Marcus Freeman's terrible CFP field goal decision backfired to the delight of college fans
All throughout the College Football Playoffs, one of the things fans could count on was the aggressive play-calling of Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
He kept his foot on the gas in every situation and that boldness certainly brought fortune as the Irish made it from the first round on campus to the CFP National Championship game in Atlanta on Monday night.
Which is why it was downright bizarre to see Freeman change gears with his team attempting a fourth-quarter comeback against Ohio State.
With the Buckeyes up 31-15 and 9:27 remaining in regulation, Freeman decided to attempt a field goal on 4th-and-Goal from the nine-yard line. Once again in a big game against Ohio State, Freeman’s math wasn’t mathing. Even with a successful field goal, it’s still a two-possession lead for Ohio State. Only a touchdown and two-point conversion would’ve cut the lead sufficiently.
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The football gods, clearly did not appreciate Freeman’s decision as Mitch Jeter’s 27-yard attempt doinked off the upright and fell harmlessly back to the ground.
DOINK
Notre Dame went for the field goal down 16 points and missed the kick pic.twitter.com/JU06kNSd8b
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2025
College football fans clearly saw this moment as karmic justice being done.
I love the decision by Notre Dame. Would you rather try to win a national championship or see what sound the upright makes? Choice seems pretty clear, if you like fun.
— Bennett Conlin (@BennettConlin) January 21, 2025
That is what Marcus Freeman gets for kicking a field goal down 16 points in the 4th.
What a dumb decision.
— Mik’d Up (@Mikdup_8) January 21, 2025
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— Emma Baccellieri (@emmabaccellieri) January 21, 2025
Marcus Freeman deserved that doink. Just a terrible decision to kick the field goal.
— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmesTV) January 21, 2025
Football Gods letting Marcus Freeman know what they thought about the FG decision. You can't kick there.
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 21, 2025
Notre Dame tries a field goal to go from a 2 score game to a 2 score game.
DOINK! pic.twitter.com/smBQD7vyU9
— John Ewing (@johnewing) January 21, 2025
Marcus Freeman got EXACTLY what he deserved for kicking that.
— Tom Orr (@TomOrr4) January 21, 2025
Marcus Freeman, that’s unacceptable.
You deserved a doink after deciding to kick it there.
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 21, 2025