Reporter reveals ‘bizarre scenes’ in Notre Dame locker room after national title game loss

Over the course of his two-plus decades covering college football, Dan Wolken has been in his share of losing locker rooms. But when it came to Notre Dame’s following the Fighting Irish’s 34-23 defeat to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday night, the USA Today columnist said he witnessed an atmosphere he hadn’t quite experienced before.

And not in a good way.

“Bizarre scenes from the Notre Dame locker room, players yelling at reporters, coaches warning people not to ask certain questions,” Wolken posted to X shortly after the Buckeyes’ victory over the Fighting Irish went final. “Amateur hour.”

Bizarre scenes from the Notre Dame locker room, players yelling at reporters, coaches warning people not to ask certain questions. Amateur hour.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 21, 2025

Understandably, many followers prodded Wolken for more details, with some suggesting he was merely being overdramatic about a locker room full of 18-22 year olds who had just lost the biggest game of their lives. In subsequent replies and posts, the longtime columnist stated that reporters were being “sworn at” and that the “decorum” had differed from any other losing locker room he had previously covered.

“I think that if the locker room is open, which it is for the CFP, reporters should be able to go in there and respectfully ask questions without being sworn at,” Wolken wrote in a reply to a follower accusing him of acting entitled. “If a player doesn’t want to talk, that’s fine.”

I think that if the locker room is open, which it is for the CFP, reporters should be able to go in there and respectfully ask questions without being sworn at. If a player doesn’t want to talk, that’s fine.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 21, 2025

Wolken noted in multiple posts that video isn’t permitted in the losing locker room, so those looking for visual confirmation of his initial post were out of luck. Jack Soble, who covers the Fighting Irish for on3, however, seemingly confirmed that something was amiss in the Notre Dame locker room after the game — albeit with a more sympathetic approach than Wolken’s.

“Lotta emotions tonight. Players were distraught. Plenty of them were more than willing to talk to us and those who wanted to did it with class,” Soble wrote. “Let’s have some empathy and give these kids some grace.”

In an apparent swipe at Wolken, the Notre Dame beat writer added: “As media, we have to have thicker skin than to complain about this stuff after these guys poured everything they had into a game like this.”

While Wolken and Soble clearly have different views of the situation, both reporters seemingly agree this wasn’t your typical losing locker room — even for a championship game. It would be interesting to hear more about the situation and whether this was merely a matter of frustration boiling over after a big loss or if there’s more to the story.