After a string of transfer portal rental quarterbacks, Notre Dame will have its first authentic quarterback battle in many years. Take a deeper look at the three candidates vying for the coveted position. Photo By The Irish Tribune For the past two seasons, Notre Dame has found success dipping into the ACC for a transfer portal quarterback with one year left of eligibility. While former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard had more on-field success than Wake Forest's Sam Hartman, both excelled at embracing Notre Dame's culture and earning the respect of their teammates by being named captain. While rumors swirled amid Notre Dame's quest for the National Championship, Marcus Freeman admittedly denied the Irish's interest in any transfer portal quarterback. The possibility of Quinn Ewers or Jalen Milroe running Mike Denbrock’s offense was intriguing; however, with both opting for the NFL Draft and the depth in Notre Dame's QB room, it’s clear that the 2025 starter has already been in South Bend for at least a year. Many are already crowning top-rated prospect CJ Carr the man for the job. Others believe in the most-tested option in senior Steve Angeli. Then, there is Kenny Minchey who was a late class signing and could be a dark horse candidate for the coveted position. Let's break down the options for Marcus Freeman, Mike Denbrock, and quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Steve Angeli Even though the CJ Carr hype is through the roof, and rightfully so because of how talented of a high school prospect he was, Steve Angeli is my odds-on favorite to be Notre Dame's starting quarterback against Miami in Hard Rock Stadium to start the 2025 campaign. With one start under his belt, Angeli is the most experienced Fighting Irish quarterback, and yes, while his Sun Bowl performance was a highlight of Angeli's career, the role he played in this year's Orange Bowl was a glimpse into the future for the New Jersey product. After Riley Leonard had to go into concussion protocol and the Notre Dame offense was on the ropes, Angeli was a calm, confident force who went 6/7 for 44 yards and led Notre Dame to their first points of the game. When comparing Angeli's skillset to previous Notre Dame quarterbacks, his game style resembles more Jack Coan than anyone else. Angeli's greatest strength is his accuracy and the ability to read defenses. In the Sun Bowl, Angeli had great timing on all of his throws and was able to put the ball in a position for a receiver to run after the catch. Angeli's biggest weakness, and an area for improvement through winter ball, is his pocket presence and mobility. Angeli, at times, can look like a statue in the pocket. If the ball isn't out within three seconds of the snap, there is a problem. Angeli is nowhere near the athlete Riley Leonard was, and the previous quarterbacks Mike Denbrock has had success with in his scheme (Jayden Daniels and Desmond Ridder). He doesn't have the athleticism to play make when a play falls apart, and this will be the main hindrance to Angeli's game. CJ Carr A consensus top five quarterback by three of the major four recruiting ranking outlets, CJ Carr was a longtime Notre Dame commit who learned the ropes his freshman year. The biggest reason some people were starting to throw transfer portal quarterback rumors into the conversation was because of CJ Carr's lingering elbow injury that had the three-time first-team all-state quarterback sidelined from many practices and pre-game warm-ups. The lack of throwing and his potentially injury-prone nature could be a cause of concern for Notre Dame fans. Yet, when you watch Carr's highlights, it is clear he has the highest ceiling out of anyone in this quarterback room. Carr has impeccable accuracy, is confident in the pocket, and has active footwork when going through his reads. In Notre Dame's spring game, Carr dazzled both with his arm and his legs. While he may have been too eager to leave the pocket in the spring game, he was only three months removed from high school football. Being an early enrollee should have also aided Carr as well. Being around senior leaders and learning Mike Denbrock's offense the past year and a half gives Carr an edge, but the health of the redshirt freshman quarterback will be the point to monitor all throughout the winter. Kenny Minchey The third option for the starting position is Kenny Minchey. Minchey has the most promise with his legs, but is still more of a gunslinger. He was a late Notre Dame commit after Tommy Rees and Marcus Freeman flipped him from Pittsburgh and he finished his high school career throwing for 5,212 yards and 53 touchdowns. Minchey saw action against Purdue this year and had a seven-yard rushing touchdown, which was the first touchdown of his career. Minchey also had a rushing touchdown during the 2024 Spring Game. Minchey probably has the strongest arm of the quarterback room but is the most reckless out of the three. He did throw an interception during the Spring Game, and at times seemed to rush through his reads. It seems as though Minchey is simply the middle child stuck between the more experienced Angeli and the highly touted Carr. However, he will get an equally fair shot in the battle and is definitely in the running to be the starter. Take Your Pick While much of the fanbase wants to start the CJ Carr era, I think Steve Angeli provides the current highest upside if the Irish aspire to make another national championship run this year. By opening the season with its two hardest games, at Miami and at home against Texas A&M, it will be a difficult situation for any of the Irish quarterbacks; yet Marcus Freeman and Mike Denbrock have seven months to figure out who gives them the best opportunity to win. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Irish Hockey was able to recover on Saturday with a 4-2 victory against Lindenwood following a brutal defeat the night before to the Lions.  Photo by The Irish Tribune In the first period, Lindenwood could not produce any offense despite being awarded two power play opportunities. They only recorded one shot in four minutes with the man advantage and four total shots in the period.  The Irish netted the lone goal of the period four minutes into the contest. A great pass from Jaedo n Kerr set up Brennan Ali  to give Notre Dame an early 1-0 lead. Ian Murphy was also credited with an assist on the goal. Notre Dame outshot the Lions 15-4 in a dominant first 20 minutes. Both sides successfully killed their penalties, two for the Irish and one for the Lions, as they headed into the second period. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off The Irish opened the second period with a power play goal 1:43 into the frame following an elbowing penalty on the Lions. On the faceoff after the penalty call, Justin Janicke slapped home a pass  from Cole Knuble to give the Irish a 2-0 lead.  11:15 into the period, Lindenwood’s Jake Southgate gave the Lions some life by getting one past Irish Goalie Nicholas Kempf to close the gap 2-1.  The second period was highly contentious and featured numerous self-inflicted roughing penalties against both sides. Irish Forward Blake Biondi and Lions Goalie Owen Bartoszkiewicz each received minors 14:44 into the period when the duo got intertwined after the forward made contact with the netminder. Notre Dame outshot Lindenwood 9-5 in a testy, penalty-filled period. 1:52 into the final period, Notre Dame’s Tyler Carpenter snuck one past Bartoszkiewicz for the eventual game-winner off a pass from Defenseman Paul Fischer. Jayden Davis was also credited with an assist on the goal that extended the lead to 3-1. The Irish successfully killed their lone penalty of the period 7:19 into the frame after Carter Slaggert was assessed a cross-checking penalty.  Lindenwood appeared to have a little more gas in their tank as John Evans gave the Lions some hope, cutting the deficit to 3-2 with under seven minutes to play.  This was not enough time for the visitors as Kempf shut down the Lions with 14 saves in the third period. Danny Nelson added his second point of the night with an empty net goal to secure the Irish a 4-2 victory. Janicke was credited with an assist on the empty netter, marking his second point of the night as well. Notre Dame is off this weekend before hosting Ohio State February 8-9 in South Bend.  Key Player Stats: Justin Janicke (ND): 1 goal on 4 shots, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, +2 Danny Nelson (ND): 1 goal on 5 shots, 1 assist, 11/18 on faceoffs, +1 Owen Bartoszkiewicz (LU): 59:17 ice time, 36 saves, 3 goals against Key Team Stats: Shots on Goal: ND (40) - LU (24) Power Play Success: ND (1/3) - LU (0/4) Faceoffs Won: ND (36) - LU (31) Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Irish Men and Women’s Basketball teams had a quiet but successful week with just one game each. Both squads put on impressive showings in their games as the women extended their win streak to 12 and the men earned their first road win of the year. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Women’s Recap On Thursday, the Irish traveled to Boston College. In a dominant 89-63 win, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo led the way with 23 points.  The Eagles provided a scare in the first quarter, outscoring the Irish 18-17. A few shooting fouls led to five of six made free throws from Boston College in this quarter to give them the early advantage.  Notre Dame came out in the second quarter with a hot hand, draining four three-pointers in the first five minutes to put the Irish in control. This offensive explosion led to the Irish outscoring the Eagles 24-13 in the quarter, and bringing a 41-31 lead into the half. Notably, Notre Dame gathered ten offensive rebounds in this quarter which led to 11 points. Hidalgo led third quarter scorers with ten points in another dominant ten minutes for the Irish. Notre Dame outscored Boston College 27-17 to extend their lead to 68-48 entering the final quarter.  The Irish played well to close out this midweek contest. From 6:34-1:44, Notre Dame went on a 13-0 run, asserting their dominance. The Eagles shot 1-17 from the field in the final ten minutes, a good mark for the Irish defense.  The third-ranked Irish continue their ACC road tests as they are set to visit Virginia Tech on Thursday and Louisville on Sunday. Key Player Stats: Hannah Hidalgo (ND): 23 points (2-4 from three), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals Sonia Citron (ND): 9 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block T’yana Todd (BC): 18 points (7-15 from the field), 2 steals Andrea Daley (BC): 7 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal Nene Ndiaye (BC): 8 points (4-9 from the field), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage: ND (51.5%) - BC (32.4%) Three Point Percentage: ND (38.9%) - BC (20%) Defensive Rebounds: ND (27) - BC (19) Assists: ND (18) - BC (7) Blocks: ND (6) - BC (2) Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off Men’s Recap On Saturday, Notre Dame earned their first road victory of the year and their first win at Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena in a 74-59 victory, highlighted by strong performances from Markus Burton and Tae Davis.  