Hearts are breaking in South Bend on Monday night as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish came up painfully short of the program's first national championship since 19

"Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden has emerged as a top candidate to be the Bengals new DC, per me and Mike Garafolo," Rapoport wrote. "Coach Zac Taylor has been waiting for the National Championship to end before moving forward. Now that it has, he can speak with Golden & work thru it."

SOUTH BEND — Adon Shuler, second-year safety for Notre Dame football and proud North Jersey guy, has a nickname for defensive coordinator Al Golden ... a consigliere role to third-year Irish coach Marcus Freeman, Golden has guided Notre Dame ...

Al Golden, Notre Dame football's defensive coordinator and the father of a ... throughout New Year’s Day as it awaited a rescheduled Sugar Bowl kickoff on Jan. 2. Irish coach Marcus Freeman, a parent himself, made sure his players could spend time ...

It wasn’t how Notre Dame wanted to end its season, as they fell to Ohio State 34-23 in the College Football Playoff Championship game.

No. 7 Notre Dame has the longest active winning streak in college football, having not lost since way back in Week 2 to Northern Illinois. The Irish have beaten Indiana, Georgia and Penn State to get to this point.

Analyzing the key matchups where Notre Dame can capitalize against Ohio State in the CFP National Championship showdown.

Notre Dame is embracing the challenge of playing man-to-man pass coverage against Ohio State's talented receivers.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden responds to NFL rumors ahead of the CFP National Championship showdown against Ohio State. Could he be leaving South Bend for a return to the Bengals?

The Bengals watched the National Championship game closely for this reason: Notre Dame DC Al Golden, who they're targeting.

Next up for Notre Dame is Ohio State with the entire sport watching. Here are three keys and a prediction of Monday night.