210 days 

5000 hours 

300,000 minutes

That’s how long it’s been since the clock hit zero on the 2024-25 College Football National Championship Game. That night, the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame ended 34-23. With that final score, the Buckeyes picked up their second national title of the playoff era and their first since the 2014-15 season. 

Much like the title states, quite frankly, no, I haven’t gotten over the game. Yes, it still makes me very sad when I try to watch highlights or think about last season. Truthfully, I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it. As someone who has to live in Ohio and deal with Ohio State fans all the time, I’ll be honest, I probably could’ve dealt with a loss to Texas. But for some reason, losing to Ohio State feels much more graphic than a knife through the heart, more like a razor blade to… Well, I guess I can’t really say it on here, but you know what I mean. 

With the brand-new college football season merely weeks away, I figured it would be a good time to take a look back. Although I will admit that was probably one of the most heartbreaking losses I’ve had to endure as a college football fan. From someone who has been unfortunate enough to be a Cleveland sports fan and live through the Browns, Cavs, and Guardians constantly disappointing, Notre Dame has been somewhat of an escape over the last decade. As far as success in the sports realm, that has been it. However, all too often it became, we almost got there, but we couldn’t finish the job. 

It is a very similar feeling to what I felt when they lost to Northern Illinois early in the season. Well, honestly, it was more like full-blown panic, and I thought we were going to play in the “Insert Sponsor and Tropical Location Bowl, presented by Who Gives a Damn.” Contrary to that belief, I watched this team rally together throughout the back half of that season. As they managed to conquer every test put in front of them and get into the playoffs. 

Then came a showdown with Indiana at home, and Jeremiyah Love went 98 yards under the golden dome and sent the Hoosiers back to Bloomington sad and dethroned. 

Then tragedy struck, and the Sugar Bowl was delayed, but the Irish conquered the Bulldogs on what should’ve been New Year’s Day. 

Fast-forward a week, and it was James Franklin to beat, until a diving Christian Gray and Mitch Jeter’s feet put the game away. 

Then it was onward towards the title, for a third straight showdown with Ohio State became vital. Further proving that life was a bitch and hope fades into mist, Ohio State rolled, and it was their title to hold. 

Truth be told, I sat in my apartment and cried and watched on as a piece of me died. For over an hour I sat there wondering why we always get ever so close with nothing to show. 

Left hoping that next year would be the year we could finally gloat and return to the mountain top that we once so rightfully owned. 

• a poem I just yapped into my phone at 4am on August 14th, 2025 

I didn’t mean to turn into Shakespeare there; it just kind of happened, but back to reality. Yeah, I’ll sum it up. If you didn’t want to read that, it was very depressing. That Notre Dame team showed so much heart and so much fight throughout the back half of the season. I really thought this year was the year, but now it’s throughout fall camp and a long and lengthy summer. I’m really starting to think that this year might be the year instead. At the quarterback position a new era begins after years of bringing in transfer quarterbacks. A recruited player will be starting at QB for Notre Dame when they head down to Hard Rock Stadium against Miami. 

Whether it be CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey, they will need to quickly establish themselves as capable of leading this team back to the playoffs. If you want my honest opinion, I was very much a Steve Angeli guy, and I was disappointed when I found out he was transferring to Syracuse. Regardless, I have hope and high expectations for this Notre Dame team in 2025. I understand this is kind of odd to drop an opinion piece, but I fully plan on dropping season previews in the coming weeks before the season starts. 

But tell me if you actually take the time to read this (because yes, I know opinion pieces from a relatively unknown writer are useless), how did you feel following the game? Furthermore, how do you feel going into this brand-new college football season? 

Do you have any expectations for the Fighting Irish? Are they making a return trip to the playoffs, or do you have them winning it all? Yeah, it’s fair to say that no matter how many realistic expectations I try to set for myself with this team. Anything less than a national championship is going to be heartbreaking for me. 

Through blue and gray October skies, onward to victory this Notre Dame team goes. There may not be the Four Horsemen, or legendary figures like Holtz or Rockne, or the call to “win one for the Gipper.” But there are three amazing running backs, a potent quarterback, electric wide receivers, and a defense that is ready to prove to everyone that they are still among the nation’s best. No matter how frustrating last season’s loss was, much like all of you. I’ll be in front of my TV in a week, ready to watch some games, and eagerly awaiting another couple of weeks for Notre Dame football.