South Bend: It was a tough night for Notre Dame fans. They watched their team lose 34-23 to Ohio State, and one decision really stood out. Coach Marcus Freeman decided to kick a field goal while down by 16 points in the fourth quarter. It didn’t sit well with many.
With just under ten minutes left, Mitch Jeter missed a 27-yard field goal attempt. Fans were left scratching their heads, especially since they were on the nine-yard line and needed a touchdown. The general feeling was that going for it was the better option.
People on social media were quick to criticize Freeman’s choice. One popular account called it the “dumbest coaching decision” of the season. They felt that Notre Dame had no chance of scoring two more touchdowns after that.
After falling behind 31-7, Notre Dame managed to score a touchdown and a two-point conversion. They were in the red zone again, but a couple of incomplete passes set up a long fourth down. Most fans expected them to go for it, but instead, the field goal unit came out.
Even sports commentator Kirk Herbstreit was surprised by the decision. Freeman explained later that he thought it was better to cut the deficit to 13 points, even if it still meant needing two touchdowns. He felt the chances of scoring from the nine-yard line weren’t great.
This decision sparked a lot of debate about when teams should take the points versus going for it on fourth down. Many felt that Freeman’s choice was a mistake, especially since they needed to score quickly.
Former NFL player Geoff Schwartz chimed in, saying it made no sense to kick a field goal when they needed two more drives to score. Others echoed that sentiment, questioning the logic behind the decision.
One reporter pointed out that the play calls leading up to the field goal might deserve more scrutiny than the kick itself. It was a frustrating night for Notre Dame, and fans are left wondering what could have been.
