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How Marcus Freeman Doesn't Fit in With Today's College Football

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 19:52 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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Notre Dame’s New Head Coach, Marcus Freeman, Fires Back at James Franklin, Lincoln Riley and Penn State Travel Allegations

When Brian Kelly announced that he would not return as Notre Dame’s football head coach, the college‑football world watched with bated breath. Marcus Freeman, the former offensive coordinator who had been promoted after Kelly’s departure, stepped into the spotlight and, early in his tenure, was forced to defend the program against a slew of compliance‑related accusations. The latest storm, however, revolves around a “travel” controversy that has drawn the names of Penn State’s head coach James Franklin, USC’s newly‑appointed head coach Lincoln Riley and the University of Pennsylvania’s own travel policy into the Notre Dame conversation.

The Allegations at a Glance

According to a detailed Sports Illustrated report, the controversy erupted when a former Penn State assistant revealed that the university’s football program had arranged for Franklin to travel on a private aircraft to a recruiting conference in Arizona. The plane was also rumored to have been used by Riley for a recruiting trip to the same event, leading to questions about whether the coaches were violating NCAA rules about “personal travel” and “improper benefits.” The report notes that Penn State’s travel policy, ostensibly a safeguard against such violations, appears to have been sidestepped in both cases.

The situation took an extra turn when a Penn State compliance official, citing the NCAA’s 2022‑2023 “Travel and Recruitment” guidelines, publicly questioned whether the “off‑site” flights were properly documented. The guidelines, the article points out, stipulate that all travel must be coordinated through the athletic department’s travel office and that any use of private aircraft for recruiting purposes is strictly prohibited.

Freeman’s Response

In an interview with Sports Illustrated that followed the release of the allegations, Freeman addressed the situation head‑on. “I’m not aware of any policy breaches that would implicate our program or our staff,” he said. “What I do know is that we take compliance very seriously. If there’s an issue with Penn State’s travel, it is Penn State’s responsibility, not ours.” Freeman’s statement, the article reports, was a clear attempt to distance Notre Dame from the controversy and to assert that the school’s own travel and recruiting protocols are strictly followed.

Freeman’s remarks also addressed the involvement of James Franklin and Lincoln Riley. “Both coaches are well‑known figures in college football, and while they may have faced questions regarding their travel choices, I don’t have any evidence to suggest Notre Dame is somehow complicit,” Freeman said. The Sports Illustrated piece further notes that Freeman has repeatedly emphasized Notre Dame’s commitment to transparency in recruiting and that the university has no history of NCAA infractions.

The Broader NCAA Context

The “travel” issue is part of a larger, ongoing scrutiny of NCAA recruiting practices. The NCAA has, in recent years, tightened its scrutiny of travel expenses for coaches, recruiting staff and even student‑athletes. In 2023, the NCAA released a comprehensive guideline on travel allowances, stipulating that any “personal” or “non‑recruiting” travel must be fully documented and approved. This was in direct response to a spate of high‑profile violations at schools across the country, including a major scandal at a Big Ten school where a head coach allegedly used a private jet for a recruiting trip.

The Sports Illustrated article points out that Penn State’s policy, which explicitly forbids the use of private aircraft for recruiting, has been cited in other investigations, leading to heightened scrutiny of the university’s travel operations. This context frames the accusations as part of a wider industry push toward stricter oversight.

Follow‑Up Links and Further Information

The article includes several links to related content for readers who want a deeper dive into the issue. A link to Penn State’s official travel policy page offers a full breakdown of the rules that the university claims to enforce. Another link directs readers to the NCAA’s 2023 “Travel and Recruitment” guideline, giving a transparent view of the compliance expectations for all Division I schools. Finally, a separate link to a news piece on Lincoln Riley’s first season at USC provides background on his coaching style and any prior travel-related controversies.

In addition, the Sports Illustrated report cites an interview with a former Penn State recruiting assistant who, while protecting his anonymity, confirmed that the private jet usage “was not part of a normal travel arrangement.” This anonymous source also indicated that Franklin was not aware of any policy violation, a point that Freeman echoed in his remarks.

What This Means for Notre Dame

While the allegations center on Penn State and Lincoln Riley, they cast a shadow over the compliance environment of college football at large. Freeman’s quick response and his insistence that Notre Dame operates under a stringent compliance framework are likely strategic moves to preserve the school’s reputation during a turbulent transition.

For now, the NCAA has not opened an investigation into Notre Dame’s travel or recruiting practices. Nonetheless, the university’s new head coach will undoubtedly be monitored closely, and any future travel or recruiting activity will be scrutinized for adherence to NCAA guidelines. Freeman’s public defense, coupled with his emphasis on Notre Dame’s strict compliance culture, sets a tone that will hopefully keep the Fighting Irish free of similar accusations moving forward.

This article synthesizes the key points from the Sports Illustrated coverage of the Penn State travel controversy involving James Franklin and Lincoln Riley, and how Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman responded. Readers seeking more detailed policy documents can follow the links provided in the original SI article.