Live updates: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman Nov. 21 press conference

It’s Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman‘s final Monday press conference of the regular season, and it’s a big one. The first-year Fighting Irish skipper previews his team’s matchup with No. 5 USC (10-1).

It’s the first time since 2017 both No. 13 Notre Dame (8-3) and the Trojans are ranked at the time of kicking off against each other. Follow along below with live updates of Freeman’s presser, which begins at 12 p.m. ET.

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Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman Nov. 21 press conference live updates

• Freeman jokes he gave special teams coordinator Brian Mason a hard time for the five-game punt block streak snapping vs. Boston College. He was impressed with the way the Irish won the field position battle, though.

• Players of the game vs. Boston College: Zeke Correll, Benjamin Morrison, Blake Grupe.

• Freeman says he spent time this morning talking to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees about the Notre Dame vs. USC rivalry. “It goes back many years … There is a different feeling about this one. I can feel it amongst our players and program.”

• Freeman says he was able to sneak a peak at USC vs. UCLA when he got home from the Irish’s win over Boston College.

• Freeman says the special thing about USC quarterback Caleb Williams is he has a unique knack for breaking tackles. “You have to stay in the rush lanes, but you can’t play cautious.”

• Freeman says the defensive mindset in going against Williams is “controlled aggression.”

• Freeman says USC head coach and offensive guru Lincoln Riley is great at mixing up tempo. There are times when the Trojans move at “mach speed,” but there are other times when they slow it down intentionally.

• Freeman says the difference in sophomore wide receiver Deion Colzie’s game lately is that he is finally healthy. He’s able to take what the coaches are telling him to do and perform with no limitations.

• What concerns Freeman about USC’s high-flying offense? “Everything.” He says it all starts with Williams, though.

• Freeman says the most valuable lesson he’s learned from last year’s trip to Stanford to this year’s trip to USC is that it’s never going to be perfect, but continuous work leads to “success on the horizon.”

• Freeman says he feels he has grown a lot with understanding the offensive side of the ball as a head coach from Ohio State to now facing USC. The game plan going against a top tier offense is not the same as it was for Notre Dame now as it was back in the first week of September.

• Senior corner Cam Hart is questionable with a shoulder injury. Isaiah Foskey is probable, Mitchell Evans is probable.

• Notre Dame freshman quarterback Steve Angeli did not play in a 44-0 blowout of Boston College because the Irish are trying to retain his redshirt. He can play against USC and in the bowl game and still do that now.

• Graduate student defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola and senior safety Brandon Joseph are probable. Freshman wide receiver Tobias Merriweather remains questionable (concussion).

• Freeman was asked about the contrasting styles of USC and Notre Dame. “For us to have success, our o-line and d-line have to play really well on Saturday.”

• Freeman says Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne is excited for this opportunity to go toe-to-toe vs. one of the best offenses in the country.

• Freeman says he tells prospective skill players Notre Dame is recruiting, “If you’re good enough to come in here and play, you’re going to play. Look at Ben Morrison.”

• Freeman says the postgame messaging hasn’t changed much after losses vs. after wins. “Trust us. Trust what we are going to do in terms of our preparation and how we’re going to get you ready, but challenge everything.”

• Freeman says the team will have a Thanksgiving meal Thursday with the team and any families that are in town. “Our personal families and our football families. We’re all family.”

• Freeman says he is thankful for his players and how much he loves coaching them. He says he’s thankful for the authenticity of the relationships he has with his assistants. And he quips, he’s thankful for the media, too.

• Freeman says freshman corner Jaden Mickey is better for the ups and downs he has gone through as a first-year player. “This is going to help him.”

• Freeman on the transfer portal: “If used right, it can be really good for college athletics.” He says if Notre Dame is not the right fit for someone for a valid purpose, he helps that person leave. “The only thing I don’t want it to encourage is, ‘When things get hard, you run for the portal.'”

• Freeman says Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner’s status for a bowl game is to be determined. He says there “will be no hesitation” to play Buchner next month if he’s 100 percent healthy and ready to go.

Marcus Freeman ends his Monday press conference by saying he’d love for Notre Dame to host a College Football Playoff game in South Bend in the future.

“If the weather is like it was last Saturday, that is an advantage for us.” pic.twitter.com/OMCUNgSRgv

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) November 21, 2022