The final score of the national championship game as reported by major sports news outlets such as ESPN or CBS Sports

Marcus Freeman Turns 39 as Notre Dame Reaches Title Game with Orange Bowl Win Over Penn State

Jan 10, 2025, 04:19 AM

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has led the Fighting Irish to the national championship game in his third season, following a thrilling 27-24 victory over Penn State in Thursday night's Orange Bowl Semifinal. This marks a significant achievement for Notre Dame, which had not won a major bowl game since 1993 before Freeman's tenure. Freeman, a Wayne High School and Ohio State alumnus, turned 39 at midnight after the game and has been honored with the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award. He has been praised for his leadership, game management, and ability to connect with his players. Under his guidance, Notre Dame has secured three consecutive wins against top-five teams and has more wins against ranked opponents than any other head coach in the past three years. Reflecting on his team, Freeman said, "These guys are a bunch of savages."