While fan bases for non-playoff teams lick their wounds and get ready for the 2025 NFL draft, perhaps the greatest five days of football ever (starting Thursday night) are ahead for everyone to enjoy.

This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Make that field goal today. 12 → 3: Notre Dame’s unbelievable win The best (and sometimes worst) part of being a sports fan is realizing in the moment that you’re living inside a memory already.

The Fighting Irish came through when it mattered in their playoff semifinal against Penn State by relying on the one skill they perform better than any other team in the country.