Notre Dame Called Out for Locker Room Behavior After Loss to Ohio State

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.R. DeGroote | Last updated Jan 21, 2025 12:12 AM ET

With emotions running high, the Notre Dame locker room was a tense and hostile environment following their 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the national championship.

The Irish staged a late-game rally but fell short against the Buckeyes. Ohio State built a dominant 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter, and while Notre Dame fought back with a strong fourth-quarter push, it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

After the game, Dan Wolken of USA Today Sports gave some insight into what was happening in the Notre Dame locker room after the loss.

"Bizarre scenes from the Notre Dame locker room, players yelling at reporters, coaches warning people not to ask certain questions," Wolken wrote on X. "Amateur hour."

A fan asked Wolken to post a video but he replied that it wasn't allowed.

While the locker room was reportedly tension-filled, quarterback Riley Leonard was all class while speaking to the media.

"We've been through ups and downs. I've been through ups and downs," Leonard said. "I don't even recognize the person that I was before I got to Notre Dame and it's all credit to these guys beside me and everybody else in the locker room."

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman also struck an optimistic tone, delivering a confident outlook on the future of Irish football.

"The outlook of Notre Dame football is extremely high. As long as the people in that locker room that come back understand what it takes," Freeman said. "The work these guys have put in, there's a lot of success in our future."

Notre Dame has not won a national championship since 1988.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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