Article updated: 1/8/2013 11:51 PM

So where does Notre Dame go from here?

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Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, right, and Alabama coach Nick Saban meet on the field after Monday's BCS championship.

Associated Press

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Notre Dame put together one of its most magical seasons in years, winning its first 12 games and climbing atop the rankings in what many Fighting Irish fans hoped was a return to glory for one of college football's most storied programs. Following an embarrassing 42-14 loss to Alabama in the BCS championship game, the worst loss in three seasons under coach Brian Kelly, the off-season will be filled with questions and a concern that Notre Dame had simply spiked again — seemingly back among the elite — only to fade back to mediocrity or worse.