The narrative coming into the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl on Thursday was that Notre Dame still couldn't beat the big boys and knock off a traditional powerhouse. Marcus Freeman and the Irish put all of that noise to bed with a convincing 23-10 win over Georgia to advance to the semifinals.

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Marcus Freeman likely knew his team was cooked before anyone else in the stadium. With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder kept the ball on a zone-read and zipped around the edge of Notre Dame’s defense for a 6-yard touchdown run,

Doesn't matter where -- around Notre Dame Stadium, past the Grotto or Touchdown Jesus.  The point is, the former Irish athletic director who hired Marcus Freeman should be ripping off his shirt, pounding his chest and whooping at the top of his lungs.

Last week, at a news conference before the College Football Playoff semifinals, Penn State coach James Franklin turned to his counterpart, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, and asked a question. “How old are you now,

Entering the season, Freeman was essentially nowhere to be found on national lists. What a change he has made for both the Irish and himself.

The 12-team college football playoff era awaits a milestone. For the very first time, the national champion will be crowned on Monday night (January 20) when two powerhouse Ohio State and Notre Dame lock horns for the prize.