Notre Dame Football Caps Off Historic Season

The National Championship game saw Notre Dame fall to Ohio State with a score of 34-23, but the season’s accomplishments were undeniable. The 2024 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football season will be remembered as a historic one, a new school record in wins and a hard-fought journey to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Under third year head coach Marcus Freeman, the team finished with an impressive 14-2, including 3 playoff victories.

The season began with high expectations and the Irish came up big in week one. After a “monkey off the back” kind of win at Texas A&M, a surprising upset loss to Northern Illinois at home early in the campaign raised doubt. However, the Irish bounced back with a vengeance, winning their next ten games convincingly. This included notable victories against ranked opponents. The Irish became the first program to record wins over ranked opponents in 6 straight months.

The regular season ended with Notre Dame at 11-1, securing their spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff for the first time since the format’s introduction. The Irish’s playoff run was marked by three big wins, including a first-round home victory against Indiana, a quarterfinal triumph over SEC champions Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and a dramatic semifinal win against Penn State in the Orange Bowl.

The Irish achieved their first Sugar Bowl victory since 1994, ending a ten-game losing streak in New Year’s Six bowl games, and recorded the program’s first 13-win season, which later became 14 after their Orange Bowl victory.

Despite the championship loss, the Fighting Irish football team left a lasting legacy with their performance throughout the season. They demonstrated adaptability, with Freeman navigating through injuries and depth issues, particularly highlighted by the use of the “next man up” philosophy of Coach Freeman, this team continued to believe and show up big.

Looking ahead, Notre Dame football has set a new standard under Freeman’s leadership. With the experience from this season, the Irish are poised to continue building on their success, aiming for not just playoff appearances but championships in the seasons to come. Much of the core from the 2024 team returns with one notable departure, QB Riley Leonard. The Irish are expected to look from within for the first time in 4 seasons and promote a QB to the starting roll. Steve Angeli (2023 Sun Bowl MVP) will compete in spring practice for the job. Underclassman CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey were highly recruited so the QB position is certainly not set in stone. This year’s Spring Game should be a test for the 3 QBs competing for the starting roll. Notable offensive weapons Jaden Greathouse and Jeremiyah Love are also set to return next season.

This season, though ending without the ultimate prize, “woke up the echoes” of past Irish powerhouse teams. It appears the Irish will be a factor on the national stage for at least the near future. Good things are happening in South Bend.

*Photos courtesy of AI, AP, Irish Illustrated, SI, CBS, ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and NBC. 

“Cowboy Regg” – Co-Host of the “Sons of the Star” Podcast. The podcast is available on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. 

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