The 2024 season for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was truly remarkable. Although it concluded with a tough loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship, there’s no denying the immense achievements the team reached along the way.
With a 14-2 record and a spot in the title game, Notre Dame has every reason to take pride in their journey and successes throughout the year.
However, not everyone had faith in their capabilities during the 2024 season. Desmond Howard, a former Michigan standout and now a college football analyst for ESPN, frequently doubted the Fighting Irish on “College GameDay.”
During the show’s final segment, where each panel member and the special guest make their game predictions, Howard chose Notre Dame to lose on six different occasions throughout the year.
This certainly didn’t go unnoticed by those in South Bend. While receiving the Broyles Award, an honor given to the nation’s top assistant coach, then-Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden humorously addressed Howard’s lack of confidence.
“And Des, thanks for picking against us six times this year. We won 14 games and he picked against us six times. It’s unbelievable,” Golden remarked with a chuckle.
