Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman joined 20 other coaches on Monday's preseason watch list for the 2024 Dodd Trophy. The award recognizes the college football coach who finds success on the field with an emphasis on scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Freeman was on the preseason watch list prior to the 2023 season as well, but he did not make it ahead of his debut season in 2022. Former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly made the Dodd Trophy preseason watch list prior to each of his final four seasons with the Irish.
Kelly won it following the 2018 season. He became the only Notre Dame coach to do so since the award's inception in 1976. Florida State's Mike Norvell won it last season.
The 2024 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List:
Freeman was on the preseason watch list prior to the 2023 season as well, but he did not make it ahead of his debut season in 2022. Former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly made the Dodd Trophy preseason watch list prior to each of his final four seasons with the Irish.
Kelly won it following the 2018 season. He became the only Notre Dame coach to do so since the award's inception in 1976. Florida State's Mike Norvell won it last season.
The 2024 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List:
| Coach | School | Conference | APR (2022-23) |
| Jeff Brohm | Louisville | ACC | 982 |
| Mario Cristobal | Miami (FL) | ACC | 1000 |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State | Big Ten | 1000 |
| Dave Doeren | NC State | ACC | 984 |
| Eliah Drinkwitz | Mizzou | SEC | 997 |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | Big Ten | 993 |
| James Franklin | Penn State | Big Ten | 959 |
| Marcus Freeman | Notre Dame | Independent | 1000 |
| Mike Gundy | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 965 |
| Josh Heupel | Tennessee | SEC | 965 |
| Brian Kelly | LSU | SEC | 977 |
| Lane Kiffin | Ole Miss | SEC | 993 |
| Chris Klieman | Kansas State | Big 12 | 1000 |
| Lance Leipold | Kansas | Big 12 | 1000 |
| Mike Norvell | Florida State | ACC | 997 |
| Brent Pry | Virginia Tech | ACC | 990 |
| Lincoln Riley | USC | Big Ten | 987 |
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas | SEC | 997 |
| Kirby Smart | Georgia | SEC | 972 |
| Dabo Swinney | Clemson | ACC | 997 |
| Kyle Whittingham | Utah | Big 12 | 971 |
