CBS Sports college football analyst Josh Pate outlined how difficult it will be for teams to return to the National Championship Game year after year in the future. When discussing the disappointing result for Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Pate detailed how the loss was extra crushing for the program due to the uncertainty of if or when they’ll get another chance.
Freeman and the Fighting Irish lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 34-23 in the 2025 CFP National Championship Game. Though they did mount a strong comeback late in the game, Notre Dame’s poor start proved to be a hill too tall to overcome.
What Did Josh Pate Say About the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?
Pate discussed the game on the field and uploaded the clip to the popular YouTube account “Josh Pate’s College Football Show.”
“I’ve learned man, covering the sport, watching the sport, loving the sport my whole life. It means something when you get close. You gotta go win these things because you are never guaranteed to get back there again. I don’t care if you recruit your tail off; you are never guaranteed to get back there again,” Pate stated.
Is Pate Right About Notre Dame’s Chances of a National Championship Return?
Though he did not claim it to be impossible, Pate explained that there is no guarantee for any program to get back to the College Football Playoff final.
With the format now expanded to a 12-team tournament, the road to national championship glory has only grown harder. Previously, only four teams qualified, but with 12 now in the dance, programs will have to win three or four straight games against top FBS opponents in order to declare themselves national champions.
Furthermore, the Fighting Irish are expected to lose numerous key players to the 2025 NFL Draft, including safety Xavier Watts, cornerback Benjamin Morrison, and tight end Mitchell Evans.
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As a result, Freeman will need to be active in recruiting and the transfer portal to have any chance of the Fighting Irish returning to the big game soon.
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