ATLANTA (April 10, 2025) - The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, PNC Bank and Peach Bowl, Inc. will celebrate Irish Head Coach Marcus Freeman as the 2024 recipient of The Dodd Trophy during Notre Dame's annual Blue-Gold Game.
 
The 94th edition of the Blue-Gold Game presented by Meijer is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 at 2 p.m. ET in Notre Dame Stadium. Representatives will honor Freeman during an on-field presentation and present a $20,000 check for the Rockne Athletics Fund, as well as a $10,000 donation that will go toward an endowed scholarship at the University of Notre Dame.
 
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank is the most coveted national Coach of the Year award in college football and celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also representing programs with the highest ideals of scholarship, leadership and integrity on and off the field – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's philosophy.
 
Freeman became the second Notre Dame head coach to win The Dodd Trophy, joining Brian Kelly who won the award in 2018.
 
"We're honored to be able to travel up to South Bend this weekend and recognize Coach Freeman for all he was able to accomplish last season, both on and off the field," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation is also thrilled to donate $10,000 to the Rockne Athletics Fund to help further academic and athletic opportunities for student-athletes."
 
"Coach Freeman humbly accepted the award on behalf of his entire program, recognizing it wouldn't have been possible without his players, coaches and support staff. Now we have the unique opportunity to celebrate this achievement with all those involved in the Notre Dame football program on Saturday in front of the Irish faithful," said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. "We're also grateful for the chance to give back by matching the Dodd Foundation's generous $10,000 donation for the Rockne Athletics Fund, as well as an additional $10,000 for our existing John Lewis Legacy of Courage Scholarship, which is endowed by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl."
 
Freeman led the Irish to a 14-2 record last season and a berth in the CFP National Championship Game. Under Freeman's leadership, the Irish secured seven victories during the season over opponents ranked in the AP Poll at the time of the game, including No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 15 Louisville, No. 24 Navy, No. 18 Army, No. 9 Indiana, No. 2 Georgia and No. 5 Penn State. Freeman's 14 wins over ranked opponents in his first three years are more than any other Irish head coach in program history.
 
Off the field, Notre Dame also excelled in the classroom under Freeman's leadership. The Fighting Irish were one of seven institutions to win the AFCA 2024 Academic Achievement Award, which honors programs with the highest graduation rate for members of the 2017 freshman football student-athlete class. Freeman's group also posted a perfect 1000 Academic Progress Rate, which was tied for the highest mark in the FBS and held an impressive Graduation Success Rate of 94.
 
In the community, Freeman and the Irish teamed up with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana to deliver meals every Friday before home games to families whose children are receiving care at Beacon Children's Hospital. Freeman was also an integral part of reviving the "Cleats for a Cause" initiative that centers around several of his players representing five local charities on special-edition Under Armour Slip Speed shoes, which are then auctioned off to raise money for those charities.  
 
Freeman also took part in numerous other charitable engagements, including visiting local schools such as St. Adalbert Catholic School in South Bend, where he surprised students with tickets to last year's  spring football game, and spoke at philanthropic events, such as Erin's House for Grieving Children, which supports families who have experienced a death.
 
For all his work in the community, Freeman was honored at the beginning of last season by being the only head coach named to the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.