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Notre Dame

Marcus Freeman clarifies controversial fourth-down decision in national title loss vs. Ohio State

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•about 9 hours•

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Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman in the national championship
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Trailing Ohio State 31-15 in the fourth quarter in the national championship, Notre Dame looked like it had the makings of a comeback. The Fighting Irish got a big turnover and were deep into Buckeyes territory before the offense stalled out, setting up 4th-and-Goal.

Rather than go for the touchdown, Marcus Freeman opted to kick a field goal. Mitch Jeter’s attempt instead went off the upright, keeping it a 16-point game. Afterward, Freeman clarified the controversial decision.

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At the time of the decision, Notre Dame needed two touchdowns and two two-point conversions to tie the game. Freeman’s thinking was to take away the conversions and, instead, make it a 13-point game – therefore, needing two touchdowns and two PATs to take the lead. Considering the ball was at the 8-yard line, Freeman thought it was too far a distance to go for it.

“I think it was 4th and 9 or 10. And I just thought, instead of being down 16, let’s try to go down 13,” Freeman said. “I know it’s still a two-score game, but you have a better probability of getting 14 points than you do 16 points.

“If it was a shorter 4th and Goal situation, I probably would’ve gone for it. But, I just felt 4th and 9 was not a great chance for us to make that. I decided to kick it, and we didn’t make it.”

Ohio State then got the ball back, but failed to get anything going and punted the ball back to Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish continued to battle, though, as Riley Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for a big touchdown to make it a 31-23 ballgame after a creative two-point conversion.

The Buckeyes then tried to drain clock, but ended up stalling out and appeared on their way to a punt. But one play from Howard – a 57-yard pass to Jeremiah Smith – sealed the game, and Jayden Fielding’s late field goal made it a 34-23 score, which held as the final.

For Ryan Day and Ohio State, it completed a journey to the mountaintop and an incredible redemption story after a loss to Michigan to end the regular season. But for Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame, it marked a comeback that fell short as the Fighting Irish looked to complete a run to a championship despite a slew of injuries on both sides of the ball.