Emotions were high for everyone who had their team playing in the college football national championship on Monday night, even on the ESPN broadcast team. 

Kirk Herbstreit, who played his college football at Ohio State as a quarterback from 1989-93, could not contain his emotions after watching his Buckeyes win the school's ninth national title, this time over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 

The 34-23 victory for the Buckeyes led Herbstreit to be reflective on this resilient group that went on a dominant playoff run following a tough loss to their rival Michigan Wolverines. 

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As Herbstreit was explaining overcoming adversity next to his play-by-play colleague Chris Fowler, his eyes began to well up with tears, and he could not hold them in. 

"Oh, don’t start with me, man," Herbstreit, who grew up about an hour away from Ohio State in Centerville, told his ESPN colleague Scott Van Pelt during the postgame show. "I’m a little emotional. I’m just fired up for these guys.

"When I call these games, I’m incredibly objective. You know, I love all these Ohio State teams, but this team because of what they went through to get to this point, you’re just happy."

OHIO STATE HOLDS OFF NOTRE DAME TO WIN COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

When the cameras cut back to the broadcast booth, Herbstreit was spotted grabbing a handkerchief off camera to wipe tears away as Fowler continued to speak. 

Fans know all too well how it feels when their favorite teams win championships, as tears sometimes flow as a result. The same goes for alumni at schools. 

Herbstreit played football for the Buckeyes after being the school’s first player to commit after the hiring of John Cooper as head coach in 1988. Herbstreit was the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Centerville High School. 

He did not get real action until his junior season, when he was used sparingly over 11 games. However, Herbstreit was the starter throughout his senior season, when he threw for 1,904 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions over 11 games. 

Additionally, while Herbstreit discussed the adversity this team went through this season, he also faced some personal adversity through a big loss in his life. 

Herbstreit's beloved golden retriever, Ben, who was a consistent presence on ESPN’s "College GameDay," was put down after his battle with cancer. 

"This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Ben's organs and there was nothing left we could do – we had to let him go," Herbstreit wrote back in November. 

On the first "College Gameday" after the difficult decision to put Ben down, Herbstreit could not even speak as emotions poured over him discussing his beloved companion. 

Ben’s brother, Peter, has been along for the ride with Herbstreit as he continues to travel the country with one of his dogs by his side. 

There have been highs and lows for Herbstreit this college football season, and it ends with tears of joy. 

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The Buckeyes are back on top, as Ohio State took down Notre Dame, 34-23, to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday night. 

Ohio State has now won nine college football titles, tying them with USC for fourth-most ever among NCAA's officially recognized championships. 

This is also the first title since the 2014 season, which was the inaugural College Football Playoff. 

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The Buckeyes have been such a different team since losing to Michigan in their rivalry game. And after convincingly defeating Tennessee (42-17), Oregon in the Rose Bowl (41-21), and Texas in the Cotton Bowl (28-14), Ohio State used their high-octane offense to barrel its way past Notre Dame to win it all. 

But this game wasn’t like previous Ohio State wins during this playoff, as the Fighting Irish really made a statement on an opening drive that lasted 18 plays and killed over nine minutes of first quarter clock. 

And it was all thanks to the hard work by quarterback Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame offensive line. 

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Leonard ran nine times for 34 yards and scored after picking up a fourth-and-1 on Ohio State’s five-yard line. ESPN even reported that Leonard ran to the sideline, threw up and stumbled a bit before sitting on the bench. He also appeared to tell teammates that he landed on the ball on one of the runs, which could’ve caused the upset stomach. 

However, the tides of momentum quickly shifted to the Ohio State sideline, as Will Howard and his group of talented weapons didn't just respond, but took over when they had the ball in their hands. 

The ensuing drive went 11 plays and 75 yards, as freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith capped the drive with a perfect play call that saw him act like he was running behind Howard on pre-snap motion but planting in the ground and walking into the end zone with no one in sight. 

Ryan Day’s group not only tied the game, but the defense turned it up a notch as they forced back-to-back three-and-outs on Notre Dame’s second and third drive. And the Buckeyes’ offense used that to their advantage with two more touchdown drives before the end of the first half. 

