Following his team's 34-23 loss to Ohio State in Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship game, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman sat in the middle of his two teary-eyed team captains and took ownership for a multitude of mistakes that ultimately were too much to overcome when it mattered most.

It was a battle that looked like it may not end up being one. Ohio State absorbed a first blow by Notre Dame, then scored 31 unanswered points through the first, second, and third quarters to

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.