Marcus Freeman Breaks Silence on Notre Dame's Game-Clinching Jeremiah Smith Mistake

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Jan 21, 2025 8:15 AM ET

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman had the chance to become the youngest head coach since 1982 to win a national title game on Monday night.

However, he threw that chance away with a controversial decision in the fourth quarter against Ohio State - one that put the game out of reach for the Irish. With 2:38 left on the clock, Ohio State faced a third-and-11 from its own 34-yard line when quarterback Will Howard connected with freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith on a 56-yard pass.

It was the first time Smith had been targeted in the second half and ultimately set up the game-clinching field goal for the Buckeyes.

Freeman and the Notre Dame coaching staff were called out for leaving Smith on an island while bringing a heavy blitz. The head coach defended his decision after the game.

"It was do or die," Freeman told reporters. "It was that type of down. If they run it and they get a first down -- we've got to get them stopped, and we thought at that moment the best way to get them stopped is to run zero pressure. We have to have faith at some point that we can make a play."

He admitted the team's difficulties in trying to pick and choose how to defend the elite talent.

"There was times in the second half that we did in man coverage, but he's a heck of a player," Freeman said of Smith. "He's difficult to cover. You want to play zone, and they'll find ways to pick you apart. You want to play man, they'll find ways to get him the ball. It's a talented offense with that situation right there."

In the end, Ohio State walked out with a 34-23 victory.

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

More must-reads: