Ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish received a message from the one team they couldn't defeat this season -- the Northern Illinois Huskies.

Northern Illinois had some fun with their video of support to Notre Dame. As Notre Dame prepares for its National Championship matchup against Ohio State,

Northern Illinois is the only football team to defeat Notre Dame this season. On Jan. 20, NIU coach Thomas Hammock will be rooting for Notre Dame in the CFP championship.

Still holding on to their Week 2 upset in South Bend, the Northern Illinois Huskies sent a backhanded message to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish ahead of tonight's CFP title game.

And in my 24 years on the Notre Dame football beat, no Irish team created more for the fan base than this one. Covering a run through the Playoff was to know you were documenting a team Notre Dame fans will be talking about for decades.

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame ended the season without the ultimate prize in their possession, but the Fighting Irish head coach has been recognized for the job he has done in South Bend

Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman was given a significant award a few days after the college football season ended. The third-year head coach led the Fighting Irish to the National Championship game this season,

Marcus Freeman helped turn around the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after a disappointing loss to Northern Illinois and earned himself a prestigious honor as a result.