Marcus Freeman on Notre Dame's mindset vs. Virginia: 'This game's the Super Bowl'

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are getting ready to make a push for the College Football Playoff. With that, head coach Marcus Freeman is looking to keep his team focused on the task at hand, which starts with the final home game of the season against Virginia on Saturday.

Ahead of the game, Freeman explained that he wants his team to treat the Virginia game and every other game like it’s a Super Bowl. Given how few opportunities are available over the course of a season, it’s how he wants every game to be approached with that kind of intensity.

“Every game, this game’s the Super Bowl,” Marcus Freeman said. “No matter if we were in the Playoff hunt or not. It’s the same mindset we have. You get 12 of these guaranteed opportunities. I told the team in the locker room, we’re guaranteed one more opportunity here in Notre Dame Stadium for these seniors. To think about anything other than that, you’re doing this game a disservice. They work 300 days a year for 12 guaranteed opportunities no matter if this game determines if we make the playoffs or not.”

As of now, Notre Dame is ranked eighth in the College Football Playoff Selection Committee rankings. That puts the Irish fairly firmly in the field. However, a loss in the final weeks of the season could cost the Irish, so the focus does need to be on the task at hand.

“Coming from a player, coming from a coach, this is what you work for all year long,” Freeman said. “To make a game mean less than another game because you’re going to make the Playoff or not, you don’t love this game of football, man. That’s the mindset we have. Every week is the Super Bowl.”

Beyond just making it to the College Football Playoff, there are experts who believe that the Irish can make noise in the postseason. One of those analysts, Greg McElroy, has even said that this Notre Dame team is capable of winning a national championship. However, the Irish will have to get there first and that means avoiding an upset against Virginia.

Kickoff for Notre Dame and Virginia is currently scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 16th. For the Irish, a win would be another step toward the College Football Playoff. For the Cavaliers, a win would get them to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2021.