It has been a while since the Notre Dame football team has truly been in national conversations. Coach Freeman's predecessor proclaimed strong stances about winning in South Bend. Coach Kelly left at the time for greener pastures and the promise of an easier path to the ultimate victory. But it is the team without a conference that is now one win away from being crowned champions. Regardless, this year's Fighting Irish team shows their ability to be resilient.
Furthermore, they're also looking to dispel preconceived notions about what others view as their place in the modern-day world of college football. In the early goings of the 2025 Orange Bowl, it looked settled. Penn State was able to run the ball when they needed to. The Nittany Lions not only built up a lead but also appeared to be giving Riley Leonard and the offense fits. Yet the field goal right before halftime may have been just the spark that was needed and something of a preview of what was to come.
And while the Big Ten team seemingly dominated. The scoreline didn't quite reflect this, and ND remained in striking distance. Then the script flipped. The Fighting Irish marched down the field and capped off an impressive drive with six, and the defense frustrated Drew Allar to even take the lead. And while there was something of a back and forth, it seemed fitting that the game would head to overtime.
Fittingly, Christian Gray picked off Allar as Penn State was pushing to win the game in regulation. And coach Freeman wasn't going to let this opportunity slip away. Unafraid of turning the ball over themselves, they gained the needed yards for a more than comfortable field goal attempt as Mitch Jeter made the 41-yard attempt. But the make and twist of fate from this game going beyond regulation to it ending in a lateral drill by the opposition encapsulated the season Notre Dame has had.
From their opening loss against Northern Illinois, few, if any, would have picked them to make the College Football finals. Despite the advent of the 12-team system, this aspect is allowed. A team can afford a bad loss and ride out the rest of their schedule, regardless of strength or conference, and make a legitimate case to not only be in but be viewed as one of the best in the country. As is, it's unfair at times to judge young adults in their upper teens and lower 20s too harshly or too soon.
Teams and roles develop and grow. Furthermore, some locker rooms get stronger and become more united as the season takes shape. With their opening CFP win against Georgia, the adage, 'playing their best football,' definitely applies here. And while they may have been pushed around early. It was the day's underdogs who reestablished control in the trenches and saw this one out. Even if the game had gone to overtime, the momentum and feel of the game were swinging in their favor.
One last task for Notre Dame
Now they'll face their biggest test of the season. It isn't often that the best teams advance and progress through a single-elimination tournament. But with the upcoming game between Ohio State and Texas, fans will witness two great programs battle it out for one last time in Atlanta. They'll face a top-quality opponent either way in the Buckeyes or Longhorns. And even if they end up being slated as underdogs in this one, rest assured that an early deficit or miscue will far from seal this game for the opposition. Notre Dame may not be all the way back compared to their historic days, but they are a lot closer now than they have been in quite some time.