Burton came out on fire to start the game, outscoring the Cavaliers 9-3 in the first 4:15 by himself. Virginia’s top scorer Isaac McKneely did his best to keep the game close, cashing in four threes in the first half. His efforts were not enough as the Irish pulled away with a 39-27 lead at the half behind 15 points from Burton. Both teams shot well but the Cavaliers left a lot to be desired offensively and defensively. Notre Dame continued their hot shooting in the second half, outscoring Virginia 24-9 before the eight-minute media timeout. The Irish’s Braeden Shrewsberry, Matt Allocco, and Kebba Njie all contributed with three-pointers of their own on this run. The Cavaliers managed a slight comeback including a 10-0 run which brought the score to 63-46 with over five minutes remaining. It appeared to be too little too late as the Irish came away with a 74-59 victory. On defense, the Irish held McKneely scoreless in the second half after he dropped 14 in the first, a sign of great adjustments. This week, the Irish host Georgia Tech on Tuesday before traveling to Miami for a Saturday evening matchup with the Hurricanes.  Key Player Stats: Markus Burton (ND): 21 points (7-14 from the field & 4-6 from three), 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal Kebba Njie (ND): 7 points (1-1 from three), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block Tae Davis (ND): 16 points (6-11 from the field & 1-1 from three), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals Jacob Cofie (UVA): 17 points (7-13 from the field & 1-2 from three), 6 rebounds, 1 steal   Key Team Stats: Field Goal Percentage: ND (48.2%) - UVA (40.4%) Three Point Percentage: ND (52.2%) - UVA (43.5%) Free Throw Percentage: ND (72.7%) - UVA (60%) Total Rebounds: ND (41) - UVA (27) Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

As the clock hit zero and confetti fell in Mercedes Benz Stadium, Notre Dame found themselves on the wrong side of a celebration. Let's take a look at what the Irish could have done to position themselves better for victory. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics After what was undoubtedly the best season under Marcus Freeman's tenure, and one of Notre Dame's best non-championship seasons overall, the Fighting Irish have much to be excited about going forward. Plenty of young talent across the board got experience throughout the year, and another promising recruiting class coming in will help bolster the depth. The litmus test results on whether or not Freeman can have his team focused and ready to go week in and week out for another full season will be revealed quickly, as the Irish's schedule is very front-loaded. Within the first six games, they will open on the road in primetime vs a Miami team who barely missed the playoffs, and just added Carson Beck through the portal, which is followed by another heavy-weight fight vs Texas A&M. A first-ever matchup with 2024 playoff participant Boise State is sandwiched between a showdown in Fayetteville with SEC opponent Arkansas, and a home tilt vs bitter rival USC. Plenty of storylines and things to look ahead to next season, but not without first putting a final exclamation point on the magical run that was. After reviewing the All-22 film of the National Championship, there are plenty of things to discuss, so let's get into it. There isn't a specific player that should shoulder the blame for this type of loss. Plenty of players made mistakes just as many made some incredibly positive plays. The purpose of this article is just strictly breaking down the things that jumped out on film in some of the biggest moments. First, I will touch on some of the critical drives that helped decide the game, followed by specific positional and player breakdowns. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. 1) Notre Dame's Opening Drive With the final results already known, it is still very much worth highlighting one of the greatest opening drives we have seen in the modern college football playoff era. The offensive line was very in sync the whole drive. On the very first QB run, Rocco Spindler and Aamil Wager perfectly executed a combo block. They attacked No. 91 Tyleik WIlliams in unison, Wagner worked up to the second level, and Spindler was able to drive Williams another ten yards downfield. That's teach tape in the O-line room. Spindler was not done showing out. On a crucial 4th and 1 from the five-yard line, after pancaking his assignment, he helped chip a second defender and created a huge hole for Leonard to run behind. Excellent work by him. In terms of blocking, I was also very impressed by Beaux Collins. It is not always easy for a wide receiver to stay engaged on such a long drive where the ball isn't really coming his way, but he was the ultimate teammate. Early in the drive, he was 20 yards downfield still attacking his defender, and on the opening touchdown, he came in motion across the line of scrimmage and blew up All-American safety Caleb Downs to clear the way for Leonard. You can't speak about the opening drive without zeroing in on Riley Leonard. What Leonard did kind of transcends the film itself, and just speaks to the heart he played with no matter the situation. You can see he was becoming visibly gassed as the drive lingered, but they kept calling his number and he kept delivering. Even with some shortcomings in certain areas, Notre Dame would not have reached the heights it did this year without him, 2) Ohio State's Opening Drive Ohio State's first big play of the game was a run by Henderson. Jack Kiser shot the A Gap and got washed out by the guard. Howard Cross III could not hold at the point of attack, which allowed the center to work up the second level and get hands on Drayk Bowen. Xavier Watts, who is normally excellent at fitting the run, took a bad angle coming from his deep zone once it bounced outside, and it resulted in a big play. It was just a case of a lot of players losing their one-on-one battles at the same time. In general, the linebackers were a little late triggering vs the run, and that was the case on the opening drive as well. Some poor gap integrity on the second level was allowing Ohio State's running backs to find cutback lanes. On the touchdown to Jeremiah Smith, I have seen different takes from different people as to what happened. In my opinion, it was pretty cut and dry that it was a blown coverage by Christian Gray. It was Man Coverage across the board, and Gray's reaction on realizing Smith was going to go in motion seems to indicate that he thought once Smith went across the LOS, everyone would bump down and take the next available assignment, meaning Gray thought he would be responsible for Emeka Egbuka who was the next WR in the formation to his side. Smith ended up running what is called an Orbit Motion and worked back to the side he started from, and by that time, Gray was across the field chasing Egbuka who was already being covered by Jordan Clark. One of the keys I spoke about in my film review of Ohio State's offense leading up to the game was being able to play with good eye discipline when OSU used Smith out of the backfield, and in this case, ND was unable to do so. 3) Notre Dame's Last Offensive Drive Before Half This drive hurt Notre Dame's chances some. Leonard picked up a solid five-yard gain on first down on a QB keeper. On second down, the offensive line did a good job of providing protection and Eli Raridon was running a shallow cross from the slot and got behind his defender. If Leonard throws the ball with some anticipation it's a first down, the drive will continue and Notre Dame has a shot to hold on to the ball until half, and possibly come away with some points. But Leonard did not seem to trust his eyes, pulled the ball back down, and by that time the defensive line for Ohio State forced him out of the pocket and he had to throw the ball away. It was something that plagued Leonard at different times throughout the season and it showed back up in a critical spot. There was a miscommunication on third down, and the ball was snapped right into Mitchell Evans who was coming across the formation in motion. Although ND jumped on the fumble, it was a quick three and out and the defense, who were already wearing down, had to come right back on the field. 4) Ohio State's Last Offensive Drive Before Half 3rd and 7 coming out the two-minute warning, ND desperately needed a stop. Christian Gray was one-on-one with Carnell Tate who worked a deep in route. Gray did not play it poorly necessarily, but he was playing with his eyes on the QB and just never felt Tate break in behind him. Will Howard did an excellent job with ball placement putting it low and away from the trailing Gray, and was just one of those plays where the offense does everything they need to do. Later in the drive on Notre Dame's 18-yard line, OSU tried to run Henderson on a wheel route off a tight formation. Xavier Watts did an amazing job with route recognition, worked through the traffic, and took the perfect angle to try to make a play on the ball. More times than not during his Notre Dame career, Watts has come down with those 50-50 balls, but Henderson did a good job fighting through his hands and essentially breaking it up for an incomplete pass. Notre Dame was inches away from a game-changing play, and it goes to show how little the margin for error is in these big pressure games. I don't generally include anything related to officiating in my breakdowns, but it is worth noting on the very next play the center for Ohio State got away with a blatant hold against Donovan Hinish who beat him on his inside shoulder. A holding call would have knocked Ohio State back into a second and super long, and they may have had to end up settling for FG instead of a TD. Instead, Howard was able to take off and picked up a sizeable gain. A four-point swing on this drive was major. The touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins was easily avoidable. KVA and Drayk Bowen both fell into a zone at the snap. Judkins released late, but he released right into the area KVA was covering. Howard slid out of the pocket and began to take off with his legs and Bowen decided to collapse on him. Unfortunately, KVA decided to do the same even though three other defenders were rallying to Howard. If KVA continues to play his assignment, there is nowhere for Howard to go with the ball and he has to throw it away or take a sack. Poor execution in spots like that snowballed throughout the first half and contributed to it being a two-score game after two quarters. 