Just call them Notre Doink! 

After falling behind 31-15 against Ohio State, Notre Dame missed a critical opportunity to score in the fourth quarter when their kicker, Mitch Jeter, hit the uprights on a 27-yard field goal attempt in the red zone.

It proved to be a pivotal moment for an Irish squad that couldn’t complete its rally in the 34-23 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday.

Although gaining their first turnover with only 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter signaled a potential shift in momentum for Notre Dame, the subsequent drive ended in disappointment, allowing the Buckeyes to maintain control of the national championship game.

Nevertheless, the Fighting Irish displayed resilience in the latter part of the game by scoring touchdowns in the late stages of the third quarter and again in the fourth, keeping them in contention.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard connected on a 34-yard pass with Jaden Greathouse to end Ohio State’s 31-point run, with Leonard throwing a pass to Jeremiyah Love for a two-point conversion.

Coach Marcus Freeman opted to go for the three points at the 9-yard line on fourth down with his team down 16 and needing two touchdowns with a pair of two-point conversions. Instead, it remained down a pair of massive scores.

Leonard found Greathouse again following Jeter’s miss for a 30-yard TD — with a two-point conversion to make it a 31-23 score with 4:15 left.

The effort proved to be too little, too late as Ohio State held on for the win after Jeremiah Smith’s 56-yard grabe led to a 33-yard Jayden Fielding field goal to seal it.

It left the Irish to rue the points they left on the field — or off the upright.