Quinshon Judkins, the explosive running back that splits time with TreVeyon Henderson, scored both of those touchdowns, the first of which being a nine-yard run where he fought through multiple tackles to get across the line. Then, he was wide open in the end zone on a rolling throw by Howard with 27 seconds left in the second quarter to put the Buckeyes up 21-7. 

And if that wasn’t deflating enough, Judkins scored his third touchdown of the night on the first drive of the second half – a one-yard run that was set up by his 70-yard run on the second play of the half to immediately get the Buckeyes first-and-goal. 

Judkins finished the game with 100 rushing yards on just 11 carries as well as his two catches for 21 yards.

There was some concern for Ohio State, though, when Notre Dame cut it to a two-score game after Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for a 34-yard touchdown and converted the two-point try to make it 31-15. 

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The concern was due to an Emeka Egbuka fumble after going 24 yards on a catch-and-run. It was the first Ohio State fumble since their game against Penn State on Nov. 2. 

Notre Dame used that turnover to drive downfield, and Leonard found himself knocking on the doorstep until an incomplete pass to Greathouse made it fourth-and-goal from Ohio State’s nine-yard line with 9:27 left to play in the game. 

Given the score, one would think head coach Marcus Freeman wanted to try his luck at another touchdown, but kicker Mitch Jeter and the special teams unit ran out onto the field. And the interesting play call backfired, as Jeter’s 27-yard field goal attempt ran off the left goal post – he hooked it. 

The game wasn't over entirely after the defense forced a punt, and Leonard was able to find Greathouse once again, this time on a beautifully thrown ball and an even better catch from 30 yards out. Needing another two-point conversion, Jordan Faison took a handoff and it looked like Ohio State sniffed it out, but he threw it to Beaux Collins for the successful try. 

Now a one-score game, the Buckeyes had to dig deep with the Fighting Irish knowing a stop gave them a chance to make the comeback complete. 

Backed up with third-and-11, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly called a gutsy deep pass from Howard to Smith, and despite the freshman not having a single reception in the second half, he secured the dagger – a 57-yard catch to place the Buckeyes on the nine-yard line at the two-minute warning. 

The Buckeyes could run out the clock at that point with the Fighting Irish using all of their timeouts, and the celebrating ensued.

In the box score, Leonard was 20-for-29 for 240 yards with two touchdowns, while also rushing for a team-high 40 yards on 17 carries with his score on the ground. Greathouse had 11 yards on five receptions as well. 

For the Buckeyes, Smith led the way with his 89 yards on five receptions, while Egbuka had six catches for 64 yards. Howard finished the game 17-of-21 for 231 yards, and he also rushed for 57 yards on 16 carries. 

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Marcus Freeman’s stock has increased as he’s led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the brink of its first national championship since 1988.

The Chicago Bears appeared to have been watching Freeman closely.

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The Bears want to interview Freeman for their head coach position after parting ways with Matt Eberflus in the middle of the 2024 season, the NFL Network reported Sunday. The Bears have not made a decision on Eberflus’ replacement but have been going through the interview process.

Freeman first will have to game-plan for Notre Dame’s national title game against Ohio State. The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State to get there.

"Obviously unlikely he would entertain NFL overtures prior to that game – a week from tomorrow against Ohio State," NFL insider Tom Pelissero said on the network. "But the Bears have done extensive research for months on Marcus Freeman. He’s only 39 years old. It would not be a shock that at some point he at least considers going to the NFL."

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Chicago is still set to interview Minnesota Vikings’ Brian Floires, Washington Commanders’ Kliff Kingsubury, Baltimore Ravens’ Todd Monken and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Arthur Smith for the job, according to the NFL Network.

Freeman was named as Brian Kelly’s replacement at Notre Dame after the former head coach took the LSU job.

He is 33-9 as head coach of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are 14-1 this season after going 9-4 in his first full year in 2022 and 10-3 in 2023.

The Bears were 5-12 in 2024 with Caleb Williams in his first season under center.

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Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Malik Zaire fueled the hype for the national championship game on Saturday with harsh criticism of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.

Howard led the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff semifinal victory over the Texas Longhorns, 28-14. Howard was 24-of-33 with 289 passing yards and a touchdown pass. He also had an interception.

