'Play In A Conference' - Cam Newton Discredits Notre Dame's Playoff Run
01/10/2025 03:10 PM
Notre Dame is one win away from a national title after beating Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Thursday night.
The two teams played in the Orange Bowl and it was Notre Dame who walked out with a 27-24 win thanks to a 41-yard game-winning field goal from kicker Mitch Jeter.
Jeter hit the kick in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter to send Notre Dame to its first National Championship Game since January 2013.
After securing the win, Cam Newton went on First Take and credited head coach Marcus Freeman while sharing that he thinks Notre Dame should play in a conference.
"First off, Coach Marcus Freeman is a great coach. I do not want that not to be mentioned. But, I'm ready for Notre Dame to play in a conference," Newton said. "It's almost like that person that's sitting in the playground and is saying, 'No no no, hash it out and when y'all hash it out y'all gonna knock each other out, and then I'm going to step in the forefront.'"
Notre Dame is one of three independents in football during the 2024 season and looks poised to stay that way. Yes, the program doesn't play in a conference but it has still won 14 of 15 games this season and has beaten some very good teams, including Indiana, Georgia, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Army.
Some fans may scoff at Army but the program went 12-2 this season.
The Fighting Irish have passed all of these tests and have been rewarded with playing in the National Championship Game on January 20 against the Ohio State Buckeyes or Texas Longhorns.
The Buckeyes and Longhorns will play in the Cotton Bowl on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will have the call.
Related: Notre Dame Kicker Received Epic Nickname After Making Game-Winning Field Goal
