After losing four-straight games to close the regular season, Notre Dame wrapped its 2014 campaign with a victory over LSU in the Music City Bowl thanks to clutch plays from the quarterback rotation of Everett Golson and Malik Zaire as well as a winning field goal from Kyle Brindza.
Closing out games was an issue for the Irish this year, so it had to be particularly satisfying for both Golson, who did not start the game and shared snaps with Zaire, and Brindza, who only made 3-of-9 field goal attempts in his final five games, to play such key roles in Notre Dame's first win since Nov. 1.
Story of the game: While Notre Dame opted to address its quarterback instability with a rotation of Golson and Zaire, LSU stuck with starting quarterback Anthony Jennings. Nevertheless, both teams relied heavily on their ground game for success on offense. That wasn't a big surprise from LSU -- leaning on Leonard Fournette, who was superb with a heavy workload, scoring another touchdown on a kickoff return -- but it was a shock to see the Fighting Irish offensive line put together arguably its best performance of the season against one of the SEC's top ranked defenses. Notre Dame totaled 263 team rushing yards at 5.2 yards per carry, with Zaire and Tarean Folston doing most of the work and C.J. Prosise adding a 50-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 28.
Controversy of the game: Just before halftime, LSU called a fake field goal on 4th and Goal that appeared, according to the replay on television, to be a touchdown. The officials ruled holder Brad Kragthrope down at the one-yard line after a lengthy review, giving the ball to Notre Dame. In a close game decided by just three points, LSU's missed opportunity (for a field goal or the touchdown many LSU fans believe they deserved) will linger in the minds of many.
ESPN shows LSU Brad Kragthorpe puts ball across goal line for TD w Knee in air.Why have replay if they dont look??? pic.twitter.com/V6eOXDrGUl
— Dave Stone (@DaveStone920) December 30, 2014
Player of the game: In his first career start, Zaire kicked off on what will be the quarterback competition to watch this spring, completing 12-of-15 passes, carrying the ball 22 times for 96 yards and scoring both through the air and on the ground. But the most impressive all-around performance of the game came in a losing effort from Fournette. LSU's freshman running back added to his impressive highlight reel with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown, an 89-yard touchdown run and 143 rushing yards on the day.
Highlight of the game
It's Good! Notre Dame's Kyle Brindza nails a 32-yd FG to give the Irish a 31-28 win over LSU in the #MusicCityBowl. http://t.co/UAUx1sj2Ad
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) December 30, 2014
Tweet of the game
Leonard Fournette has both Notre Dame and Mark Jones goin up on a Tuesday http://t.co/23k8vsSNQ1 https://t.co/UFabj0SwdX
— Peter Berkes (@peterberkes) December 30, 2014
Grade: A. I expected a low-scoring game with lots of punts, but we got a high-scoring thriller complete with controversial calls and a game-winning field goal. The win is obviously huge for Notre Dame after the way they finished the season, while LSU has a lot of questions to answer about the current state of its passing attack.