Everything Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said Sunday after final CFP rankings reveal

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman spoke to reporters for about 15 minutes Sunday following the final College Football Playoff rankings reveal. Here’s everything he said.

Opening statement

“(I’m) extremely excited for this opportunity to play the first-ever home playoff game in Notre Dame Stadium versus a really good opponent. We haven’t been able to study much on them yet. (We) just briefly started looking at them. But obviously, to go 11-1 — have done a great job in the Big 10 and as a program this year.

“So, exciting times. Our guys are a little bit relieved that we have direction into, obviously, who we’re playing now as we get back into preparation mode for an opponent. So, looking forward to this great opportunity.”

On the the injury statuses of freshman linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love and graduate student defensive lineman Howard Cross III

“Kyngstonn will still be — he’ll be out for right now. I don’t know when, right now, he’ll return. He’ll be out indefinitely right now. But Jeremiyah and Howard are both expected back.”

RELATED: Notre Dame injury updates on Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Jeremiyah Love and Howard Cross III

On the Notre Dame exam schedule and how that will affect the team’s practice schedule

“It’s obviously something we’ve been working on from the beginning of the year, even in the summer. We started to have conversations with the academic side, the provost. We have exams during the game week, and we’ll also be able to practice like we would any other week. 

“It’s just understanding it’s a little bit different week with — you’ll have your block for when you’ll be able to practice, and then knowing that you have exams in the afternoon to make sure you’re ready for. 

“Again, that’s one of the challenges of playing in the playoffs: the week of exams. But again, our guys will be prepared for both their exams and the game.”

On the relief of being in the College Football Playoff while knowing the overall goal of winning a national championship

“We’ve always had a goal of reaching our full potential, and that doesn’t change. Our mindset is to prepare in a way, that on Friday, when we play, we’re ready to play at the highest level we can. We’re prepared to play against a really good opponent.

“So, relieved isn’t probably a word I’ve used just as much as we have direction in terms of who we’re playing. As we start the season, we know that making the playoffs was a goal of ours. But it’s here. We knew that after the USC game. I think more than anything, there’s just a direction now because of an opponent that we know we have to play.”

On the strength and conditioning plan of Loren Landow, considering it could be the longest season in program history

“You look at it in different cycles or different seasons throughout the year. When he was first hired, you go through winter conditioning to get them ready for 15 practices of spring ball. Getting them as strong and as fast (as you can), but also in football shape. 

“And then after spring ball, you give them a couple of weeks until the end of school to get some workouts in, some testing in and then the summer conditioning and summer workouts — getting ready for a season. 

“He’s done an unbelievable job — the ability to tailor our workouts based off the loads from games. Based off of, do we have a bye week coming up? And all those different things (they) are situations that he’s stayed ahead of the curve. 

“I wouldn’t say we’ve changed anything in terms of thinking about, ‘Hey, let’s tailor this workout for the playoffs.’ What we had to do is, as soon as the USC game was over say, ‘Okay, what are we going to do this week?’ 

“We didn’t really get on a practice field until Saturday, but we needed to make sure that physically, they were staying in shape, in the weight room, running on a practice field, so that we didn’t lose all those gains we’ve made during the season. 

“Now we’re into practice mode. Obviously, we’ll get back to practicing for an opponent starting this week. Loren’s done an unbelievable job at really making sure our guys are ready, but also not just ready, but physically and even mentally, ready for the week and ready to maximize their physical bodies.”

On the biggest gains senior quarterback Riley Leonard has made since the Aug. 31 Texas A&M game until now

“One is the confidence. And that might not be the answer you’re looking for. But I think going from where you were Week 1 to where you were Week 2, and realizing, ‘Okay, this is the best it’s going to be, and this is the worst it’s going to be.’ And understanding, like, if I can put that stuff behind me and really focus on enjoying and maximizing this opportunity as a quarterback at Notre Dame, then I should. And that’s what he’s done.

“His confidence has grown. His understanding and knowledge of the offense, but also the understanding and knowledge that (offensive coordinator) Coach (Mike) Denbrock has in Riley and saying, ‘Okay, how do we do what your players do well, right?’ 

“I’ve always said that our job as coaches is to put our guys into positions to succeed based off of their athletic skills, their mental and physical talents. I think all those things combined have really put Riley in the situation that he’s in in our offense.”

