making the playoffs (even in a non-OU/UT Big 12), which makes Cincinnati a more desirable job and thus staying more desirable. 

And do not discount Freeman.  He is a rising coaching star that is a mega-recruiter.  Notre Dame's recruiting classes have been epic this year and next year and it is almost solely because of Freeman.  If he doesn't stick around that could really derail what Notre Dame is building, which is why Notre Dame is giving him a very hard look at becoming coach.  He is very young at 35, but we've seen both Oklahoma and Ohio State have established coaches leave and turn the program over to a young rising star with great success.  That isn't to say the new coach wouldn't keep Freeman (they probably would), but I do think if Freeman is passed over he very well might end up as a head coach somewhere else as early as next year, and that would be a big blow to ND.

Fickell would be stupid to worry about timing if he wants the ND job.  Top job offers don't come around that often.  You have to take advantage of them when they do.  You may be a hot commodity one year and a bum the next.   ND has made the playoffs 2 of the past 3 seasons and might make it again this season.  They have a good shot to make the playoffs now and will have a better shot when the playoffs expand. 

ND would be taking a big chance on Freeman who has no head coaching experience and only 1 year at ND.  To call his recruiting epic is overblown.  ND won't finish in the top 5.  They generally finish in the 10 to 15 range.  They'll probably finish 7 or 8 in 2022 class assuming they don't have much loss with Kelly leaving.

Recruiting class ranks from rivals pre-Freeman (5 stars)
2020 - 22nd (1)
2019 - 14th (0)
2018 - 11th (0)
2017 - 13th (0)
2016 - 13th (1)

Now here are the 2 with Freeman

2021 - 9th (1)
2022 - 4th (0)

And the super early commits from 2023
2023 - 2nd - 6 recruits all 4*

Freeman has revitalized Notre Dame's recruiting.  They haven't had that level of success on the recruiting trail in a very long time.  2013 was their last top 10 finish.  They haven't had back-to-back top 10 finishes since 2007 and 2008 (2006 was also top 10).

I use 247sports composite not Rivals but what I said was correct.  Going from averaging 13th to 9th is not epic.  2020 is an outlier with all the COVID recruiting restrictions.  Some teams were impacted much more than others.  Also, a big reason the 2021 class was ranked higher is because there were 27 commitments which was more than any team in the top 20 besides Bama.  The big difference being in quality of recruit with Bama's class had 7 5-stars and 16 4-stars whereas ND's class had 0 5-stars and 12 4-stars.  Oklahoma was right behind ND and they only had 16 recruits. 

2022 is the current class and not at all finished.  ND is 4th because they have more commitments than most other teams.  As more players commit, 3 or 4 teams would have jumped ND in the rankings. 

No reason to mention 2023 as it is so far away with so few recruits committed.  Only 47 teams even have 1 player committed so far.  Also those players haven't even finished their junior season.  The player rankings will be very different a year from now. 

[Moranis]

Guess ND agreed with me.  Freeman has been named head coach.