SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nine final thoughts on Notre Dame going out (almost) on top after its 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

The Notre Dame football program has seen three players leave via the transfer portal on Wednesday, days after the CFP loss.

Sam Pendleton started seven games in the 2024 season for Notre Dame and entered the portal after the CFP title game. Here's what he brings to Vols.

Ohio State football is only 30 minutes away from winning the College Football Playoff national championship over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes look amazing. OSU currently head into halftime with a 21-7 lead over Notre Dame and are set to receive the ball in the second half.

Ohio State is chasing its first college football national championship in a decade, while Notre Dame has not won since 1988.

Actor Anthony Mackie arrives prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Despite making the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoffs, Tennessee has a lot of remodeling to do over the offseason. Josh Heupel has taken an aggressive approach in the college football transfer portal and landed another commitment from former Notre Dame offensive tackle Sam Pendleton.

Tennessee has received its fourth addition from the NCAA transfer portal since the end of the 2024 football season.

It wasn’t much of a surprise to see several Notre Dame players enter the transfer portal following the national championship game this week. It was even less of a surprise to see multiple offensive linemen enter,

As expected when he entered the transfer portal with a non-contact tag, former Notre Dame offensive lineman Sam Pendleton has committed to Tennessee. His decision to come to Knoxville comes under a week after playing in the National Championship with the Fighting Irish.