5) 4th Quarter Drive That Ended in Mitch Jeter FG Attempt On 1st down, it was a designed QB run, but was very poor execution by some of the offensive line. Billy Schrauth was pulling from his guard spot, but got beat to the point of attack by the defensive end. Pat Coogan attempted a Cut Block on Tyleik Williams who was on the interior, but whiffed which forced Charles Jagusah to stay on him longer than he wanted, allowing the defensive end on his side to crash without being touched. Both ends converged on Leonard, which is a shame because there was room for some yards and possibly a touchdown. Mitchell Evans came across the line as a lead blocker with great timing, Spindler did an excellent job of sealing his man to the inside, and Wagner worked up to the second level to pick up the linebacker who probably would have been the last line of defense on this particular play. Another situation where Notre Dame was a lot closer to possibly changing the outcome of this game than people realize. Second down, I did not think it was the right play call. Mitchell Evans lined up wide to the short side of the field and ran a fade route. There was very little space for him to work with and he was never really able to work through the contact by the defensive back to have a shot at the ball. Third down was another "what if" moment. Both Spindler and Wagner were beaten off the line by bull rushes and the pocket closed very quickly. Jeremiyah Love leaked out late on a swing route and had some space. Would have been a situation where if he could make one guy miss, it could have turned into a touchdown. Unfortunately, the quick pressure on Leonard made him get rid of the ball sooner than he wanted, and he was never able to work back through his progressions to Love. The Mitch Jeter FG attempt was a bit of a head-scratcher to me. I do understand that scoring from the 9-yard line against the OSU defense is certainly not a "gimme", but with that being said, even if Jeter makes the kick, it's a two-touchdown deficit. There was no guarantee Notre Dame would even have enough possessions left to try to potentially win. It is very easy to play the hindsight game, but if Notre Dame was able to find a way to punch it in from the 9, and get the two-point conversion as they did the following drive, it's a one-score game with nine minutes left, which increases your odds significantly. 6) Notre Dame Offensive Drive with 5 minutes left in the 4th On 1st and 10 at OSU's 31-yard line, Leonard took a sack he probably did not need to. He had Kris Mitchell on an in-breaking route, but again just did not trust his eyes. Mitchell could have done a better job flattening his route to ensure the defensive back could jump it, but probably still a ball Leonard should have let go. For whatever reason, Leonard and Mitchell never seemed to get on the same page this year. 3rd and 9 on this drive was the Slot Fade for a touchdown to Jaden Greathouse. One of Leonard's best throws of the season came when Notre Dame needed it the most. He was able to step up in the pocket and into his throw and delivered the ball perfectly. Greathouse did a superb job of tracking the ball over his shoulder and fighting through the contact/penalty from the DB for a touchdown. On the two-point conversion, Jordan Faison deserves TONS of credit. The offensive line blocked down leaving Jack Sawyer untouched in space. It is amazing Jordan Faison was able to break his tackle while keeping his eyes downfield and find Collins open in the end zone. That is extremely difficult for a QB to do, let alone a wide receiver. 7) Ohio State's Final Possession In a had-to-have-it moment, the Fighting Irish defense could not get one more stop. On Howard's scramble for a first down, it was once again just poor execution. KVA jumped inside which made Howard bounce it to the outside. J unior Tuihalamaka needed to set the edge here and allowed himself to be steered inside. Once Howard got on the corner, he used his speed and picked up a big first down. The game-sealing play for Ohio State is the one that will really stand out for months to come. I was not on the field, so I do not know the exact play that was called, but I can tell you everything that fell apart on it. For starters, I would have much rather seen Leonard Moore as the corner lined up over Jeremiah Smith. He is more comfortable in press and had done a better job throughout the game when lined up with him. I don't know if Jordan Clark had gotten banged up, but I was also very surprised to see Rod Heard line up in the slot against Egbuka. Heard I feel was a liability in coverage, and Clark had manned that spot basically all season. On the snap, Adon Shuler took a very hard step towards the LOS before bailing. I don't know if maybe he had Henderson in man, and once Henderson stayed in to block, he decided to drop and help in underneath coverage but with Xavier Watts already coming on a blitz, I would have liked to see Shuler play with more depth. Heard ended up falling on the snap, and Shuler ended up in one-on-one coverage against Egbuka. The all-around technique Christian Gray used on this play was the real trouble. Notre Dame was sending pressure with the hopes of forcing Howard to get the ball out quickly, where they would be able to rally and make a tackle before the sticks. Gray should have been in the face of Smith, playing with inside leverage and forcing Smith to work the sideline. A successful jam would have thrown off the timing of the route and given the blitz a chance to get home. Even if the blitz did not get there, Howard would have had to make the throw in a much tighter window with Gray using the sideline as an extra defender. Even still, if Gray wanted to play as far off as he did, I do not understand why he bailed so far inside on his backpedal. He left Smith an enormous amount of room to work with vertically, and for Howard, that was the football equivalent of a lay-up. Generally, you would not play with that technique unless you have a safety over the top, but both safeties were down at the start of the play so I am not sure where he thought the help was coming from. All in all, the play call was very questionable and one I am sure Marcus Freeman wishes he could have redone. Position and Player Overviews from the Game: I thought Gabe Rubio held his own rather well. It was a tough ask to come in and replace someone like Rylie Mills amidst the playoffs, but Rubio showed he can hold up at the point of attack and gets some good push vs the run. He just needs to be more consistent. I thought the linebackers in general struggled vs the run. They were really over pursuing on misdirections and jumping out of their lanes while not doing a great job of getting off second-level blocks. That being said, Drayk Bowen had one of the best plays of the game with his forced fumble. Bowen was on a run blitz and got turned and pushed towards midfield. He was the furthest player from Egbuka, but hawked him down from 30 yards out and made a huge play that gave Notre Dame life. Watts will go down as one of the best safeties to ever wear the blue and gold, but in this particular game, I thought it was one of his roughest from a run-support standpoint. He was a tad slower than normal keying pass vs run, and where he normally takes great angles when coming down from his safety spot, he overran a few plays this time around and got himself out of position. Not enough can be said about what Jaden Greathouse has become. His contested catch ability has shined against some really talented corners in the last two games, and he has major YAC ability. I look forward to seeing him continue to grow and become a true number-one receiver for whoever is taking snaps under center next year. Leonard Moore's biggest stand-out play from the game may have been chasing down a TreVeyon Henderson run, going 22 miles per hour to save a touchdown, but his coverage ability is quietly among the best in the country. Even when a receiver was able to snag a catch against him, he was never out of phase and always in position to make the tackle right away - and that includes covering fellow Freshman All-American Jeremiah Smith. The offensive line was a work in progress all season long due to injuries, but in the biggest moments like the National Championship, I thought they played extremely well together overall and continued to give the offense a shot. I hope Notre Dame fans do not feel that this game was lost due to some major talent disparity because that is certainly not the case. Some early errors against a talented team created a hole that was a tad too deep to climb out of. Some defensive stops on third down, or a few less three and outs on offense, and this game could have been completely flipped on its head. Notre Dame is as close to reaching the mountain top as it has been in quite some time and that will not evaporate with this National Championship defeat. Marcus Freeman never lost his composure, even when his team made some fairly out-of-character blunders, because he ultimately understands that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and his squad WILL be back in the title hunt sooner than later. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

