About the Notre Dame vs. Ohio State matchup in the College Football Playoff National Championship:
Teams: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Event: College Football Playoff National ChampionshipDate and Time: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan 20
Location: Atlanta
Historic Rivalry
Ohio State: Path to the Championship
The Buckeyes entered the playoff as the No. 8 seed, despite being ranked No. 6 in the final CFP Top 25. Their playoff berth came after a disappointing end to the regular season, missing out on a Big Ten Championship and a first-round bye following a shocking home loss to longtime rival Michigan. The Wolverines' victory marked their fourth consecutive win over Ohio State, an especially bitter pill for Buckeye fans in what was considered a down year for Michigan.
As criticism swirled around head coach Ryan Day and the program’s trajectory, Day and his team silenced the doubters in dominant fashion. Ohio State crushed Tennessee in the first round and then dismantled undefeated, No. 1 seed Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals, showcasing their ability to rebound.
In their first two playoff games, the Buckeyes outscored opponents 83-38, but their semifinal against Texas was a tougher challenge. Ohio State defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl, but the game wasn’t without drama. Late in the fourth quarter, Texas had the ball inside Ohio State’s 5-yard line, threatening to tie the game at 21. That’s when the Buckeye defense delivered in the clutch. They forced the Longhorns back beyond the 5-yard line before star defensive end Jack Sawyer made the game’s defining play: a strip-sack of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. Sawyer scooped up the ball and returned it 83 yards for a game-sealing touchdown.
Now, with momentum on their side, Ohio State looks to carry their playoff dominance into the national championship game.
Notre Dame: A Resilient Road to the Championship
The Fighting Irish entered the playoff as the No. 7 seed, unable to secure a first-round bye due to their independent status. Early in the season, few would have predicted Notre Dame’s eventual run to the title game. Their Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois, a MAC opponent, was a stunning low point for the program. The loss placed immense pressure on head coach Marcus Freeman and his squad, with the understanding that one more stumble in their remaining 10 games could end their playoff hopes.
Fast forward four months, and Notre Dame now boasts the nation’s longest active winning streak at 13 games. Their remarkable turnaround has propelled them to their first national championship appearance since 2012.
Notre Dame’s playoff journey mirrored Ohio State’s in some ways, though it wasn’t quite as dominant. The Irish comfortably defeated Indiana in the first round and handled Georgia in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals against Penn State, the Irish defense rose to the occasion in the game’s crucial moments, securing a hard-fought victory.
With quarterback Riley Leonard leading the charge, Notre Dame now has the chance to add another championship ring to its storied football history on Monday night.
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