Notre Dame football: Marcus Freeman's key decisions in the Fiesta Bowl

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame football reacts in the third quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: Breaking down Marcus Freeman’s key decisions in the Fiesta Bowl

2nd Quarter

Field Goal

2nd Quarter, 4th and 9, 6:50 remaining
Notre Dame 21 Oklahoma State 7

The Irish were driving midway through the second quarter, but stalled out at the 24-yard line. This set up a chance to go for it on 4th and long or try a field goal. Freeman went with the 41-yard field goal try. Jonathan Doerer sliced the kick wide right, though.

No good. It wasn’t the wrong choice. If Doerer had been less reliable this season, or it had been closer to 4th and medium, you might want to go for it. Given the circumstances, though, it was the right choice and a bad result.

Trick Play

2nd quarter, 1st and 10, 3:50 remaining
Notre Dame 21 Oklahoma State 7

Notre Dame football pulled out a trick play towards the end of the second quarter. It was a reverse flea-flicker. The pass itself didn’t work. Jack Coan was under pressure, Oklahoma State covered it well, and Coan overthrew Michael Mayer. However, the play was saved by a tough roughing the passer call that gave Notre Dame a first down.

So, in the end, it worked out for the Irish. It probably wasn’t a good decision, though. The fake run didn’t scare Oklahoma State, because Notre Dame football had no rushing attack before then. It was nearly intercepted on top of that. So, even though the penalty saved the play, it’s better to just run the effective passing game straight up.

Running Before Half

2nd quarter, 1st and 10, 0:37 remaining
Notre Dame 28 Oklahoma State 14

Marcus Freeman seemed content to go into the halftime locker room without trying to move the ball on their final possession of the half. With three timeouts and the passing attack in full swing, the Irish sat on the ball. This came right after Oklahoma State scored to cut into the Irish lead, with the Cowboys getting the ball to start the second half.

It would have been nice to try a slant pass or quick route of some kind to see if you can get the offense in rhythm and try to go for points. Ultimately, it’s hard to say it was the wrong thing to do, but it certainly was the conservative choice. If that drive could have netted three extra points, well, that’s nothing to sneeze at.

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