College Football Fans Want ESPN Writer Fired After ‘Arrest-Worthy’ Marcus Freeman Ranking originally appeared on The Spun.
A recent ranking of college football coaches by an ESPN analyst has some fans so outraged that they’re ready to bring out the pitchforks.
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In a recent post on X, the College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) account shared a recent ranking of college football coaches by ESPN’s Bill Connelly. That ranking failed to include Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman anywhere in the top 30, and fans quickly started giving Connelly hell for it:
“Bill, can you provide why coach Marcus Freeman wasn’t placed in your top 30? Perhaps the criterion used explains? Genuinely interested, thank you,” one user wrote.
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“Bill Connelly of ESPN is a Hack! You’ve got Purdue coach at number 11 and Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame not even on that list. Tell me you don’t know college football without telling me you don’t know college football!” wrote another.
“Not having Marcus Freeman on this list is criminal work! Bill should be arrested!” a third wrote.
“I’d change my name so that I wouldn’t be linked to this joke.”
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 02: Coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is interviewed by ESPN announcer Molly McGrath on stage in the trophy presentation during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus the Georgia Bulldogs College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
There was only one problem: The post was completely misconstrued.
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In Connelly’s original post, he actually made it a post of the top coaches of the past 20 years and even had Freeman as his No. 6 coach among active coaches. He shared CFBAlert’s post and admonished them for framing it in a way to “generate the most toxic possible responses.”
“It’s a shame you guys forgot to link to the piece in question and decided to frame it in the way that would generate the most toxic possible responses,” Connelly wrote in response.
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Unfortunately, fans still took serious issue with Connelly’s ranking even after his clarifying statement:
“This is really great, now I know when your name is attached to an article I can skip it,” one user declared.
“Your rankings are crap. No matter how you try to explain it away. Kirby is #1 on every other persons list but yours,” wrote another.
“It doesn’t matter how you got there. This list is (expletive) garbage and shows how stupid you are. Defend it however you need to, it’s an embarrassing list.”
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It doesn’t seem like ESPN will be canning Connelly over this one though.
On to the next inevitable, insane controversy.
Related: Calls to Fire ESPN Analyst P.K. Subban After Lizzo Comment
College Football Fans Want ESPN Writer Fired After ‘Arrest-Worthy’ Marcus Freeman Ranking first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
