Two of college football's biggest fourth-down gamblers meet this week

Bill Belichick, former New England Patriots coach, made a bold call in a 2005 game against the Indianapolis Colts, attempting a fourth-and-2 conversion from his own 28-yard line instead of punting. This decision proved to be a successful one as Tom Brady’s pass to Kevin Faulk short of the first down, resulting in a Colts' game-winning touchdown and a trip to Super Bowl XLI.

Belichick now coaches at the collegiate level at North Carolina, facing a Notre Dame football team that has become increasingly adept at fourth-down attempts under coach Marcus Freeman.

Notre Dame's conversion rate on fourth downs has skyrocketed since the arrival of Anthony Treash as the director of football strategy in 2023. Since then, they've averaged 2.13 attempts per game, up from Freeman's 1.26 conversions per game during his first two seasons. This increase in fourth-down tries has paid off, as Notre Dame's current conversion rate stands at 64.7%, ranking eighth nationally in 2024.

Belichick's Tar Heels have also shown strong fourth-down performance, with a 72.2% conversion rate (11-of-15) this season.

Belichick and Freeman are two of the biggest fourth-down gamblers in college football, each believing in the calculated risks associated with these high-risk, high-reward plays. Freeman emphasizes, "You make zero fourth-down conversions that you don't try," highlighting the importance of attempting these conversions. These two coaching titans are set to meet again this week, putting their respective fourth-down strategies to the test once more.