Fans are making their way out to local bars and restaurants to watch the big game.A watch party hosted at one local brewery has grown with popularity throughout

Here's when you can expect the Notre Dame football team to return to South Bend after the CFP championship game.

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame was dead. Dead as dead can be. The Irish carcass lay on the green turf in Atlanta like a slug as Ohio State’s juggernaut offense trampled over it repeatedly, giving Notre Dame a 31-7 hole to dig itself out of.

A whole generation of Notre Dame fans don't know what a national title feels like. That could all change on Monday night.

But their impact goes beyond South Bend as Notre Dame earned $4 million dollars for qualifying in the college football playoff, another $4 million for making it to the quarterfinals, an additional $6 million for reaching the semifinals, and another $6 million for the national championship game.

Navy was undefeated and ranked 24th when Notre Dame pasted the Midshipmen in East Rutherford. Ranked wins are always nice but when some of the national media loudly picks against you and you win by 37, things taste a little more sweet.

Between Touchdown Jesus, "Win One for the Gipper," Rudy, and, yes, even the forward pass, there are those who believe football wouldn't quite be football without Notre Dame.

Sam Pendleton, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound interior lineman, was the only Notre Dame football player this season with a publicly announced concussion.

Notre Dame fell to Ohio State in the national championship on Monday night. Here are the highlights from the Fighting Irish's loss:

From tradition-soaked to downtown South Bend bars, check out this list of venues to watch Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game

Notre Dame used a pair of late pick-sixes to finish the regular season 11-1 in a victory at rival USC. Christian Gray returned a would-be game-tying touchdown pass attempt 99-yards to cool the Trojans late threat and clinch a home College Football Playoff game.

Much to the chagrin of the Fighting Irish faithful, Notre Dame fell short in their comeback effort against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday night in the CFP national championship game. Still, Notre Dame fans have a lot to celebrate after posting one of the most remarkable seasons in recent Fighting Irish history.