CFB World Reacts to Notre Dame, Marcus Freeman’s First 2022 Win

After dropping the first two games of the 2022 season, Notre Dame secured its first win of the Marcus Freeman era in a wild finish against California on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish, clinging to a seven-point lead, hung on to claim a 24–17 victory after a last-gap Hail Mary attempt from Cal quarterback Jack Plummer fell incomplete. For those who may have missed out on the chaos in real-time, just take a look at how close this near-TD grab really was.

This Cal Hail Mary attempt against Notre Dame 😯

(via @NBCSports) pic.twitter.com/QmF0QvVi6D
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) September 17, 2022

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As the college football world took a collective exhale after the game finally concluded, the reactions to the Fighting Irish’s nail-biting win started to pour in social media.

Here are a few of the best reactions to the hectic end to Saturday’s Notre Dame-Cal matchup:

That Notre Dame Hail Mary deflected off four players and will be remembered as the by-product of a lot of answered prayers in the Basilica. Marcus Freeman has Win No. 1. Barely. https://t.co/qIm8nB3XFE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 17, 2022

Left ‘em 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗜𝗡’ 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡.@NDFootball defeats Cal at Notre Dame Stadium in the #IrishWearGreen, 24-17!#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/yY3C03SggM
— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) September 17, 2022

FINALLY, Notre Dame has won a game under Marcus Freeman after a Hail Mary that took about 30 seconds.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) September 17, 2022

There were like six trick endings in Cal-ND. Finally, Notre Dame wins.
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) September 17, 2022

You can exhale now Notre Dame fans 😅

Notre Dame survives a scare against Cal and earns their first win of the season pic.twitter.com/uEmO6to5c3
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 17, 2022

Whoooo boy. Cal WR had the game-tying Hail Mary sitting on his chest. Couldn’t hold it.

That’s how Marcus Freeman gets his first win as Notre Dame head coach.
— Brady McCollough (@BradyMcCollough) September 17, 2022

That Cal receiver gotta be SICK!!!! Lol I get that it was tipped, but mannnnnnn I thought he had that. Lol Notre Dame survives, barely.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 17, 2022

Congratulations to @Marcus_Freeman1 on his first career win as head coach at Notre Dame #Irish - many more to come.
— Dave Berk (@Dave_Berk) September 17, 2022

Notre Dame was LUCKY here man... Rule # 1 while defending a Hail Mary... Hit. the. ball. down. DONT try and catch it.... https://t.co/ukH0JLp0MT
— Marcus Greaves (@MarcusGreaves_) September 17, 2022

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