Current:Home > BackHow Notre Dame blew it against Clemson, lost chance at New Year's Six bowl game-LoTradeCoin
How Notre Dame blew it against Clemson, lost chance at New Year's Six bowl game
View Date:2024-12-23 21:58:40
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The last time Notre Dame football went on the road in ACC play, it didn't go very well at Louisville. Saturday was rinse and repeat, this time at Clemson.
Notre Dame had an especially unflattering first half and transfer quarterback Sam Hartman had four chances to get the Irish in position to tie the score in the closing minutes, but Clemson held on to win 31-23 at Memorial Stadium.
The loss is Notre Dame's third and effectively ends its chance for a slot in a New Year's Six bowl.
How did things go so wrong? Four reasons the Irish, ranked 12th in the US LBM Coaches Poll, fell to 7-3:
Flat-line first half dooms Notre Dame
It had to be the halftime speech of all halftime speeches for head coach Marcus Freeman after that no-show first half where all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — had issues. A Rockne-like oration, it wasn’t.
Notre Dame trailed 24-9 at the break thanks to a host of inefficiencies and self-inflicted wounds. A second-half comeback would be one for the ages. Anything else and the concern about Freeman being able to prepare his team for a big road game surface. Again.
Now 24 games into his tenure, here’s what we know about the 37-year-old Freeman as a head coach — we don’t know. Sometimes we get the Clemson effort from last year. Other times, we get the Clemson effort from Saturday.
How the points were scored:Clemson stings Notre Dame football, 31-23
Notre Dame plays way out of New Year's Six bowl
This is how quickly a season slips away when you’re independent and can’t rely on clawing your way back to the conference championship game to offset any setbacks.
First loss, and the national championship chase is toast. Second loss, and the College Football Playoff spot blows up. Third loss? So long New Year’s Six bowl game, something the Irish waved good-bye to Saturday afternoon.
Phil Mafah and the Tigers in essence Jimmy Hoffa-ed any NY6 bowl dreams. What’s left? Playing for pride.
It's time to sit Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman
When quarterback Sam Hartman committed to Notre Dame, everyone around the program wondered what the Irish would look like — where they could go— with a legit QB. What Notre Dame could’ve been, we’ll now never know. Turns out that with Hartman, Notre Dame was just another OK team.
He did a lot with his legs (68 yards rushing) Saturday. He needed to do more with his arm (13-for-30, 146 yards).
Time to thank Hartman for his time, but time to turn it over to Steve Angeli. There are two games left in the regular season and a bowl game, but the clock already is running on the 2024 season.
Anemic offense needs reboot
The criticism of offensive coordinator Gerad Parker — much of it called for — hit a crescendo in the first half when Notre Dame trailed 24-6. The Irish went 50 yards in seven plays on their first drive. Next two drives? Six plays, no yards, two punts. Enter scramble mode. Grab-bag. Panic. Whatever you want to call it.
Late in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame had four chances to put together possible game-tying drives. The Irish ran six plays and gained (-1) yard the first two drives. The third drive ended with an interception. The fourth drive? Four incompletions. Ball game. Thanks for playing.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact: (574) 235-6153.
veryGood! (29)
Related
- Massachusetts lawmakers to consider a soccer stadium for the New England Revolution
- California school official convicted of embezzling over $16M concealed cash in fridge
- California firefighters make progress as wildfires push devastation and spread smoke across US West
- 10, 11-year-old children among those charged in death of 8-year-old boy in Georgia
- NFL coaches diversity report 2024: Gains at head coach, setbacks at offensive coordinator
- Park Fire is the largest of more than 100 fires currently ablaze across US
- Olympic gymnastics recap: US men win bronze in team final, first medal in 16 years
- Video shows hordes of dragonflies invade Rhode Island beach terrifying beachgoers: Watch
- Quincy Jones laid to rest at private family funeral in Los Angeles
- Why Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's Hearing to Drop Pitt From Her Last Name Got Postponed
Ranking
- Rita Ora pays tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Europe Music Awards: 'He brought so much joy'
- Lady Gaga introduces Michael Polansky as her 'fiancé' during Paris Olympics
- Independent candidate who tried to recall Burgum makes ballot for North Dakota governor
- When the science crumbles, Texas law says a conviction could, too. That rarely happens.
- Martin Scorsese on the saints, faith in filmmaking and what his next movie might be
- The Dynamax Isata 5 extreme off-road RV is ready to go. Why wait for a boutique RV build?
- Stock market today: Asian stocks track Wall Street gains ahead of central bank meetings
- US regulators OK North Carolina Medicaid carrot to hospitals to eliminate patient debt
Recommendation
-
FC Cincinnati player Marco Angulo dies at 22 after injuries from October crash
-
Back-to-back meteor showers this week How to watch Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids
-
With DUI-related ejection from Army, deputy who killed Massey should have raised flags, experts say
-
Harris is endorsed by border mayors in swing-state Arizona as she faces GOP criticism on immigration
-
After years of unrest, Commanders have reinvented their culture and shattered expectations
-
Scott Peterson Gives First Interview in 20 Years on Laci Peterson Murder in New Peacock Series
-
Scott Peterson Gives First Interview in 20 Years on Laci Peterson Murder in New Peacock Series
-
At Paris Olympics, Team USA women are again leading medal charge