James Franklin and Marcus Freeman to Make College Football History

For the first time, a Black head coach will lead a team in the FBS national championship, marking a historic milestone in college football.

Penn State's James Franklin and Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman will face off in the Fiesta Bowl, guaranteeing that one will become the first Black head coach to lead a team in the FBS national championship game.
This milestone comes over 40 years after John Thompson became the first Black coach to win a Division I basketball title and 18 years after Tony Dungy broke barriers in the NFL Super Bowl.
Despite progress, only 16 of 134 FBS head coaching positions are held by Black coaches, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving diversity in college football leadership.
Franklin and Freeman both acknowledge the weight of their representation and hope their success will inspire change in hiring practices across college sports.
The Fiesta Bowl semifinal marks a pivotal moment in sports history, as it reflects both progress and the persistent need for systemic change in diversity and inclusion efforts within college athletics.