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For a college football head coach, few regrets sting more than coming close to a National Championship but falling short. Marcus Freeman<\/strong> and Notre Dame understand this feeling deeply. So, one can sense how desperately Freeman and his boys are going to move around this season. As the HC prepares for a blockbuster 2025, he\u2019s also looking to the future, intensely searching for a quarterback to fill CJ Carr\u2019<\/strong>s eventual shoes. And obviously, the search is leaving him sweating.<\/p>\n The hot recruit who might have his face printed on the dartboard in Freeman\u2019s living room is none other than 4-star quarterback recruit Peyton Houston<\/strong>, the class of 2027 product. For so long, Freeman\u2019s Notre Dame has been one of the biggest suitors of Houston. But it looks like Freeman needs to worry a little because of poaching alerts.<\/span><\/p>\n Lincoln Riley<\/strong> and the USC Trojans are now also running in the Houston race, too. On June 27, analyst Billy Tucker<\/strong> shared a clip of the hot recruit\u2019s interview. The caption read, \u201cPeyton Houston says he\u2019s been hearing from USC weekly at this point in his recruitment @PeytonHouston8.\u201d<\/em> The No.1 pocket passer in the nation seems to be wooed by the efforts that the Trojans are putting in.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Peyton Houston shared insights into the Trojans\u2019 recruiting approach: \u201cIt\u2019s weekly for sure, they tell me when they hit me up and I circle with them.\u201d<\/em> This news adds more worries for Freeman, as the Notre Dame head coach can sense the desperation; this blue-chip signal-caller is the only quarterback the Trojans have offered in the 2027 class so far.<\/p>\n Houston is in Indianapolis this week, competing in the 2025 Rivals Five-Star elite event. It\u2019s also important to remember he first saw USC when he visited the school in eighth grade and has held the Trojans in high regard ever since. While Freeman might believe that charm has faded over the years, that\u2019s clearly not the case.<\/p>\n Carrying the tag of quarterback whisperer, Riley is bound to hold a strong seat in Houston\u2019s heart. As the 2027 prospect shared, \u201cIt means a lot, it\u2019s a blessing for sure to have Lincoln Riley to think I\u2019m one of the top guys for him. Just the history he has with quarterbacks, Kyler Murray, Baker [Mayfield], just to name a few that I\u2019ve watched. It means a lot, and that relationship there is definitely strong too.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The Trojans\u2019 head coach\u2019s resume is too tempting to ignore, both in Oklahoma and USC. Both Kyler Murray<\/strong> and Baker Mayfield<\/strong> won the Heisman Trophy and went on to become the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts<\/strong> spent one season with Riley after transferring from Alabama and reset his football trajectory. Similarly, Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams<\/strong> also won a Heisman under Riley. So, will it be tough for Freeman to catch up in the Houston race?<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s not underestimate Freeman. The program has recruited the quarterback position extremely well over the last several years. You name them\u2014Kenny\u00a0Minchey<\/strong>, CJ Carr, Blake Hebert<\/strong>, and Noah Grubbs\u2014<\/strong>that calls for an impressive collection of signal callers. Now Freeman\u2019s coaching staff, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock<\/strong>, and quarterback coach Gino Guidugli<\/strong> are implementing a new recruiting strategy in the 2027 class.<\/span><\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For so long, they had been the only program that hadn\u2019t offered a single quarterback in the class. Every P4 program had offered at least one quarterback. The staff has been hosting a ton of talented signal callers on campus, as well as getting on the road to see them throw. <\/span>They now have Houston on their radar.<\/span><\/p>\nFootball Will Peyton Houston\u2019s divine moment at Notre Dame ultimately matter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n