The College Football Playoff National Championship brought forth a mix of anticipation and heartbreak to the Notre Dame campus on Monday evening.
While some students traveled to Atlanta to experience the game live, many others stayed on campus, where the University hosted a large watch party in Duncan Student Center’s Midfield Commons. The event drew roughly 250 attendees, including students, faculty and members of the South Bend community, who gathered around a large screen to cheer on the Fighting Irish.
The watch party was bolstered by catering from Chipotle and WingStop, along with a spirited game of “Championship Bingo” that added to the festive atmosphere. Students and fans, decked out in Notre Dame colors, hoped for a championship victory, but Ohio State ultimately claimed the title.
Other students elected to stay in their dorms, many of which held their own watch parties.
Welsh Family Hall freshman Nora Kulak attended Welsh Family Hall’s watch party, which featured WingStop and cookies in the dorm’s 24-hour space.
“Only about 20 people came, and even during big moments the energy was still a little low, but it was fun to be on campus and watch from the comfort of my dorm,” Kulak said.
Jazmin Flores-Garcia, another Welsh Family Hall freshman who attended the event, noted, “constant yelling filled the room whether something good or bad was going on.” She explained attendees got out of their seats to participate in touchdown pushups whenever Notre Dame scored.
Freshman Brandon Heil expressed his disappointment after the game.
“I’m not very happy. We had a lot of opportunities, and we kind of just didn’t capitalize on them. It’s rough,” he said.
Heil, who is from Columbus, Ohio and comes from a family of Ohio State fans, admitted the loss hit hard. However, he also acknowledged the team’s impressive season.
“Obviously, not the end result we wanted, but we still made it to the national championship, and that’s better than 130-something other teams can say,” Heil said.
For many students, the sense of community remained strong despite the outcome.
“In the beginning, it was very enthusiastic because everyone was caring a lot. It’s nice to be at a school that continues to care a lot,” freshman Claire McCann said.
Other fans shared their reactions in the aftermath of the game.
“I thought we had it,” sophomore Theresa Kerker said. “I’m absolutely devastated. I’m about to go to my room and cry.”
Notre Dame alumnus Andrew Johnson came to campus to watch the game with Kerker, his girlfriend.
“There were a lot of ups and downs. I thought we had it, but if they had to lose, at least I got to watch it with Theresa,” Johnson said.
In nearby South Bend, local bars also became hotspots for fans to catch the game. Fiddler’s Hearth, Rohr’s, CJ’s Pub, Taphouse on the Edge, Legends, Corby’s Irish Pub and The Blarney Stone (Olfs) were among South Bend spots that held watch parties. ESPN featured a shot of The Linebacker’s watch party during the game’s live broadcast.
While Irish fans hoped for a second-half comeback, the loss did not diminish their pride in the team.
“The watch party was super fun. Every time there was a big play, it was super exciting. Everyone was going crazy, and the ‘Let’s Go Irish’ chant was just very loud and entertaining. It was a great experience,” Heil said.