After three successful years at Notre Dame, DC Al Golden will take the same position with the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's look at who could potentially be in the running to replace him as Notre Dame's next DC. Photo by Irish Tribune Notre Dame Football has been on quite a run when it comes to talented and successful defensive coordinators. It started in 2017 when Mike Elko was hired by Brian Kelly as the new DC. Since then, Elko has become a head coach at Duke before going to Texas A&M, where he seems to be moving that program in the right direction. Then, Clark Lea came into the program and immediately showed his prowess as a coordinator, building a very strong defense during his tenure. Now, Lea is the head coach at Vanderbilt, where he has led them to one of their best seasons in years. Following Lea, Freeman was hired to be the next DC at Notre Dame, and it goes without saying that as a head coach, Freeman has put Notre Dame back in the upper echelon of college football. Freeman, as the head coach, hired Golden. During his time at Notre Dame, he has turned Notre Dame's defense into one of the best units in the country year after year. Known for his man defense, this season's secondary ranked the best in the entire country. Now, Golden moves back to the Bengals, where he has coached before, to be their DC. So, the question is, who will be the next DC at Notre Dame, and will they have the success that the ones before have had? We've compiled a preliminary list of names to consider. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. Mike Mickens: Notre Dame Defensive Back Coach As it stands now, Mickens seems to be the most logical choice. Mickens has been with Notre Dame since 2020 when Brian Kelly hired him as the DB coach. Since then, he has built the DB position into an anchor position for the Irish. Mickens has coached All-Americans Benjamin Morrison, Kyle Hamilton, and Xavier Watts just to name a few. Freeman has also spoken highly about his ability to evaluate talent. Most recently, Mickens found Leonard Moore, who was just a three-star recruit, and he has now coached him into one of the best freshman corners in the country. Mickens would also bring a sense of continuity and familiarity to the defense, which can be a huge advantage for a team looking to compete for another National Championship. Al Washington: Notre Dame Defensive Line Coach Washington would be another in-house hire for Freeman if that is something he is considering. Washington has been with the Irish for the past three years. While at Notre Dame, Washington has shown an ability to produce pro talent, notably Isaiah Foskey, Howard Cross III, and Rylie Mills. Washington may have had his best coaching effort this season with the plethora of injuries the defensive line faced. With those injuries, Washington's unit was still able to post impressive numbers. Similar to hiring Mickens, Washington would also provide continuity on the defensive side of the ball. Joe Rossi: Michigan State Defensive Coordinator Rossi is a potential outside hire that Marcus Freeman could look at to replace Golden. Rossi has over 20 years of college coaching experience under his belt. His career started at Maine as a special teams coordinator before landing a job at Rutgers. At Rutgers, he served as a special teams coordinator before being promoted to the defensive coordinator position. He then went to Minnesota to be the defensive line coach. He was quickly promoted as the DC for the Gophers. In 2021, Rossi was a nominee for the Broyles Award, which is given to the best assistant coach in the country. In that same year, his defense ranked third in total defense, sixth in scoring defense, and eighth in rushing defense. Rossi had a few dominant defenses at Minnesota, making him one of the premiere coaches in the country. Now at Michigan State, he is part of a rebuild but could be on his way to Notre Dame if Freeman sees him as a suitable replacement for Golden. Bryant Haines: Indiana Defensive Coordinator Haines is another potential candidate for the DC job, as he currently coaches the defense for the Indiana Hoosiers. Haines, also a Broyles Award nominee, has been with Curt Cignetti since their time at James Madison. While at JMU, Haines consistently had one of the best defenses at the FCS level. Now at Indiana, he was a huge part of Hoosiers' early success in year one of the Cignetti era. Haines' defenses are known for their elaborate schemes to stop the run. With the talent that would become available to him at Notre Dame, Haines could become a high-level coordinator, as he has already proven his ability to out-coach teams with better talent during his time at Indiana and JMU. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

After a run to this season's CFP National Championship game, which ultimately ended with a hard-fought loss to Ohio State, Notre Dame has subtly added some key pieces in the portal, ones they hope will help the sustain the program's success heading into next season and beyond. Photo by The Irish Tribune Devonta Smith: Defensive Back Previous School: University of Alabama Smith was the first player to announce his commitment to Notre Dame this portal cycle, and he comes to Notre Dame after four years at Alabama. In Tuscaloosa, Smith played a role on special teams his first two seasons on the team before earning playing time at cornerback during his junior year. That season, however, was shortened early on due to an injury that kept him on the bench. The 2024 campaign is where Smith saw his biggest jump, as he started every game for the Crimson Tide. Although Alabama's defense was suspect for most of the season, Smith performed well, recording 30 total tackles and five pass deflections. And, with the departure of Benjamin Morrison to the NFL next season, Smith will likely serve an important role for the Irish. Together with Christian Gray and Leonard Moore, the former Crimson Tide standout will help form a talented cornerback group. Malachi Fields: Wide Receiver Previous School: University of Virginia Notre Dame has also addressed their need for more talented wide receivers with the signing of Malachi Fields. Fields is a long, athletic, and physical wide receiver who offers a big target on the outside -- something Notre Dame desperately needs next season. The former UVA target stands an imposing 6'4 and weighs 220 lbs. With that size, he also contains impressive speed, making him a nightmare to guard on the outside. Fields is coming off an impressive 2024 campaign, one that practically mirrored his output from the 2023 season. In 2023, Fields caught 58 passes for 811 yards and found the end zone five times. He followed that up in 2024 with 55 receptions, 808 yards, and five touchdowns. On subpar teams, those are impressive stats. With senior wide receiver Beaux Collins graduating, Fields will be an excellent replacement for the 2025 season. Will Pauling: Wide Receiver Previous School: University of Wisconsin Pauling joins the Irish wide receiver room after stints at both Cincinnati and Wisconsin. While at Cincinnati, Pauling played under current Notre Dame wide receiver coach, Mike Brown. At 5'10, Pauling is a quick and shifty player in the open field. He's also an efficient route runner with the ability to catch in traffic and make defenders miss. All of this makes him a great target in the middle of the field for whoever is under center for Notre Dame next season. His most productive season came in 2023, his first year with the Wisconsin Badgers. That year, Pauling recorded 74 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers would almost double the yards of any player on Notre Dame's current roster. This past season, Pauling saw a fairly large drop in production, but that "decline" can be attributed to Wisconsin's mundane offense and injury problems at the quarterback position. Still, Pauling did reel in 42 passes for just over 400 yards to go along with three touchdowns. Ty Washington: Tight End Previous School: University of Arkansas Washington, a Chicago native, came out of high school as a three-star recruit and found his way to Arkansas before recently transferring to Notre Dame. Washington just concluded his redshirt sophomore year at Arkansas, where his season was cut short due to a violation of team rules. Throughout his three years at Arkansas, Washington did not seen the field on a consistent basis. During his freshman year, he caught just one pass, but that was for a touchdown. The next year, Washington saw an uptick in playing time, but that ended when he suffered a season-ending shoulder ending. This season, Washington saw the field sparingly, once again, recording just two receptions, one going for a touchdown. Despite his minimal playing time, he holds all the tools to make an impact on the field. His 6'4 247-lb. frame might be looked at as a limitation for his position, but those physical attributes don't stop him from flashing undeniable athleticism. His size and speed make him an ideal target in the receiving game, and an effective blocker in the run game. While he still has a lot to prove on the field, there is no denying Washington possesses all the right tools to make an impact for the Irish next season. Jared Dawson: Defensive Tackle Previous School: University of Louisville Notre Dame's defense landed another transfer piece with the commitment of senior defensive tackle Jared Dawson. Dawson joins the team after previously playing at Louisville, a program that has become a bit of a rival in recent years. After playing a total of six games in his first two seasons, Dawson made a huge jump, appearing in every game in 2022. In 2024, Dawson had his most productive year for the Cardinals in just 10 games. In those contests, he recorded 19 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble. Dawson is a powerful athlete, the type that Notre Dame -- regardless of who its next defensive coordinator will be next season -- desperately needs. The Irish are losing incredible production with the departures of Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills. Those two have been a staple of Notre Dame's defense, so Dawson will be a huge piece in building the defensive line back to where the program expects it to be. Noah Burnette: Place Kicker Previous School: University of North Carolina Burnette will be the next transfer kicker in line at Notre Dame after four years at North Carolina. Marcus Freeman has started to make transfer kickers the norm around the program in recent time, and this year is no different. Burnette arrives in South Bend with three years of experience kicking for the Tar Heels, though his accuracy has inconsistent throughout his career. In 2022, Burnette went 15-21 on his field goal attempts, good for a 71% average on the year. The bulk of his misses came between 30-39 yards, where he was five-for-nine. The best year for Burnette came in 2023 when his average spiked to a 95% field goal percentage. He was perfect between 20-29 and 40-49 yards, and only missed once between 30-39 yards. In 2024, his average fell back down to 71%, as he missed six of 21 attempts. Notre Dame will look to recreate the magic that Burnette had in 2023, which would be a huge bonus for a special teams unit that did deal with its fair share of issues this season. Elijah Hughes: Defensive Tackle Previous School: University of Southern California Hughes comes to Notre Dame after spending two years with the school's biggest rival, the USC Trojans. In those two years, Hughes played a total of 14 games (seven each season). Though he's had limited playing time as a Trojan, Hughes was able to record a total of 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Now, he'll look to be a part of rebuilding the interior of Notre Dame's defensive line with the aforementioned Cross III and Mills graduating. Jalen Stroman: Safety Previous School: University of Virginia Stroman will join an already talented Notre Dame secondary as a graduate senior after four years at UVA. Hard to miss on the football field, Stroman is an athletic and physical safety who isn't afraid to deliver the big hit. His hard-hitting nature will bring a new level of physicality to a Notre Dame defense that loses some physicality entering the offseason. During his freshman year at Virginia, Stroman played in every game of the season. He would play in 11 games the following two seasons but would only see the field once in 2024 due to an injury suffered during the first game of the season. While at UVA, Stroman put up some impressive stats, recording 111 tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and four pass deflections. Stroman will surely become a favorite to many Notre Dame fans due to his prowess as a physical force, but he will also fill a critical hole in the Irish secondary with the departure of Xavier Watts. