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Notre Dame’s season opened with a pair of stinging losses that have reignited talk of a “runners-up hangover” — the odd trend of teams that fall just short of a title struggling the following year. In the span of a weekend, the Fighting Irish joined the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs as high-profile clubs who came up short in their championship games last season and now find themselves 0-2 early in the new campaign.
The storyline is part narrative, part statistics and part bad timing. Notre Dame is only months removed from the College Football Playoff title game, and expectations were high for a quick return to the postseason. Instead, defensive lapses, special-teams miscues and a handful of crushing late-game plays have left the program searching for answers under first-year defensive coordinator Chris Ash and head coach Marcus Freeman.
Historical patterns: Do runners-up usually fall back?
The idea that a team that loses a title clash is likely to stumble the next season shows up across levels of football. There’s no mystical rule, but recent history offers examples that make fans and analysts suspicious.
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- TCU and Washington — Both teams failed to build on their runner-up finishes in the four-team playoff era and recorded losing records the following year.
- Alabama — After an emotional loss to Georgia in the 2021 championship, Bama missed the playoff the next season.
- Ohio State — The 2020 runner-up didn’t return to the playoff field for the 2021 season, with a late-season loss to Michigan cutting into the Buckeyes’ postseason hopes.
- Clemson — The 2019 runner-up endured a delayed slide during the pandemic-affected 2020 season, showing that regression can be uneven and not always immediate.
These examples underline a pattern but not a law: personnel changes, injuries, tougher schedules and narrow defeats all factor into a drop-off. For Notre Dame, the early results this season look more like a collection of correctable mistakes than inevitable decline — but the scoreboard doesn’t lie.
Exactly where the Fighting Irish are breaking down
Notre Dame’s struggles have manifested in several specific areas, and each has contributed to the two losses that currently sit on the ledger.
Late-game execution and special teams
Two games in, late moments have defined the outcomes. At Miami, the Irish erased a big deficit only to give up a long field goal with about a minute left. In South Bend, Texas A&M found a final-second connection — Marcel Reed to Nate Boerkircher with 13 seconds remaining — that turned a likely win into a 41-40 defeat. On that sequence, the Aggies also converted a fourth-and-goal from the 11-yard line, a high-leverage play that broke the Irish’s usually resilient defense.
Late-game plays and special teams swings have been the decisive factors in both losses so far.
Defensive regression
Defense was the hallmark of Notre Dame’s title run last season, especially in stopping fourth-down attempts. In 2024 the Irish were among the nation’s stingiest units on opponent fourth-down conversions, even while facing an unusually high number of try attempts. This season, that edge has not shown up consistently. Opponents have found seams in coverage, and sustained drives late in games have produced points that the 2024 defense rarely surrendered.
Rushing attack and offensive balance
Running the rock has been a struggle early on. The team’s yards-per-carry figures — in the low 3s in the first two games — haven’t provided a steady complement to the passing game, placing more pressure on quarterback CJ Carr and the passing offense to manufacture points in tight windows. Carr has been capable but far from spectacular; he’s managed the games effectively at times but has yet to lift the offense to elite efficiency.
What the staff is saying and what it implies
Coaches are trying to keep perspective. Marcus Freeman has emphasized that losses don’t boil down to one player or one snap; the team didn’t execute well enough across all phases to secure a win. That candid assessment points to a need for cleaner fundamentals and better situational play-calling rather than wholesale philosophical changes.
Chris Ash, in his first season coordinating the defense, faces a fast-track job — stabilizing a unit that was elite last year and correcting tendencies that have allowed late drives and fourth-down conversions.
Paths forward: How Notre Dame can salvage the season and get back on track
A long winning streak would still make the playoff conversation plausible: with the expanded 12-team field, a strong run through the regular season and a resume-building schedule could get the Irish back into contention. Practically speaking, the team must address a few concrete items:
- Sharpen late-game situational awareness on offense, defense and special teams.
- Improve rushing efficiency to relieve pressure on CJ Carr and the passing game.
- Tighten red-zone defense and reduce big-play susceptibility.
- Reinforce fundamentals on fourth-down defense and special-teams coverage.
- Maintain depth and health across the roster to avoid midseason drop-offs.
If Notre Dame can correct those elements, it has the talent and coaching continuity to recover. The immediate focus is internal: clean up the small errors that have produced big consequences and convert close moments into wins rather than losses.
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John Davis is a sports journalist focused on the NBA, NFL, and major global championships. With seven years of live coverage, he breaks down performances and key strategies. His expertise gives you a clear view of every game and its impact.
