The College Football Playoff has narrowed down to its final two teams: Notre Dame and Ohio State. The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish will face off against the eighth-seeded Buckeyes on January 20th at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in a bid for their first national title since 1988.
Notre Dame, led by head coach Marcus Freeman, is seeking to end its championship drought after losing to Ohio State in two consecutive seasons. Freeman’s past will be under scrutiny as he faces his alma mater with everything on the line. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Ryan Day aims for his first national title and a chance to secure the loftiest goal for his team.
Notre Dame’s resilience and situational awareness have been its signature traits this season. The Irish have overcome injuries and erased deficits, showcasing their ability to dominate in critical moments. Quarterback Riley Leonard, running back Jeremiyah Love, and linebacker Jack Kiser are key players who can rely on each other for success.
However, the X-factor for Notre Dame is wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, who has been having a career-high season. He recorded 7 receptions for 105 yards and tied the score on a 54-yard touchdown in their last game. If Notre Dame wants to win, they need contributions across all three phases and more downfield passes.
On the other side, Ohio State boasts an elite defense that has championship mettle. Senior defensive end Jack Sawyer delivered one of the biggest plays in Ohio State history, sacking Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers for a game-clinching touchdown. The Buckeyes’ offense, however, struggled against Texas, and their success will depend on finding ways to get true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith involved.
Ultimately, Notre Dame needs to replicate their third-down brilliance from the Penn State win to succeed. Ohio State, meanwhile, must find a way to counter the defensive challenges posed by Texas, which had taken away their top playmaker.
The stage is set for an epic showdown between two teams with different strengths and weaknesses. Which team will emerge victorious and claim the national title?
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/43310738/college-football-playoff-championship-first-look-notre-dame-ohio-state