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The general view across sports networks, social media, and water coolers alike, seems to be that Notre Dame will have its hands full trying to shut down a very explosive and very balanced Ohio State offense. I wouldn't argue too hard with that assessment. Photo by The Irish Tribune After all, OSU has been blowtorching opponents throughout the course of the CFP to the tune of just under a twenty point average winning margin. Ohio State QB Will Howard has come alive since the Michigan game, what was once a makeshift offensive line due to some injuries started to gel at the right time, and freshman phenom wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has been the star of the postseason. They have two outstanding running backs, another couple of pass catchers that would be number one options for many other teams, and a play-caller with plenty of experience who is known for his creativity in getting his playmakers involved. So you can see why many prognosticators have decided to count Notre Dame out before the opening coin toss, but is it all doom and gloom for the Fighting Irish as they get ready to enter their first National Championship since the 2012 season? In 1991, the New York Giants took on the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 25. Buffalo was loaded with offensive talent that year. Jim Kelly threw for nearly 4,000 yards, two of his receiver's had over 1,000 yards each, and running back Thurman Thomas, rushed for over 1,400. Vegas installed Buffalo as a 7-point favorite, with the consensus being that the offense was just too good to be stopped. The Giants defensive coordinator at the time was none other than the legendary Bill Belichick. Belichick's game plan, which is now displayed in the Hall of Fame, was a pick your poison approach rather than trying to shut everything down at once. He informed his defensive players their best course of action for that particular match up was to purposely concede yards in the running game in an effort to limit one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the league. The short of it, is the Giants held Buffalo to 19 points and captured the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in their franchise's history. How does that relate to Notre Dame and their upcoming matchup? Simply this, pick an area to attack, attack it with everything you have left in the tank, and let the National Championship chips fall where they may. I've watched countless snaps of the OSU offense, I am fully aware of the threats they pose at all levels of the field, but this is how I would choose to try to defend the Buckeyes in the biggest game of the year. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Coverage Options No team can run the same coverage every snap of the game. They may have a general idea of how they want to attack certain teams, but so many things are dependent on personnel and alignments. A team may favor rolling out a Dime defense to get extra defensive backs on the field to defend the pass, but if the offense continuously comes out in 13 personnel (1 running back, 3 tight ends) the defense will have to adjust to account for the bigger bodies on the field. This is about choosing defensive packages that you can fall back on throughout the course of the game and in big moments knowing it'll be your best chance to get a stop. Cover 2 The idea of playing Cover 2, and having two safeties deep to limit big vertical plays is tempting when facing a team like Ohio State. Michigan had success and pulled off a huge upset victory vs Ohio State using almost exclusively Cover 2 Zone. That spawned other teams to attempt the same game plan, but OSU has done a good job adjusting throughout the course of the playoffs and Will Howard has become very adept when attacking the middle of the field, which is the biggest soft spot in a Cover 2. One of the biggest advantages Notre Dame has utilized all year, is the playmaking ability of their safeties in run support and in underneath coverage. Xavier Watts is an All-American for a reason and will need to make his presence felt if Notre Dame hopes to pull out a victory. Relegating him to deep halves coverage not only removes Notre Dame's best ball hawk from his Robber position which he has thrived in all season, but it also creates a very light box for Ohio State to run against. Jeremiah Smith and company will be the least of the Irish's concerns if OSU is picking up five to six yards every time they hand the ball off. Penn State did a good job of getting push against Notre Dame's front in the Orange Bowl, and ND will need to be much more sound in that area this time around. Cover 1 Variations Cover 1 has undoubtedly been Notre Dame's bread and butter defensively all season long. Many talking heads would lead you to believe that Notre Dame can not possibly play the very coverage that helped elevate them to the National Championship, because Ohio State has too many weapons at their disposal to play man across the board. I think the opposite is true. I would play to your strengths. I think just as dangerous as Jeremiah Smith, is wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Ohio State loves to work him out of the slot, and he has been a mismatch nightmare. With so many teams playing a safety over the top of Jeremiah Smith, Egbuka has made a living in the middle of the field, and I actually believe he is the number one threat Notre Dame should worry about. Cover 1 would help in this department for a variety of reasons. In a Cover 1 Robber look, vs a 2x1 receiver set, the linebacker/nickel lined up over Egbuka (or whoever is in the slot) could play with inside leverage and funnel everything to the "Robber" which in most cases would be Watts. Watts is the best safety in the country when it comes to reading and reacting to those in-breaking routes. With Egbuka accounted for, the single high safety could shade to Jeremiah Smith's side, which would leave Leonard Moore as a true one on one defender on the outside. The All-American Freshman has given me no reason to believe he can not hold up in that situation. The safety rolling down would also give you an extra body to fit the run, and potentially chase down Will Howard when he chooses to use his legs on option plays or when breaking the pocket. Cover 1 Lurk is a variation that would involve the safety that rolls down to play man coverage as well, but this is very susceptible against crossing patterns and rub routes. Additionally, with everyone's back turned in man coverage, if the front four does not get home in the run game it could lead to a big play on the ground. Cover 3 Variations Cover 3, as it's name implies, calls for three deep defenders, all responsible for a third of the field. It helps protects against some vertical shots on the outside, and uses four underneath defenders to try to help take away the short and intermediate game. In a traditional Cover 3, the seams become hard to defend and the flats and short outside areas become exposed with the corners bailing deep, making this an iffy concept to use against a team like Ohio State. Aside from being a vertical threat, Jeremiah Smith also gets used in the short game a bunch. Ohio State will motion him across the line of scrimmage on quick throws in an attempt to let him outflank the defense and turn short throws into game changing plays like he did vs Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Trying to rely on a safety or linebacker to get outside and beat him to the flats is a tough ask. In a Cover 3 "Cloud" look, the corner would jam and play the flats, which could alleviate some of those issues, but the safety ends up rolling into the deep third zone to replace him which presents the same problem as the Cover 2 - having your playmaking safeties both bailing deep and limiting their ability to effect things underneath. There are obviously additional coverage methods like Cover 4, and Cover 6, but those are not the type of formations you run as a base, and I don't think Notre Dame would benefit much from overutilizing them. Personnel Considerations No matter what coverage look a team decides to run, the personnel package they use it from is just as important. When I review a team like Ohio State, I think Notre Dame would be best suited living in Nickel, specifically a 4-2-5 (4 defensive linemen, 2 linebackers, and 5 defensive backs). With having an extra defensive back on the field, Notre Dame will have to live with OSU being able to pick up some yardage on the ground, but coverage wise it gets all your play makers on the field at once. Nickelback Jordan Clark, I believe, is going to play a huge role in this game. As mentioned above, Emeka Egbuka, working from the slot position, has the potential to change the game. Clark will more times than not be responsible for him, and if he does his job well, Notre Dame will be in good shape. As far as linebackers go, you need your best athletes on the field for a game like this. Drayk Bowen has proven his ability to play coverage from his linebacking spot, and Jaylen Sneed has true sideline to sideline speed which would account for the two LB spots. On the defensive line, I would have my front attacking the "A Gaps". Pressure up the middle has led to some errant throws by Will Howard over the course of the year, and if Notre Dame wants to win the turnover battle, the key will be forcing a few more. Overall Defensive Choice If it isn't broke, don't fix it. I would continue to roll with a Cover 1 look, and not buy into the hype that Jeremiah Smith is a one man wrecking crew. A lot of situations on film of Ohio State making big plays was due to poor execution from the defenses they were facing more than it was a talent disparity. This is obviously not to say Ohio State is not a dangerous offense, because they are. Notre Dame however, is one of the rare teams equipped to neutralize a lot of their strengths. The secondary has played with unique cohesion, and its helped pave the way for a unforgettable season. Because of how often teams have played a Cover 2 against Ohio State, I would love to see Al Golden show a Cover 2 shell, and roll a safety down late to get into his famous 1-Robber look. Let Will Howard feel like he is facing the same type of defense he has seen so many times as of late, and force him to adjust post snap. If Notre Dame can get the proper push up the middle and speed up Howard's processing, I know there are turnovers to be had. Getting hands on receivers at the line of scrimmage and rerouting them will also help throw off the timing of plays. A lot will, and should, be asked of the Fighting Irish's dynamic duo at cornerback once again, but they have not backed down from a challenge yet. Teams do not make the National Championship by mistake. They identify their strengths early in the season, and continue to cultivate them throughout. Just as the NIU loss was a turning point for Notre Dame, the Michigan loss for Ohio State, albeit much later in the season, really woke them up and has them playing their best football when they need it the most. Just because Notre Dame has been the best in the country against the pass, doesn't mean Ohio State is suddenly going to become a triple option team, no more than Ohio State's potent pass offense means ND should change the way they have been winning games all year long. This will be a true good on good match up, and I think all Notre Dame has to do to have a shot, is be themselves. