Trailing 31-15, Notre Dame stalled on that same drive after reaching the plus-8. On fourth-and-goal from the 9, Irish coach Marcus Freeman opted for a 27-yard field goal with Mitch Jeter, who hit the left upright on a miss.

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman is shouldering the blame for the Irish 34-23 loss to Ohio State in Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship. Notre Dame fell into a 24-point hole against the Buckeyes midway through the third quarter that Freeman said was the result of uncharacteristic mistakes in communication for which he takes all the blame.