ATLANTA — Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, on the verge of seeing ... is more than a touchdown underdog against No. 8 seed Ohio State (13-2) on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

"1. Beat Ohio State, 2. Retain HCMF, 3. Retain Al Golden, 4. Undoubtedly fight to retain Mike Denbrock. Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua is getting ZERO sleep the next few weeks," one fan tweeted.

With Notre Dame and Ohio State advancing to play in the 2025 College Football Playoff championship game on Monday night, could the two traditional powers have benefitted from a very untraditional bye?

Since losing his first three games at the helm, Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame football teams have improved each season.

Brown entered the transfer portal in December but stayed with the Buckeyes through their run to the national championship that ended with a win Monday night over Notre Dame. Cal announced Tuesday that Brown would be joining the Golden Bears for next season.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua talks during media day ahead of the College Football Playoff ...

No. 13 Miami on Labor Day weekend. Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium will be at 7:30 p.m. for the Sunday, Aug. 31, season opener against the Hurricanes and Georgia graduate transfer quarterback Carson Beck.

A 12th regular-season opponent has yet to be announced for 2025, but AD Pete Bevacqua expressed confidence that puzzle would be resolved to Notre Dame’s satisfaction.

Despite losing the national championship game last Monday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish under coach Marcus Freeman still bagged $20 million from the college football playoff.

A Buckeyes program that won the national championship by spending lavishly and used the transfer portal judiciously joins everyone else in not knowing exactly what the rules will be in this

There are some rising stars at Ohio State and Notre Dame as both immediately turn their attention to returning to the CFP in 2025. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, though, would like a word -- and he'll get one here.

The early favorite to win next year’s national title is Ohio State, but who will be playing where in seven months when next season kicks off under new rules?