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Zaire was unconvinced Howard would be able to do enough to get over the Fighting Irish on Jan. 20.

"All the great QBs Ohio State has had the last 15 yrs and Howard is def the worst one by far and ostate fans are trying to convince me that he’s gonna lead them to the chip?!?! Lmao ok," Zaire wrote on X. "I’d even take the OG Jalin Marshall at QB before Howard!!!!!!!!"

Zaire added that Ohio State’s loss to Michigan before the College Football Playoff started was more questionable than Notre Dame’s early season loss to Northern Illinois.

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"Ok let’s be honest, we got beat by NIU that was embarrassing. But yall got beat by Michigan for the 4th year in a row, at home as a 20+pt favorite, got the flag planted in the middle of yall field and beat up after the game while ya head coach watched….. lmao yall have nothing to tell me about this Ohio state team lmao," he added.

Notre Dame will be looking for its first national championship in the College Football Playoff era, but have to go up against a tough defense and an offense that has the ability to explode for big plays.

The Fighting Irish narrowly defeated Penn State in their semifinal matchup.

Howard has 3,779 passing yards and 33 touchdown passes this season. He transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State.

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The show went on in New Orleans roughly 36 hours after a terror attack hit the city.

In the early hours of New Year's Day, at least 15 people were killed and dozens others were injured after Shamsud-Din Jabbar allegedly drove a white pick-up truck into a crowd of people in the French Quarter.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl was set to be played just a couple of miles away on Wednesday night, but it was postponed to Thursday afternoon.

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Despite the delay, the Caesars Superdome was packed, as Notre Dame took a 23-10 victory over Georgia to advance in the College Football Playoff.

It was unclear for at least a little while about when, and potentially even where, the game would be played. However, albeit with security heightened, all went normal during the game on Thursday.

After being named the Offensive Player of the Game, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard thanked the Fighting Irish fans for coming out to the game in what surely is a confusing and scary time.

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"It’s been a very hard week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected a couple days ago. We’re praying for them. But for all these Notre Dame fans to show up anyway, it means the world to us. We felt them all game, I promise you," Leonard said to ESPN on stage.

Before the game, there was a moment of silence for the victims, and chants of "USA" rang through the crowd after the national anthem.

Jabbar's truck was flying an ISIS flag during the attack. He was killed after a shootout with police.

Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas, drove a rented Ford pick-up truck with weapons and a potential improvised explosive device (IED) into a crowd of New Year’s revelers at approximately 3:15 a.m. local time on Wednesday, killing at least 15 and injuring more than 30 others. Authorities said other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter. 

Authorities say Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran who recently held a six-figure job, opened fire on law enforcement officers, who returned fire, and was declared dead at the scene. 

Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

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Like many other young athletes from the Midwest, Caitlin Clark grew up in awe of Notre Dame sports. 

The WNBA phenom spoke about her experience visiting Notre Dame and consideration of playing for the Fighting Irish during an interview on the "New Heights" podcast on Thursday. 

"As a kid, you want to go to Notre Dame," Clark said. "It's like the coolest thing in the world, it's Notre Dame, it has that tradition." 

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Clark previously told ESPN that former Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw tried to recruit her and that Clark's own family also wanted her to play for the fighting Irish. 

"My family wanted me to go to Notre Dame," Caitlin said. "At the end of the day they were like, you make the decision for yourself. But it's NOTRE DAME! 'Rudy' was one of my favorite movies. How could you not pick Notre Dame?"

However, Clark said Thursday that she ultimately made the decision not to play there because of a feeling in her gut. 

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"I could feel it in my gut, I was like ‘ahh, I’m not supposed to go there,'" Clark said. 

Clark's gut feeling certainly did not steer her in the wrong direction. She ended up committing to her home state university of Iowa instead, where she played her entire four-year college career. Clark broke multiple program and NCAA records for the Hawkeyes, including the all-time leading scoring record among all college basketball players, men or women, in history. 

Clark also met her current boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, while at Iowa. McCaffery was a player on Iowa's men's basketball team for his father and head coach Fran McCaffery. 