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Junior Cornerback Benjamin Morrison has officially announced his intentions to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, forgoing his senior year of eligibility.  Morrison originally committed to Notre Dame in July 2021 as a consensus four-star and top-50 CB in the ‘22 class. The Arizona native chose the Irish over Oregon and Washington.  As a freshman the young CB instantly made his impact felt. Morrison earned consensus Freshman All-American honors after recording 33 tackles and 10 passes defended including a team-leading six interceptions in 13 games played (9 starts). He earned his first two career interceptions including a 96-yard pick-six in the Irish’s 35-14 thumping of Clemson. Morrison one-upped this performance just two weeks later against Boston College when he tied a school record of three interceptions in one game. He capped his freshman year with his sixth interception in a Gator Bowl win versus South Carolina. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. In 2023 as a sophomore, Morrison recorded 31 tackles and 10 passes defended including three interceptions in 12 games played (11 starts). Along with helping Notre Dame to a 10-3 record, he had an interception in the Irish’s Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State, which marked the ninth and last of his career.   Morrison entered this most recent season as an AP Preseason All-American Second Team selection and a team captain for the Fighting Irish. Unfortunately, his year was cut short after sustaining a season-ending hip injury during the team’s win versus Stanford. In less than six games played, the junior tallied 20 tackles and three passes defended. Despite the injury, Morrison remained around the program and was a key leader of this season’s CFP Championship run.  The junior CB leaves South Bend as one of the most talented DBs to ever play for the Irish, joining the likes of Todd Lyght and Julian Love. Morrison projects as a first-round, top-three CB in the upcoming draft. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

We've been hearing whispers for some time that Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden would be leaving Notre Dame. Today, that news became official. Photo by The Irish Tribune Over the course of the season, and especially during Notre Dame's playoff run, it had been rumored that Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden might return to the NFL to fill coaching vacancies that had been opening up toward the end of the NFL regular season. Golden, a former Linebacker coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, will return to the same franchise with a promotion after his tenure with the Irish. Golden began his football career at Penn State, where he played as a tight end from 1988-1991. Following his career with the Nittany Lions, he would have a quick stint in the NFL before beginning his coaching career in 1993 as the offensive coordinator for Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey. He would land a graduate assistant position the following year at Virginia before earning his first positional coaching job at Boston College in 1997 as a Linebacker coach. After returning to his alma mater in 2000 for the same position, Golden would land his first defensive coordinator position in 2001 at Virginia, where he coached until 2005. Eventually, Golden would land his first head coaching job at Temple, going 1-11 in his first season at the helm. The Owls would see steady improvement under Golden over the next 5 years, culminating in 8-4 season in 2010, and a MAC Coach of the Year award in 2009. Golden would be hired by the Miami Hurricanes in 2011, but ultimately failed to see the same success he saw with the Owls. Golden would be fired after 5 seasons with the Hurricanes, going 32-35 over that span. Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. Al Golden would return to the NFL as a positional coach from 2016 to 2021 before being hired by Marcus Freeman to lead his defense in 2022. During his three seasons at Notre Dame, Al Golden ran one of the most prolific defenses in college football. The defense would improve each year under his leadership. In 2022, The Irish would be ranked 39th in total defense, allowing 23.0 points per game. The following season, Notre Dame would have a top 10 defense, ranked 8th and allowing just 15.9 points per game. During his final season with the Irish, Notre Dame's defense was ranked 5th, only allowing 15.5 points per game. Golden ran a pressure-oriented scheme at Notre Dame, which culminated in a top-5 turnover margin in college football in the 2024 season. Golden's defense had a knack for taking the ball away, as the Irish would finish the season 15 interceptions, with 5 returned for touchdowns, and 17 forced fumbles. Golden's tenacious approach to defending paved the way for Notre Dame to finish the regular season 11-1, en route to winning three college football playoff games before ultimately falling short in the national championship to Ohio State. Luckily for Notre Dame, this likely wasn't a move that blindsided Marcus Freeman. As it stands, there is no indication as to where Freeman and the Irish will go to replace his dominant presence. If the Irish were to promote from within, a prime replacement candidate would likely be Defensive Back Coach Mike Mickens, who has developed some of the best Notre Dame secondary players in history. Al Golden leaves Notre Dame with an incredible legacy of success at his position. A dominant run that Irish fans won't soon forget. Expect the Irish to hire the best man available to replace him. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Notre Dame got outplayed for three quarters, but showed heart in their late second half comeback bid that ultimately came up short as the Irish's national championship drought continues. Art by The Irish Tribune ATLANTA -- Too many unforced errors early in the game derailed Notre Dame's national title hopes. The Irish started the game off in the best possible way, an 18 play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ate 9:45 off the first quarter. Much of the drive was on the back of Riley Leonard's legs and utilizing the quarterback run game. Ohio State responded to the Irish's punch in the mouth with a haymaker of their own, well a few frankly. The Buckeyes scored on every single one of their first half drives, holding in a 21-7 lead into the halftime, while also getting the ball out of half. The matchup leading up to this game was the Notre Dame secondary against the Ohio State wide receiving core, but the phase of the Buckeyes' offense that the Irish couldn't contain was Will Howard in the quarterback run game. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here While Notre Dame needed a stop out of halftime to have any hope, Quinshon Judkins had a 70-yard run that eventually led to a one-yard touchdown score that eliminated all hope for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame was down by 24 after not converting on a fake punt and holding Ohio State to a field goal. The Irish then scored a touchdown on a 30-yard score by Jaden Greathouse, in which Greathouse evaded two Buckeye defenders on his way to the endzone. Notre Dame also converted the two-point conversion on a pitch to Jeremiyah Love. Momentum then continued to grow for the Irish after forcing an Emeka Egbuka fumble, and a drive that found Notre Dame knocking on Ohio State's end zone once again. The drive stalled, and Marcus Freeman ultimately decided to kick a field goal, which was missed by Mitch Jeter. Down by 16 points with limited time left in the game at the nine-yard line, Freeman's decision will be a main point of conflict in the offseason. The Irish then forced an Ohio State punt, and another Jaden Greathouse touchdown catch, and a Jordan Faison to Beaux Collins two-point conversion cut the Buckeyes' lead down to eight. Needing a stop, the Irish had Ohio State right where they wanted them in a 3rd and long, but Al Golden blitzed seven, which left Christian Gray one-on-one on the outside with Jeremiah Smith. The superstar freshman clinched it for the Buckeyes. It was a game in which Notre Dame needed to play a near perfect game; yet, with their miscues primarily in the 2nd quarter, the Irish didn't have enough late in the game to keep up with the star-studded Buckeyes. The national championship drought continues, but Notre Dame didn't go away quietly in this game. They showed fight, like they did all year. This team was special, and it was an honor covering them for 16 games this season. While it most definitely wasn't the desired outcome, the Irish have instilled that they can compete with the best in the country: a statement that couldn't be made for over three decades. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

