A new week, a new surprise. That has been the trend for the 2024 kickoff. Now analyst Josh Pate too seems to be bringing out constructive notes from the surprise. Even at the last minute before Marcus Freeman’s non-power 4 conference program, Notre Dame Fighting Irish stepped onto the gridiron against Brian Newberry’s Navy Midshipmen, and most of the CFB fans voted in favor of the Navy. Why wouldn’t they? After all, the Midshipmen were coming off with an undefeated streak. But what’s this season without big servings of surprise? Freeman’s squad then put on their best versions and robbed off the Midshipmen. With this, Pate too seems to dream big for Notre Dame. Meanwhile, Freeman dropped a truth bomb behind the Navy turnover. 

Freeman’s squad stepped onto the gridiron carrying a burden of doubts. But once the final bell rang, it all disappeared like a puff! Fighting Irish had put up their best fight, 14-51. Isn’t that too enticing to resist? Well, atleast Pate found it hard to ignore Notre Dame and dropped in with his analysis on Josh Pate’s podcast. Right at the beginning, he had to drop a twist: “The AP is going to tell you that this was a ranked win for Notre Dame the JP poll will not tell you that.”

When the AP poll dropped 25 as the Navy’s rank, the analyst was sure enough that they were not even close and only portrayed so. He seemed to be standing in favor of Freeman’s squad. Woah! Isn’t that surprising? After all, it was the same analyst who doubted the Fighting Irish after they lost to Northern Illinois when he claimed, “I guess Notre Dame just can’t handle it.” Time for Pate to change his views.

 “I’m going to be accused of discrediting the Notre Dame…let me shout this from the rooftop…Notre Dame is unequivocally in the playoff if they don’t lose again,” commented Pate. The analyst isn’t quite interested in the matchups lined up, like Florida State and USC Trojans. The analyst then dished out his confident claim about Freeman and Co. “If they go 11-1, guys, I don’t need you to like it or not; they’re going to be in the playoff. Case closed,” he said. Well, what makes Pate so confident? It’s Notre Dame’s history of rebound.  

How did Marcus Freeman restore dominance?

When Fighting Irish fell prey to the 16-14 upsetting loss against Northern Illinois, Freeman said, “we’ve been here before.” But what did he mean by that? Notre Dame started the 2022 season 0-2 but it did not take them much time to rise from the ashes and finish 9-4. Even week 1 looked promising for them when they entered Kyle Field and took a 23-10 victory over Texas A&M in their very first game. If that’s not growth, what is it?

After all, Freeman’s squad since being shocked by Northern Illinois on September 7 has outscored their next six opponents by a total of 256 to 68. Well, the October 19 face-off looked like the toughest test to give the HC sleepless nights as Newberry’s boys came off as their best version, improving to 6-0 for the first time since 1979. But how did Notre Dame make the impossible possible?

All thanks to Marcus Freeman’s game plan of focusing on a defensive effort in which the Fighting Irish forced six Navy turnovers. “That was a point of emphasis. This team is No. 2 in the country in turnover margin. To be plus-6 in turnovers is a straight reflection of complementary football,” the HC spilled the secret. Now let’s see if Pate’s prediction turns out to be a hit or flop!