Meanwhile, without Clark, Notre Dame fared okay, but not nearly as well as Iowa. Under the leadership of current head coach Niele Ivey, the Fighting Irish made the NCAA tournament three years in a row from 2021-24, but they lost in the regional semifinal all three times, while Clark led much deeper tournament runs in 2023 and 2024. 

Clark led Iowa to two straight national championship game appearances, en route to becoming the No. 1 overall selection by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. McCaffery was already in Indiana working on the Pacers' coaching staff, and they are still in the city together as he now works on Butler's men's basketball coaching staff. 

Clark was named WNBA Rookie of the Year, was selected to the All-Star team, led the WNBA in assists, and helped lead the Fever to the playoffs in her rookie season. 

Clark was also named Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2024. 

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College football fans showed their patriotism Thursday afternoon at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. 

Before Notre Dame and Georgia played their College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Caesars Superdome, there was a moment of silence for those killed and injured in the New Orleans terror attack New Year’s Day. 

More than a dozen people were killed and many more were injured when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a truck through a crowd on New Orleans' Bourbon Street.

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After the moment of silence was completed inside the Caesars Superdome, the crowd erupted into "U-S-A!" chants. 

The singing of the national anthem followed with a large American flag covering the turf. 

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The terror attack prompted the postponement of the Sugar Bowl, which determines who will play No. 6 Penn State in one semifinal of the College Football Playoff. 

Authorities opened Bourbon Street hours before the game Thursday, which Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry attended. 

"Security is going to be tight," Landry said during an appearance on "Fox & Friends." "We have all confidence that we’re gonna put this game on. The Superdome is completely secure. Again, the FBI continues to pour resources into the state."

Many reacted to the senseless act of violence, including Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, who spoke to his team about what happened. 

"The first part of that meeting was to mourn and pray for our country," he said during an appearance on ESPN.

"In the toughest moments, the culture of any program, of a nation, are revealed. I have a lot of faith we're going to rally around the city of New Orleans and support all the victims and families that were affected today."

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A Georgia Bulldogs football player who was inactive for the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame Thursday evening drew a bizarre penalty.

Parker Jones was on the sideline for the game and cost his team crucial yardage in the second quarter.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton hooked up with Arian Smith for a 66-yard pass. As Smith ran up the field, the sideline official ran with him. The official, however, ran into Jones on the sideline. Georgia was penalized for sideline interference, and it cost the Bulldogs 10 yards.

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Two runs and an incomplete pass later, the Bulldogs had to settle for a field goal. Bulldogs kicker Peyton Woodring converted a 41-yard field goal.

The penalty drew reaction on social media.

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Notre Dame scored twice in the closing seconds of the first half and took a 13-3 lead into the half.

Jones, a cornerback, is a redshirt sophomore from Albany, Georgia. He has yet to play a snap for the Bulldogs in his career.

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal was played a day after a terror attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. More than a dozen people were killed when a suspect identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove through a crowd of people. Several others were injured in the attack.

The Sugar Bowl had been postponed from Wednesday to Thursday evening.

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It was a rough start for Notre Dame in its College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Georgia Thursday. 

The Fighting Irish began the Sugar Bowl with back-to-back penalties on defense and another on quarterback Riley Leonard on Notre’s Dame’s opening drive. 

Defensive lineman Bryce Young, a true freshman, was called for back-to-back running into the kicker penalties after colliding with Georgia punter Drew Miller. The first resulted in a 5-yard penalty, but the second penalty was declined. 

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Things didn’t look much better on Notre Dame’s opening drive. 

Leonard was called for an illegal forward pass after he made two pass attempts. His first pass was deflected by Georgia junior Mykel Williams. After he caught the ball that ricocheted off Williams’ hand, Leonard attempted another incomplete pass. 

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The game was tied 0-0 after the first quarter. Georgia’s defense limited Notre Dame to 24 yards in the first quarter. Leonard completed just one pass for 14 yards. The teams traded field goals in the second quarter.

The Sugar Bowl is being played in the Superdome in New Orleans Thursday after being postponed a day after a deadly terror attack on Bourbon Street that claimed the lives of at least 15 people and injured dozens more. 

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