With Notre Dame coming up just short of winning a national title, it gives the Cincinnati Bengals the go-ahead to be in hot pursuit of the Fighting Irish's defensive coordinator Al Golden. His return to Cincinnati may be what turns the Bengals around.

The Cincinnati Bengals will be closely watching the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship for one key reason. This past season, the Bengals had a special year, though not a good year. Quarterback Joe Burrow played at an MVP level while Ja'Marr Chase was the NFL 's leading receiver.

On Wednesday, the Fighting Irish announced Golden's replacement. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Notre Dame agreed to hire Chris Ash as its newest defensive coordinator.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is expected to join the Bengals in the same role, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday. The news comes days after the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff championship game, the school's first title shot of the century.

Michael Bearden got a couple of key years on staff at Notre Dame. Now, Bearden is moving on to the NFL. Several sources tell FootballScoop that Bearden, Notre Dame's assistant wide receivers coach each of the past two seasons, is making the leap to an NFL staff.

Chris Ash, a former Rutgers head coach who spent the past four years in the NFL, will be Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator.

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly looking to hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden for the same job.

Al Golden is set to join the Bengals as their next defensive coordinator, after leading Notre Dame to the CFP national title game.

Mater Dei (CA) five-star receiver and Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr. will visit the USC Trojans this weekend for their Junior Day event, Tom Loy of 247Sports

However, the college football all-star games are going on this week, and instead of writing a piece on the upcoming Pro Bowl this weekend, I feel it's more fitting to take my first stab at a mock draft before the season comes to a close.

Less than a week after losing its defensive coordinator to the NFL, Notre Dame is set to lure Chris Ash from the NFL to be the new DC in South Bend, Ind., ESPN first reported Wednesday. Ash, 51, has been in the NFL since the 2021 season and was a scout for Jacksonville in 2024.