Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531388
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM FEBRUARY 2025 3 THE NEXT ISSUE OF BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED WILL BE MAILED JAN. 30 OR FEB. 13 (DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME ON JAN. 20) Dec. 8 Selection Day Dec. 20 First Round* Dec. 21 First Round* Dec. 31 Quarterfinals** Jan. 1-2 Quarterfinals** Jan. 9 Semifinal# Jan. 10 Semifinal# Jan. 20 Championship^ 2024-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 2025 ✦ VOLUME 44, ISSUE 14 IN MEMORY OF Lou Somogyi, Editor 1985-2021 MANAGING EDITOR Steve Downey C ONTRIBUTING EDITORS Stu Coman, Matt Herb, Cathy Jones, Chris Riffer S TAFF WRITERS Tyler Horka Jack Soble RE CRUITING REPORTERS Mike Singer Kyle Kelly C ONTRIBUTING WRITERS Todd D. Burlage, Jim Lefebvre PHO TOGRAPHY Michael Miller, Chad Weaver, Larry Blankenship C OVER PHOTO Chad Weaver DE SIGN Jeanette Blankenship, Chris Miller ✦ ✦ ✦ PUBLISHER Mark Panus BUSINESS ANALYST Sarah Boone CIR CULATION MANAGER Tristin Shears AD VERTISING SALES Maria Taustine (502) 552-4390 CUS TOMER SERVICE Lauren Gordon, Cathy Jones (800) 421-7751 ✦ ✦ ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED (ISSN 0746-2557) is published 20 times annually — weekly Sept.-Nov. and monthly Dec.-Aug., except June — by Coman Publishing Co., a division of On3 Media, Inc., located at 905 W. Main St., Suite 24F, Durham, NC 27701 (www.comanpub.com). A one-year (20 issues) subscription is $74.95. BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED is printed by The Papers in Milford, Ind. Postmaster: Send address changes to Blue & Gold Illustrated, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, N.C. 27702. Periodical postage paid at Durham, NC 27702 and additional offices. For advertising or subscription information call 1-919-688-0218 or write B LU E & G O L D ILLUSTRATED, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, N.C. 27702. BRING ON THE BUCKEYES Ohio State surged to the national championship game ✦ STARTS ON PAGE 58 PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE ✦ INSIDE THIS ISSUE Upon Further Review ✦ Todd D. Burlage.......... 4 Fan Forum ......................................................... 5 Under The Dome ............................................... 6 Marcus Freeman Contract Extension .............. 14 Pete Bevacqua ................................................. 16 Transfer Portal Update .................................... 18 Indiana Game Recap ........................................ 20 Georgia Game Recap ....................................... 32 Golden Gamut ✦ Tyler Horka ......................... 55 Cumulative Stats .............................................. 56 Blue & Gold Marketplace ................................ 57 Notre Dame and Ohio State Rosters ................ 66 Football Commitment Profile .......................... 68 Football Recruiting Roundup & Master List ..........69 ND Sports ........................................................ 71 Women's Basketball ........................................ 72 Men's Basketball .............................................. 73 Irish Echoes ✦ Jim Lefebvre ............................ 74 Irish In The Pros ............................................... 76 Off The Dome ✦ Jack Soble ............................ 77 Best of the Fifth Quarter ✦ Lou Somogyi ....... 78 LONG TIME COMING Notre Dame secures a spot in the national championship game with 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl ✦ PAGE 44 PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER Key: * on-campus sites; ** at Fiesta, Peach, Rose or Sugar Bowls; # at Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl; ^ at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta