Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame Fighting Irish play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship Monday. Here are five facts.

Head coach Marcus Freeman shouldered the blame for Notre Dame's 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on

Facing fourth-and-goal, down 31-15 early in the fourth quarter in a College Football Playoff National Championship clash against Ohio State, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman elected to kick a field goal.

This loss for Notre Dame to Ohio State in the national title game wasn't Alabama 2013 all over again, but there were similarites. The differences were huge, though.

Jack Kiser walked up the tunnel toward Notre Dame ’s locker room beneath Mercedes-Benz Stadium, tears welling in his bloodshot eyes, as if the linebacker had anything else to pour out. Behind him, all the scarlet and white confetti had fallen as Ohio State ’s national championship party swayed,

How has Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman fared against Ohio State? Here's a look at his record against his alma mater ahead of Monday's game:

Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman had a moment after the Ohio State Buckeyes won the national championship that caught the attention of the college football world. Freeman witnessed his team mount a late comeback before falling short, 34-23, to the Buckeyes.

As Marcus Freeman prepares to take Notre Dame to the national title game against Ohio State, Jim Tressel has advice

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman has attempted to downplay the significance of facing his Alma Mater in the national title matchup. Yet, in a moment of candor, Freeman revealed his true feelings about the Ohio State Buckeyes ahead of the National Championship Game.

And in my 24 years on the Notre Dame football beat, no Irish team created more for the fan base than this one. Covering a run through the Playoff was to know you were documenting a team Notre Dame fans will be talking about for decades.