Irish Breakdown

Notre Dame’s Magical 2024 Run: One Chapter Left to Be Written

Notre Dame's unforgettable 2024 season has one final chapter to be written in the CFP National Championship.
John Kennedy|
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates a touchdown scored during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana University at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates a touchdown scored during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana University at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish

So many "Notre Dame" things have lined up, it feels like destiny

As the Irish prepare to face off against the talented Buckeyes with immortal college football glory on the line, things just feel different around the Irish program.

From the 13-game win streak to the 3 playoff wins that each had a unique feel to them, to the Irish overcoming a long list of major injuries to key contributors to get to the title game, it just feels like it might be Notre Dame's time.

It isn't lost on me that Notre Dame's first official championship was won 100 years ago in 1924. Perhaps it's time for the Four Horsemen to ride again? Or how about the fact that the last coach to win a championship at Notre Dame, Ryan Day's mortal enemy Lou Holtz just turned 88 years old after winning his title for the Irish in 1988. History seems to be lining up for Notre Dame with just one chapter left to be written.

Marcus Freeman vs his alma mater for the 3rd time

Aside from the bigger historical picture of this matchup, there is the unique angle of Marcus Freeman and his relationship with Ohio State. As a former all-Big Ten linebacker for the Buckeyes, nobody understands Ohio State's history and culture more than Notre Dame's head man.

Freeman suffered a loss in his first official game as Irish head man at the Horseshoe in 2022 with a quarterback making his first-ever collegiate start by a score of 21-10. Notre Dame fought hard but was simply outmanned. In 2023, the Buckeyes traveled to South Bend and escaped with a win in a game Notre Dame should have won if not for a combination of astounding offensive, defensive, and coaching lapses in the closing minutes of the contest. This is a loss that still stings over a year later.

Now comes Marcus Freeman's third shot at his former team, with a title hanging in the balance. How sweet it'd be for Marcus to win this one and come full circle against the team he laid his body on the line for not long ago.

All of the narratives are present for the most compelling ESPN 30 for 30 yet if Notre Dame can pull the upset. Since week 2 Notre Dame has felt like a team of destiny, can the Irish write the final chapter of glory adding to Notre Dame's lengthy championship history? I wouldn't bet against it.

For more Irish news & notes follow John on Twitter @alwaysirishINC, Always Irish on Youtube and or your preferred audio podcast provider.

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John Kennedy
JOHN KENNEDY

Founder and content creator of the Always Irish LLC Notre Dame Football social media, podcast, and radio show brand since 2016 covering all things Irish football daily from the fan's perspective. Previously Notre Dame Football staff writer for USA TODAY Fighting Irish Wire before joining Notre Dame On SI. Known as the “voice of the Irish fan.”

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