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

The Fighting Irish narrowly escaped with a win over the Golden Bears on Saturday.

Jelani Scott | Sep 17, 2022

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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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Published Sep 17, 2022

JELANI SCOTT