SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nine final thoughts on Notre Dame going out (almost) on top after its 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

(EDITORS NOTE: caption correction) Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and head coach Marcus Freeman suffered heartbreak on Monday, losing the national championship 34-23 to the Ohio State Buckeyes. However, that does not diminish their amazing season, which included a 14-2 overall record and three wins in the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman earned wide-spread criticism during Monday’s 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the national title game when he opted for a field goal while trailing by 16 in the fourth quarter.

The Fighting Irish lost in the national championship game to Ohio State on Monday, but Herbstreit doesn't think Notre Dame is going anywhere.

Jack Kiser walked up the tunnel toward Notre Dame ’s locker room beneath Mercedes-Benz Stadium, tears welling in his bloodshot eyes, as if the linebacker had anything else to pour out. Behind him, all the scarlet and white confetti had fallen as Ohio State ’s national championship party swayed,

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman is shouldering the blame for the Irish 34-23 loss to Ohio State in Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship. Notre Dame fell into a 24-point hole against the Buckeyes midway through the third quarter that Freeman said was the result of uncharacteristic mistakes in communication for which he takes all the blame.

Head coach Marcus Freeman shouldered the blame for Notre Dame's 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on