History is written by the conquerors, and the Irish are holding the Pen. Notre Dame is looking to avenge decades of disappointment. Photo by The Irish Tribune Part I: Three Seconds, and One Man Short As OSU’s Running Back Chip Trayanum lunged towards the goal line with no time left on the clock, the stadium’s soul went numb. What was starting to feel like a party, became a familiar moment of despair in an instant. In a big stage, against a tier 1 opponent, Notre Dame looked like it belonged for 59 minutes and 57 seconds.  Marcus Freeman and his staff looked largely prepared for the moment, until they didn’t. It would be difficult to tell in real-time, but it would later be discovered that Notre Dame’s defense had 10 men on the field as the Irish handed the game winning touchdown to Ohio State. The Final would read as 17-14.  Biology begins to take over. The body protects itself from the aftermath of these moments by reverting into a state of shock immediately after they happen. The defense mechanism lasts only for so long.  Soon after, the body knows when you’re ready to feel what you were once unprepared for. It begins its natural shift to a piercing sense of despair, sadness. Why Notre Dame? Why, Notre Dame ?  The question of ‘why’ evolves into ‘how’. Reluctantly, the social media noise is too much to turn away from. That dreaded app within that dreaded device gets opened. The first thing at the top of the feed is an emboldened Ryan Day letting out the unfathomable.  “I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is right about now. What he said about our team... What he said about our team? I cannot believe! This is a tough team right here! We’re proud to be from Ohio. And it’s always been Ohio against the world! And it’ll continue to be Ohio against the world! And I’ll tell you what, I love those kids! And we got a tough team!” Those words could very well be etched on Ryan Day’s trophy should he earn one on January 20th.  However, those words have also been etched in the souls of every single player, coach, and fan associated with Notre Dame football, since they were uttered. They will have been played on a haunting loop for 485 days come January 20th. At the very conclusion of the soundbite, they yearned for the day of vengeance to come. Part II: The Bumpy Road to Better Mitch Jeter jogged onto the field as Notre Dame found itself in a familiar scenario under Marcus Freeman - trailing a MAC team in week 2. This would be to kick a 62 yard field goal, and to win the game. The “no-chance” field goal sailed nowhere close to the uprights as the Irish fell 16-14 to NIU.  It was a program altering loss. Both by its devastating nature, as well as its unacceptable outcome. What was once a Notre Dame team that firmly controlled its own destiny after its needle moving win vs Texas A&M, was now the laughing stock in all of college football. The playoffs went from a relative inevitability, to a distant dream unworthy of serious discussion.  The only serious discussions amongst the Irish faithful was if Marcus Freeman was truly the man for the job. In just 2 full seasons and 2 games, the Freeman experience had featured dominant wins against premier opponents - a rarity under Brian Kelly, stretches of dominance not seen since the Holtz era, and back breaking losses perhaps never before seen in South Bend. These losses included Marshall, Stanford, and now, NIU.  With the heavy expectations going into Freeman’s third year (as is always the case at Notre Dame), this outcome was one that was powerful enough to shift the sentiment towards the program entirely. While Freeman wasn’t necessarily on the hotseat, there’s no way to ignore that he was a loss against Purdue away from the entire fanbase resigning itself to failure in 2024 and beginning the national coaching search that it had done when Weis was let go in 2009. That was what the season had been limited to.  The week following, Notre Dame was a 7 point favorite versus Purdue. There were legitimate questions on if Riley Leonard was healthy enough to play in the first place. And even if he was healthy, his performance was so bad (the worst in his career) against NIU, that it wouldn’t have been far fetched that the staff moved on to “greener pastures”. For those who have followed Notre Dame football, this was nothing new. Especially under Brian Kelly, the QB carousel was a regularity. Now would be as convenient a time as any to use Leonard as a scapegoat for a much deeper problem on offense.  Notre Dame’s staff would do no such thing as the offense completely rolled Purdue with 578 yards, 362 of them coming from the rushing attack. Leonard would rush for 100 yards, Love would rush for 109, and Price would run for 86. All of them accounting for 4 touchdowns.  The defense took the ball away as Boubacare Traore would take an interception to the house.  The Irish would win 66-7, handing Purdue its worst loss in program history. Notre Dame wasn’t back to where it was after week 1, that was something that could only happen should they make the playoffs. That was still a conversation not worth having. But Notre Dame was now on the first step on the road to recovery from that fateful day, September 7th.  From there, Marcus Freeman and his team battled through a decimating wave of injuries on all sides of the ball. Even the kicker, Mitch Jeter, was out for much of the season.  Even still, Notre Dame wouldn’t have a game closer than 31-24 vs Louisville - a game they led by 2 possessions for almost the entirety of the contest. The most dominant stretch Notre Dame’s cherished program has seen. The longest win streak. And it all lead to Notre Dame hosting the first ever playoff game in the newly unveiled 12-team format.  They would go on to beat IU 27-17, a game in which they lead 27-3 up until the final minutes. They would turn the corner as a program, as they finally won a new years six bowl game against a tier 1 opponent, 23-10.  As Mitch Jeter’s kick inched its way into the uprights to take the lead against Penn State, 27-24, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame had done what was unthinkable just 4 months before. They had punched their ticket to the National Championship game. They would await the results of Texas vs Ohio State to see who their opponent would be.  Enjoying our content? Subscribe to Tribune+  for intel & support our independent journalism. Ohio State The roads that the respective teams had to walk were similar. As quickly as the two programs drifted into their darkest moments, Notre Dame and Ohio State sprung out of the shadows almost immediately.  Following Ohio State’s embarrassing 13-10 loss to their despised rival, Michigan, there were questions on if Ryan Day was actually capable of bringing Ohio State the same glory that the program had experienced just a decade earlier.  Ryan Day and Chip Kelly came forth with a game plan that simply didn’t match Ohio State’s strengths, nor did it tap into its true identity. The staff was dead-set on establishing the run game and imposing its will within the trenches. The aforementioned game plan yielded 77 yards on the ground.  Minimal in-game adjustments were made as Will Howard and his explosive stable of wide receivers were unable to gain traction. Howard threw 2 interceptions and was unable to reach the 200 yard mark on the day. An offense that at times showed flashes of being the best in the country throughout the year, was completely neutralized.  Chip Kelly had no answers, and neither did Ryan Day. This spurred justified outrage from the Buckeye faithful. A game that quite literally carried more weight than the national championship (until recently), was yet again Ohio State’s most embarrassing folly of the season. Day would fall to 1-4 vs the Wolverines. A career mark that at one time would be grounds for termination in Columbus. Even with 2 losses, and the shame that was attached to this crumbling defeat, Ohio State would be granted a path towards redemption within the new 12-team playoff.  They would face Tennessee. An SEC blue-blood that featured a wicked defense. The Volunteer fan base showed up for the frigid showdown in Columbus to the point that the stadium was almost split in half. All good will had appeared to be lost amongst the Ohio State fanbase.  With their backs against the wall, the OSU roster that has been oft-touted as the “most expensive roster in the country” emphatically made a statement to the rest of the country that it had finally arrived as they blew the doors off the Volunteers, 42-17. And frankly, it didn’t feel like it was that close.  Ohio State nearly eclipsed 500 yards in total offense vs a defense that was in discussion as one of the country’s best. The Buckeyes would have 7.4 yards per play. Howard would have only 5 incompletions, going 24/29, 311 yards, and 2 Touchdowns.  Ohio State would have as much success on the ground, chipping away for 156 rushing yards. Their explosive, home run hitting running back, TreVeyon Henderson, would run for 80 yards on only 10 carries, accounting for 2 touchdowns.  The Buckeye defense, which was largely the reason Ohio State was in the playoffs to begin with, made light work of Tennessee’s offense, limiting the Volunteers to a futile 104 yards through the air.  If the performance against Tennessee announced their arrival, their utterly dominant performance against Oregon, a team they had lost to by only 1 point earlier in the year, announced that Ohio State was here to stay.  Their offense would reach the 500 yard mark this time, averaging 8.8 yards per play. Will Howard and his receiver room were fully in sync. Chip Kelly’s offense rolled in totality. Jim Knowles and his regularly stout defense would give Oregon zero hope. Oregon wouldn’t even reach 0 yards in total rushing. They’d in fact have -23 yards by the end of the competition.  A team that bested Ohio State just months before, was embarrassed on the national stage, falling 41-21. And again, it wasn’t that close.  While OSU’s offensive output wasn’t as impressive in their match up against Texas, and Jeremiah Smith was largely taken out of the competition vs the Longhorns with only 3 yards accounted for, Ohio State found a way. Whether it be on the ground, or through the air. Ohio State did just enough to command Texas’s respect.  With the outcome of the game in the balance, Steve Sarkisian did everything he could to find the endzone and tie the game 21 a piece. Quinn ewers would soon be attacked from his blindside by his former roommate, Jack Sawyer. The ball fell to the ground, and into the hands of Sawyer. As 33 streaked down the sideline, escorted by a Buckeye Convoy, the match-up in the Title game was now chiseled in stone.  It would be Notre Dame vs Ohio State, on January 20th. For everything.  Get an officially licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle! Code IrishTribune20 for $20 off. Part III: The Changing Narrative Let’s call it how it is. This isn’t a normal Notre Dame team. It’s as if the national media conglomerates stopped following all developments in South Bend after September 7th, and only started to pay attention when the post season began. Because they did. And so with that, the narrative has been predictable. This is a “gritty” team where “they lack in talent, they make up for with good coaching.” Enter the 2012, 2018, and 2020 talking points.  