Man, its like déjà vu all over again with Notre Dame starting 0-2. Are they just cursed after being runners-up? Or is this a case of history repeating itself? Lets see if the Fighting Irish can break this cycle!
Man, the Fighting Irish cant catch a break. Is this the infamous runner-up curse hitting them hard? Gotta wonder if historys playing mind games. Will they turn it around or spiral down? Time will spill the tea.
Man, its like déjà vu all over again with Notre Dame. Can they shake off this runner-up curse? The Fighting Irish need to tighten up that defense and step up their late-game plays to turn this season around.
Man, Notre Dames start got me reminiscin. Remember when they were on fire last season? Now its like theyre trapped in a runner-up curse. Wonder if theyll break free or keep fallin. Cant deny the drama!
Man, its rough seein Notre Dame start 0-2. Feels like theyre stuck in a runner-up curse loop. Wonder if theyll break free or keep playin catch-up. Tough road ahead for the Fighting Irish.
Man, Notre Dame really be strugglin at the start, huh? Its like theyre stuck in a rerun of that same ol runner-up curse show. Will they finally break free or keep swimmin in quicksand? The Fighting Irish better bring their A-game cause the road ahead aint lookin like a walk in the park.
Man, the Fighting Irish cant catch a break! Is this the curse of the runner-up or just a rough patch? Maybe they need some special teams magic to turn this ship around. Lets hope for a comeback!
Man, the Fighting Irish are dropping the ball! 0-2 start got me thinking: are they just cursed after being runner-up? Historys got some spicy patterns. Maybe they need some late-game magic or a defensive wake-up call!
Man, the Fighting Irish are really giving us a rollercoaster ride this season, huh? Its like theyre stuck in a post-runner-up curse limbo or something. Maybe they need to channel some last-minute Hogwarts magic or call in the Defense Avengers for backup! Who knows, maybe theyre just keeping us on the edge of our seats for the ultimate comeback. What do you think, are we in for a season of nail-biters or just setting ourselves up for more heartbreak?
Man, this Fighting Irish squads start got me feelin cursed too! Can they shake off that runner-up jinx? Historys shady, but lets see if they crack that code. Late-game slippin and defensive woes—ouch!
Man, the Fighting Irish starting 0-2 got me feeling like Im stuck in a Groundhog Day loop. Are they cursed by that runner-up vibe? Or just hitting a rough patch? Time to break the cycle, Notre Dame!
Man, the Fighting Irish starting 0-2 feels like deja vu, like that time I spilled spaghetti on my white shirt twice in a row. But hey, is this runner-up curse real or just some spooky coincidence haunting Notre Dame?
Man, being a Fighting Irish fan lately feels like riding a rollercoaster. Two losses in a row got me wondering if theres some curse haunting Notre Dame. Are we doomed as runners-up, or is there hope for a comeback?
Man, the Fighting Irish really cant catch a break, huh? Its like theyre stuck in a Groundhog Day loop of disappointment. Maybe they need to sprinkle some luck of the Irish on their game plan, or hire a leprechaun as a special teams coach!
Man, the Fighting Irish just cant seem to shake off that bad luck, huh? Its like watching a rerun of a sad movie over and over again. Maybe they should start carrying four-leaf clovers in their helmets or recruit a leprechaun for some on-field magic! Who knows, a little Irish charm might just do the trick!
Man, the Fighting Irish are like that friend whos always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Can they break the curse this time? Or is it just another round of close but no cigar? Time for some Irish luck!
Yo, check it – Notre Dame starting 0-2 got me feelin like theyre stuck in that runner-up curse loop. Aint it wild how teams go from the top to strugglin like that? Hope they bounce back!
Man, the Fighting Irish gotta shake that runner-up curse! Historys like a nosy neighbor, always snooping. Defense needs a hug, and special teams? More like special ed. Cant be the underdog forever, right?
Man, its like déjà vu with Notre Dame. Always so close, yet so far! Will they shake off the runner-up curse this time or spiral into the abyss of what could have been? Time will tell, but I aint holding my breath!
Man, the Fighting Irish are off to a rough start, huh? Feels like a deja vu of that runner-up curse! Hope they break that streak soon or its gonna be a long season for Notre Dame fans.
Man, the Fighting Irish cant catch a break, huh? Runner-up curse sounds like a bad spell. Hope they shake it off soon. Lets see if they flip the script and make a comeback!