When the time has come to respond, various members of the Notre Dame football team have responded with a run, a pass, a tackle or a kick that keep Irish believing

The first 12-team version of the College Football Playoff has reached the national championship game and it will be Notre Dame against heavily favored Ohio State. The tantalizing matchup comes after some wondered if the CFP selection committee got it right.

Football is more interesting when the Cowboys are good. Basketball is more interesting when the Celtics, Lakers and Knicks are good. And college football is more interesting — much, much more interesting — when Notre Dame is good. And even more so when the Fighting are very, very good.