The Notre Dame Preventing Irish are on their solution to the Nationwide Championship! In what is going to go down as the best recreation of the 2024 season, the Irish beat Penn State 27-24 within the Orange Bowl. They’re presently in some of the essential streaks in program historical past. Notre Dame has re-established itself as some of the formidable groups in faculty soccer. Placing them again on the high of the faculty soccer panorama.
The credit score for this turnaround is all due to Marcus Freeman. When Brian Kelly left for LSU, it was believed that Notre Dame couldn’t win within the trendy period. That to win they must quit their conventional means of doing issues and adapt to what everybody else was doing. Nevertheless, Freeman has confirmed that flawed. The best way he’s led and coached this crew must be what each coach strives for. We’ll by no means know what Freeman stated at halftime, however no matter it was modified the best way this crew performed.
A giant cause why the Irish gained this recreation was as a result of they did precisely what Freeman has been preaching all season. That was successful the center 12 of the sport, the final 4 minutes of the primary half, and the primary eight minutes of the second. Similar to that they had all season, Notre Dame dominated that portion of the sport. Though it’s not the rationale they gained, it was a serious turning level and flipped momentum to Notre Dame. Listed here are the main takeaways.
Notre Dame Offense Answered Lingering Query
Going into the playoffs there was one main concern most had in regards to the Irish offense, how will they play when their behind? Certain their offensive assault has been working for them this season, however this got here when the sport was tied or they have been successful. They by no means needed to run their offense when trailing. Many thought that this offensive fashion wouldn’t work if Notre Dame was trailing. It is a truthful concern as run-heavy offenses do wrestle to beat huge deficits.
Nevertheless, the Orange Bowl proved that these considerations have been overblown. Penn State had a 10-0 lead on the two-minute warning. To make issues worse, beginning quarterback Riley Leonard needed to come out of the sport to be evaluated for a concussion. Nevertheless, Steve Angeli executed an ideal two-minute drill to get the Irish a area purpose proper earlier than halftime. Then popping out of the half, Leonard returned and marched proper now the sphere to tie the sport at ten.
This efficiency silenced all of the doubts surrounding the offense. Certain it’s not the best offense on this planet. However, they will nonetheless hold them in video games whatever the rating. They will overcome any deficit no matter how the crew has regarded. That is one other instance of what good teaching can do. Not letting the skin noise get to the gamers, and retaining them believing they’re nonetheless within the recreation.
Christian Grey Will get Signature Second
For nearly as good as this Notre Dame protection has been this season, one of many weak factors was the play of Christian Grey. The sophomore nook had been what crew passing assaults have been focusing on for the reason that recreation in opposition to USC. In that recreation, he was constantly uncovered and had a number of pricey penalties. After that recreation, groups began focusing on Grey and tried to make him have an analogous efficiency as he did in opposition to USC.
That was even true for a lot of the sport in opposition to Penn State. Nevertheless, all of that can be forgotten now, after Grey made the defining play of his Irish profession. With the rating tied at 24 with lower than a minute to go, Grey picked off Drew Allar at Penn State 42. This gave Notre Dame the ball, and so they kicked the game-winning area purpose 26 later. Grey’s interception is a serious cause for the win. He’s now etched himself in Notre Dame lore with it. We gained’t keep in mind the dangerous recreation in opposition to USC. As an alternative will keep in mind the decide to ship the Irish to the nationwide championship.
It was an excellent day for the Notre Dame secondary throughout. They held Penn State large receivers to zero receiving yards. Granted large receiver is among the weakest positions on their roster. Nevertheless, whenever you take them out of the sport, it’s a lot more durable for his or her offense to execute and get down the sphere.
Brian Germinaro is a sportswriter for Stomach Up Sports activities. Observe him on Twitter/X for extra sports activities protection and Stomach Up Sports activities for much more faculty soccer content material. Function picture credit score: Michael Pimentel/ISI Pictures.