Brady Quinn, a FOX college football analyst and former Notre Dame quarterback, has made it clear that his loyalty to the Fighting Irish is unwavering.
Despite his professional objectivity on-air, Quinn is quick to defend Notre Dame when he feels the program is being disrespected – a sentiment he recently expressed ahead of the Fighting Irish’s national championship showdown with Ohio State.
Despite being viewed as significant underdogs, the fact of the matter is Marcus Freeman’s team has a chance to win the program’s first national title since 1988.
Other than a still-shocking loss to Northern Illinois, the Irish have had a phenomenal season and have more than earned their spot in next Monday’s title game.
Interestingly, Quinn has taken the opportunity to drag an old friend through the mud – former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly.
“LSU is a team that has yet to make the College Football Playoff under Brian Kelly,” Quinn told Greg McElroy on the “Always College Football” podcast.
“That’s mostly where it comes from. It’s not going to die. I mean the reality is Brian Kelly left {ND} and he said what he said. So, you have look back and say, was it a good move? In hindsight, it doesn’t appear so.”
Quinn was referencing the infamous comment Kelly made shortly after he left Notre Dame for the LSU job, when he stated, “I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship.”
That remark didn’t sit well with Notre Dame fans, and now, two years later, they’re relishing the opportunity to prove him dead wrong.
Kelly’s statement may have seemed reasonable at the time.
LSU, just a few years removed from a historic championship run in 2019, appeared better positioned than Notre Dame to compete for titles in the talent-rich SEC.
However, Kelly has failed to deliver on those expectations thus far. After consecutive 10-win seasons, LSU stumbled to a 9-4 finish this year, falling short of earning a spot in the expanded CFP field.
Meanwhile, Freeman has guided Notre Dame to the championship game and has seemingly taken the program to a higher level than Kelly ever did.
Freeman’s success has drawn praise from the entire football world, with some now viewing him as a top candidate for NFL coaching jobs.
A victory over Ohio State would further cement his status as one of college football’s rising stars – and provide a satisfying rebuttal to Kelly’s infamous parting words.
Winning the national championship would represent more than just a title for Notre Dame – it’s a chance to rewrite the narrative around the program.
A win would vindicate the team’s accomplishments this season and turn Kelly’s comments into one of the biggest punchlines of all-time.
Conversely, a blowout loss may reignite doubts about whether the Irish can truly compete with college football’s elite in the modern era.
As for Kelly, the pressure is mounting in Baton Rouge. LSU will need a significant turnaround in 2025 to justify the bold expectations that accompanied his arrival.
For now, though, the spotlight rightfully belongs to Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish.
What are your thoughts on Freeman’s Irish? … Do you give them a realistic chance to pull off the upset next Monday?
As for Kelly, despite what he might say publicly, do you think deep-down he’s rooting against his old team???
