Al Golden agreed to return to Cincinnati on Wednesday after three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced. More: 3 Wolverines, 3 ex-Spartans make ESPN list of top 100 college football players from '24-25

Ohio State held on to defeat Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Eric Edholm provides three takeaways from the game, with an eye on the 2025 NFL Draft.

Al Golden, Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, is leaving to take the same position with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. There were some who hoped Golden would be a candidate to return to Penn State as its new defensive coordinator after Tom Allen’s exit.