On if he can speak to feeling any sense of accomplishment for getting to the College Football Playoff

“I think you took a little bit of time after the USC game to reflect on the season. Obviously, how it started, the highs and the lows, but the ability for this team to improve. I think we have improved as you watch us throughout the season. All three phases have continuously improved, no matter who the opponent is. That’s what you truly aspire to do, as you talk about a 12-game regular season schedule.

“As far as this season. I mean, yeah, we wanted to, obviously make it to the playoffs, but, we understand that this team has an opportunity to do some great things. We just have to focus on really giving ourselves the best opportunity to do that. That’s in how you prepare and physically and tactically for a game, and that’s what we got to do. 

“At some point, we’ll look back and say, ‘Wow, look what we accomplished this season.’ But right now, I think we’re all just focused on preparing for this next opponent.”

On his thoughts of Indiana’s success to make the College Football Playoff after changing coaches in one year

“Coach has done a wonderful job to take this program, to win 11 games in the Big 10 and in a Big 10 season, and to have this team ready to make a run in the playoffs; it’s a credit to coach. I didn’t know much about him. I took a minute and Googled him and looked at some of the things he’s done in the past at his other places. He’s won everywhere he’s been. So he’s done a great job. We expect a great opponent. 

“I’ve just briefly started looking at them. They’re a talented team that really takes care of the football, right? They play complimentary football. Their defense is a pressure-attacking defense that really makes you earn everything you got and you get. The offense has done a good job taking care of the football, being consistent at what they do and done some really good things in red zone. 

“That’s just my initial look at them. Obviously, we have a few days to really take a deep dive and figure out a plan of attack as we get ready for a Friday game.”

On the value of facing a USC team that has had success throwing the ball against Notre Dame, considering Indiana is the top passing efficiency team in the country

“USC was a really good offense that did some good things in the passing game, made some plays. I think our guys are able to look at that game and see where some of our mistakes were. Some of that, you have to take your hat off to that opponent and to those players and that team.

“But our guys will be ready to go. The stats show that this offense is extremely — has done a really good job at the passing game and a passing attack. So, it will be a great opportunity for us to come up with a good plan and go compete on Friday.”

On if he spent time watching college football on Saturday

“I did. I got a little bit of time to watch the Texas-Georgia game. You know, it’s hard to just truly focus on a game when you have six kids running around the house and being crazy. But I did get a chance to peek at some of that game, the ending of that game. Then started to watch some of the Big 10 game, but I couldn’t stay up too long. I started to get tired, so I went to sleep.”

On how they handled the possibility of being the five-seed

“At first, you thought you had a good idea of, ‘Hey, if there’s no upsets, here’s probably where we’ll be seeded, where we play, who will play. But as you started thinking about, if this team wins, and this team wins. Like, it became too confusing to figure out who you’re going to play.

“So we had a brief scouting report on everybody that we thought possibly could make the playoffs, but we did not dive too much into it. As you got into today, you started understanding probably there’s about three teams you got a chance of playing, and Indiana was one. As soon as we got the official announcement, we started getting to work, getting prepared for these guys.”

On if the Chicago Bears rumors linking him to their head coaching vacancy has popped up on his personal radar more lately

“I thought it was brought up a couple of weeks ago at the press conference. With team success comes individual success, but that’s nothing that has took any of my attention away from preparing for these playoffs.”

RELATED: Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman comments on Chicago Bears rumors

On playing an opponent from the state

“Man, if we could have chosen, I think you would want a team that maybe comes from 80-degree weather. But, listen, we’ll have a home-field advantage just because of the first-ever playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium. Our crowd — it’s going to be crazy. I can’t wait for it. The weather obviously isn’t going to give us a huge advantage with them not being too far south from here. 

“But what a great storyline, what a great opportunity it’s going to be to have two in-state teams playing each other in the first playoff game on a campus. It’s going to be an exciting time and a great game.”

On running backs junior Jadarain Price and sophomore Aneyas Williams stepping up with Love out for most of the second half against USC

“It speaks to the depth. The depth of our team, the depth of our running back room. We got talented individuals that when their number is called, we have a lot of confidence in them to be able to get their job done.

“Jadarain has done a wonderful job all year in his opportunities. Aneyas is a guy just continuously getting better as a true freshman and continuously earning the trust of his teammates and his coaches, but also making more plays and getting his job done in the protection aspects. 

“So again, it’s a wonderful job by (running backs) coach (Deland) McCullough having those guys ready and a great job by them of when their numbers called getting their job done.”