ND's Freeman stayed with 10 players during OSU game-winner to avoid 'freebie' play

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said he was trying to get a fourth defensive lineman on the field for the final play of the game in Saturday night's 17-14 loss to Ohio State, but didn't want to get a penalty, so he stuck with 10 defenders on the play that allowed the game-winning touchdown.

Trailing 14-10 with one second remaining, Ohio State had the ball on the one-yard line on third down, when Chip Trayanum ran up the middle and scored the game-winner. Freeman, a former linebacker, was asked after the game if he should have taken the penalty and tried to get the 11th defender onto the field.

"To me it was like, 'Hey, don't give them another opportunity to get settled and…