Marcus Freeman’s contest with NC State was yet another one of those affairs that have been giving the Fighting Irish tough reality checks from time to time. Even after a 36-7 victory, the 10-7 scoreline at the end of the first half captured everything about Notre Dame’s 2025 season. It has been a maddening collection of self-inflicted wounds, defensive breakdowns, and near-disasters that somehow morphed into a 4-2 record and legitimate playoff contention. The Irish responded by outscoring the Wolfpack 26-0 in the second half for a 36-7 final that looked way more comfortable than it had any right to be. 

There’s a special kind of torture in watching your team destroy itself, and Marcus Freeman hit his breaking point at halftime against NC State. This breaking point was courtesy of two stinging one-score losses and a myriad of sloppy performances that have marred Notre Dame games. All of this finally exploded into four desperate words of helplessness: “Stop beating Notre Dame,” Freeman said at halftime. And he had every right to be fed up.

In the NC State game, the Fighting Irish committed six penalties for 55 yards, failed on three fourth-down attempts, and went just 5-for-8 in the red zone. They watched Jadarian Price fumble at the Wolfpack’s 1-yard line and left at least 21 points on the field against the team they dominated statistically. Notre Dame hasn’t looked like a Natty contender at all; the preseason reputation is no more.

​And this game was only the breaking point. These self-inflicted wounds have been the core weakness of the Fighting Irish throughout the season. The Irish had two turnovers against Miami. Malachi Fields fumbled a screen pass, and CJ Carr had a pick on another deflected screen. All this while, the defense couldn’t force a single pick. Christian Gray was also flagged for pass interference on Miami’s game-winning drive, which hit the nail in the coffin.

Then came Texas A&M, where Tyler Buchner fumbled the PAT snap after what should’ve been a go-ahead touchdown with under three minutes left, leaving Notre Dame up 40-34 instead of 41-34. That one point turned into the difference when the Aggies scored with 13 seconds left to win 41-40. The same theme continued in Purdue’s 30-point massacre of the Irish but let’s not get into that.

“You look at the touchdown drive in the first half, and bad technique, we give up an explosive play, and they convert on two or three third downs, and that’s the result,” Marcus Freeman said at his postgame presser. “Your mindset has to just be, I don’t care what happened last play, I don’t care what happened — I’ve got to win this play. I’ve been trained to win this play, and I’ve got to go out there and do it.” The players clearly bought in. But after the halftime, the Fighting Irish embodied their name and became a completely different team. CJ Carr went for 342 passing yards, and the defense registered four sacks and three interceptions

We would be lying if we didn’t mention that there has been a slow turnaround. It has been gradual, but the impact of the defensive evolution has been felt these past few games. After getting torched for 98 points in the first three games, Notre Dame’s defense has bounced back. In Notre Dame’s last 35 defensive series, they’ve allowed just four touchdowns while registering nine interceptions. The defense has now gone eight of its last ten quarters without allowing a point, a stunning reversal that has Marcus Freeman praising Ash and the defensive leadership for their buy-in. And that is how they host the Trojans this week, with an offense already humming with young blood under center and a defense that has definitely found its rhythm these past few snaps.

The pit bull in the receiving room

While Marcus Freeman has been preaching about not beating themselves, Jordan Faison has been showing a masterclass on consistency. The WR has already gone for 25 catches for 327 yards and is on the verge of shattering his career high of 356 yards. But it’s not just the production that’s turning heads. Wide receivers coach Mike Brown dropped the perfect nickname on him during a recent conversation with Notre Dame insider Mike Berardino: “That dude is a pit bull, man.” 

Brown wasn’t just blowing smoke either. “Anything you ask him to do, he can do it. He’s unafraid and physical. Guys just slip off him,” the coach explained, praising Faison’s unbelievable feel for space and his ability to make plays in tight windows. For a team that’s spent half the season tripping over its own feet, having a receiver who just shows up and produces without the self-inflicted wounds has been a godsend.​