Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is watching the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA College Football match against Oklahoma on Saturday, January 1, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona (AP Photo / Rick Scuteri).
Glendale, Arizona (AP) — A promising young coach, an exciting pass game, and some turnover gifts from the Oklahoma State University attack to end the misery of Notre Dame University after the January season. It wasn’t enough.
The Irish made a 21-point lead in the first half of the Fiesta Bowl and saw it slowly evaporate on Saturday with a 37-35 defeat in Oklahoma. Notre Dame Cathedral has lost 11 of the last 12 post-season games played in January, dating back to 1995.
The Irish (11-2) failed to win the Marcus Freeman head coach debut. Jack Coan recorded 509 yards and five touchdowns in his career’s best Fiesta Bowl. After two Oklahoma shifts, two fruitless and aggressive drives in the fourth quarter cast big numbers over.
Coan was almost perfect in the first half with a 342-yard pass and four touchdowns, but production declined after the break. Oklahoma State University has certainly given Irishers some juicy opportunities.
At 34-28, Notre Dame took a big break when cowboys receiver Brennan Presley failed at the 1-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The ball bounced back into the end zone and the Irish recovered for touchback. Notre Dame Offense was driving after a vigorous swing, but Oklahoma State University’s Malcolm Rodriguez intercepted Korn’s pass in the fourth quarter, crushing a potential go-a-head drive.
When Oklahoma State University Spencer Sanders fumbled in Ireland 11, Notre Dame had another chance to drive for victory after the defense won his second consecutive takeout. For victory.
Oklahoma State University’s 21-point comeback was the largest in Fiesta Bowl history.
Freeman, 35, was promoted from Defense Coordinator on December 3, four days after Brian Kelly unexpectedly left for LSU. The quick movement allowed Notre Dame to make a smooth transition to bowl preparation.
In the early moments of the game, the Irish were certainly ready. Coan played some of the best football of his college career in the first half and completed 24 out of 33 passes.
All the movements and decisions made by Notre Dame Cathedral were working. Oklahoma State University brought full blitz in the first quarter, but when Freeman claps on the sideline, Korn ran an untouched 53 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Quietly passed the pressure on the style.
Coan then threw the perfectly placed ball to the tight-end Michael Mayer, winning a 7-yard touchdown and a 28-7 lead. The Irish looked like a Jaguar note who had won at least 10 points in the last six regular season games.
That was when things started to unravel.
Oklahoma State University took only 39 seconds to move 75 yards in four plays, with 37 seconds remaining in the second quarter to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 28-14 with a break. Recorded touchdown.
It was a bell about what would happen for the defense of Ireland. It couldn’t stop Oklahoma’s Quarterback Spencer Sanders on the ground or in the air. The Sanders ended with a 371-yard pass and four touchdowns, three of which were touchdowns to Tay Martin. The quarterback was also in a hurry 126 yards.
It was no big surprise that the Irish chose to make a pass-heavy attack on the Cowboys. Their top running back, Kyren Williams, opted out of the Fiesta Bowl, leaving a big hole in the attack.
However, after a quick start, Coan struggled in the second half. He completed 14 of the 35 passes after the break.
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New coach, old pain: Notre Dame unravels at Fiesta’s loss | WGN Radio 720
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