Marcus Freeman starred at Ohio State. Now Notre Dame's coach is its biggest foe

Marcus Freeman was a former Ohio State star. Now the Notre Dame coach has to beat them in the national title game

Not that long ago, Marcus Freeman bled scarlet and gray. 

A linebacker for Ohio State from 2004-08, Freeman appeared in 51 games with 37 starts. He helped the Buckeyes reach the national title game twice and was part of four straight Big Ten championships. When he declared for the NFL Draft in 2009, he ranked 19th in program history with 268 tackles (140 solo). 

So when Freeman steps on the sideline ahead of the national championship game Monday night, the Notre Dame coach might feel a bit conflicted. After all, he’s trying to win the biggest trophy in college athletics — and stop his beloved alma mater from doing the same. 

Freeman, asked this week about facing the Buckeyes, quickly shot down the notion that his heart lies anywhere but South Bend. 

“This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school,” he said. “This is about this opportunity that lies right ahead of us.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/college-football/marcus-freeman-notre-dames-coach-rcna187701

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