It shouldn’t be ignored that in 2012, they were taken down to the wire by Purdue, BYU, and Pittsburgh. Really, they could’ve easily lost to Pittsburgh if not for an almost miraculous degree of luck. Teams that weren’t even close to the caliber of a tier 1 level of performance regularly stuck around with Notre Dame that year. Even the classic match up where Notre Dame prevailed over Stanford in Overtime. That was a special moment. One of my personal favorites. But anyone arguing Stanford was at said championship caliber, would be fooling themselves. The only time Notre Dame looked dominant over a quality opponent was Oklahoma. And even then, that was a 10-3 team.  All one has to do is re-watch the 2012 Title game versus Alabama, and it is abundantly clear that even if Notre Dame played perfectly, there was little hope in winning that match-up. The Irish played far from perfect. It was such a poor showing that it stained what was otherwise a special season. It also tainted the national opinion of Notre Dame. 12 years later, that narrative remains- right, wrong, or indifferent.  And mind you, almost the same exact thing could be said for the other two teams that made the playoffs in 2018 and 2020.  The 2018 team was the best overall team Kelly had. The overall talent Clemson had was ultimately too much for everyone. It would’ve taken, again, the perfect set of circumstances for Notre Dame to walk away victorious. But that would not come to fruition. Julian Love went down with a hamstring injury, Donte Vaughn (who was injured in his own right), was picked on from the jump. Ian Book was unable to look down the field, Clemson’s talent began to take over. Trevor Lawrence was...Trevor Lawrence. And before the second half began, the game was over.  2020 was Brian Kelly’s best coaching job. Dealing with the COVID pandemic for an entire season was no easy task. At times, having an almost month layoff in between games. The undefeated Irish went into their match-up with Alabama knowing they’d have to play perfect, as well as aggressive, to come away victorious. They did neither. The Irish once again, looked as though they were playing not to lose. The game plan made it painstakingly obvious. Brian Kelly’s post-game press conference all but affirmed these assumptions.  The 2021 team was a Georgia win versus Alabama away from making the playoffs. That same Notre Dame team that almost lost to Toledo, Florida State, and Virginia Tech. We’re talking razor thin margins here. This was also a team that was getting dominated in the trenches, had 0 answers on offense, and required an incredible 4th quarter to take the lead and then pull away. It was also a team that got embarrassed at home by Cincinnati.  There’s a lot of credit due to all of those teams. But in being honest, these were teams that stumbled their way into the national conversation.   This time it’s different. The 2024 team is the most dominant Notre Dame has had since the last time Holtz and company won it all in 1988. Its depth, which is amongst the best in the country, has been pushed to its absolute limit, perhaps more than any Notre Dame team in recent (or distant) memory. Even still, they not only “find a way to win”, but dominate. Coming from the era of “winning is hard”, it’s clear that those days are long gone.  And with that, so should the narrative that Notre Dame is “lucky” or “fortunate” to be on this stage. As if to allude to this season being some divine act of God and nothing more. We’ve seen the national media latch onto this talking point far too many times this year, and look foolish doing so. Especially now. The superlatives that have been used to describe this team by those who just started following it are annoying at best, and disrespectful at worst. Of course, luck is an element of any special season. But it hasn’t been at the backbone of what the 2024 team is.  No one at ESPN, FS1, or CBS wants to hear it (because it doesn’t fit their narrative) but this will be the first time Notre Dame isn’t the most talented team on the field all season. And while yes, Ohio State has a phenomenal roster, they’re extremely well coached - Notre Dame has those things going for them too. There’s only one position group that is head and shoulders above the other in a head to head comparison and it’s OSU’s receiver room over Notre Dame’s. That’s it. That’s the list.  So one thing we’re not going to do is entertain that angle. No. These are truly the two best teams in college football. Both have earned the stage they stand on through the level of play they have exhibited. Not only are these the two best teams, they’re the two most dominant in the country as well.  Both have had their moments where the season was absolutely in the balance. Interestingly enough, both coaches in the title were taken to task to varying degrees. And yet both of them managed to bring out the best in their teams after adversity struck.  One could argue that Notre Dame has had more adversity than anyone else in the country. Some of it self-imposed, some of it just old fashioned bad luck.  These are the injuries the Irish sustained in 2024:  Charles Jagusah (starting Left Tackle) - out for season, came back in orange bowl Ashton Craig (Center) - out for season Billy Schrauth (starting Left/Right Guard) - out for 4-6 weeks Jordan Botelho (Vyper) - out for season Boubacare Traore (Vyper) - out for season Benjamin Morrison (Cornerback) - out for season Cooper Flanagan (Tight End) - out for 4-6 weeks, re-injured, out for season Howard Cross (DT) - injured throughout the year, then out for 4 weeks Rylie Mills (DT) - out for season, injured during round 1 in playoffs Rocco Spindler (RG) - questionable Anthonie Knapp (LT) - out for season, injured in Orange Bowl. Not to mention the departures and absences:  Jason Onye (DT- unspecified absence) Jaden Mickey (Cornerback - transfer portal) Gabriel Rubio (Was not with team throughout spring, then injured for part of the season, 4 weeks) Mind you, Riley Leonard was injured all of spring camp, getting 0 real-time reps. He also has had a shoulder injury for the entirety of the season.  Mitchell Evans wasn’t even close to himself until essentially November due to his ACL injury in 2023.  Jeremiyah Love has been nowhere near 100% since November 25th, and was practically on one leg during the Orange Bowl.  Even still, this team found a way to have a combined score of 518 to 161 From NIU week to now. Since NIU, Notre Dame hadn’t trailed in a game in the second half until the Orange Bowl.  Notre Dame doesn’t have the edge in any match-up in particular. Neither does OSU. This is a close game on paper, an epic game on film, and it comes with a storyline that wouldn’t have even been worth submitting to Hollywood as a script. The two teams playing in the national championship have been on a crash course to face each other since they last faced off. Whether it be on the recruiting trail, or on the field.  Their paths continue to undeniably cross. If there are indeed “Football Gods” it’s hard not to think they played a hand in making this game happen.  A storybook season, culminating with a storybook matchup on the biggest stage in all of college football. In a book that had its first pages written at the conclusion of that fateful night of September 23rd, 2023. Now, the final chapter begins as both teams battle for the pen. That battle will determine who gets to write the last pages. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

The Irish upset the third-ranked Golden Gophers 4-3 in overtime on Saturday at Minnesota. We recap Notre Dame’s most impressive win of the season, thus far, below: Photo by The Irish Tribune A back-and-forth affair was ultimately decided thanks to a 30-save performance from Irish Goalie Owen Say and two-point outings from Forwards Cole Knuble and Ian Murphy. Knuble’s second point came on Forward Blake Biondi’s overtime game-winner. Murphy was the first to strike  a s he redirected Defenseman Henry Nelson’s shot past Gophers Goalie, Liam Souliere, to put the Irish up 1-0 about eight minutes into the game. Henry’s brother, Forward Danny Nelson, was also credited with an assist on Murphy’s third goal of the year.  Minnesota responded about five minutes later when Jimmy Snuggerud powered his way past the Irish defense before tying the game up at 1-1.  In the first period, both teams played clean with no penalties called as the Golden Gophers outshot the Irish 14-11.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here Two and a half minutes into the second, Irish F orward Carter Slaggert put Notre Dame back on top 2-1  off of some great passing from Forwar d Hunter Strand and Defenseman Jimmy Jurcev, both of whom were credited with assists on the goal. Jurcev’s assist extended his point streak to three as the young defenseman has come alive offensively recently.  Again the Gophers would respond with a goal of their own about three minutes later. Luke Mittelstadt tied the game 2-2 after finishing a backhander past Say.  Notre Dame would again answer about five minutes later and just over midway through the period to take a 3-2 advanta ge. Knuble added his ninth goal  of the season on a great wrist shot to beat Souliere. Forwards Brennan Ali and Murphy were awarded assists.  A strong offensive performance from the Irish was the highlight of the second period as they outshot the Golden Gophers 15-9. The Gophers successfully killed their two penalties as the Irish killed their lone mistake as well.  Unfortunately, this offense appeared to completely disappear in the third period as the Irish mustered just two shots in the final twenty minutes.  Minnesota’s Matthew Wood connected on a backhander to tie the game 3-3 just over seven minutes into the period.  This was the lone goal of the period as both teams needed an extra period to decide a winner. Notre Dame killed their only penalty in the third as they were outshot 9-2 by the Gophers. Biondi was the overtime hero  a s he finished off a great assist from Knuble to give the Irish a 4-3 victory over a top-three team in the country. Defenseman Axel Kumlin was also credited with an assist on the game-winner.  Notre Dame will look to carry this momentum into next weekend when they host Lindenwood. Key Player Stats: Owen Say (ND): 30 saves, 3 goals against Ian Murphy (ND): 1 goal on 4 shots, 1 assist, +1 Cole Knuble (ND): 1 goal on 3 shots, 1 assist Erik Pahlsson (MIN): 2 assists, 5 shots, +2 Key Team Stats: Shots: MIN (33) - ND (31) Blocked Shots: ND (14) - MIN (10) Faceoffs Won: MIN (31) - ND (30) Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun