SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nine final thoughts on Notre Dame going out (almost) on top after its 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Facing fourth-and-goal, down 31-15 early in the fourth quarter in a College Football Playoff National Championship clash against Ohio State, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman elected to kick a field goal.

Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman won a major award after leading the Fighting Irish to the National Championship game

Jack Kiser walked up the tunnel toward Notre Dame ’s locker room beneath Mercedes-Benz Stadium, tears welling in his bloodshot eyes, as if the linebacker had anything else to pour out. Behind him, all the scarlet and white confetti had fallen as Ohio State ’s national championship party swayed,

Here's a look back at Marcus Freeman's playing career at Ohio State as he leads Notre Dame into the CFP championship game on Monday vs. the Buckeyes:

Head coach Marcus Freeman shouldered the blame for Notre Dame's 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on

There are so many storylines with the upcoming titanic collision between Ohio State and Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. One of those is the ties between Irish head

The Notre Dame defense was able to keep Ohio State from scoring a touchdown, but they still notched a field goal. As for head coach Marcus Freeman, many fans on social media questioned why he simply didn't run a play with the offense in that situation or at least attempt to disguise the fake better.

The Notre Dame offensive lineman -- then a freshman -- and his teammates had just finished an 11-1 season only to be hit with the news that their head coach, Brian Kelly, was leaving for LSU while they still had an outside shot at making the College Football Playoff.