On Monday night, the spotlight’s on Atlanta as Ohio State and Notre Dame clash for the College Football Playoff National Championship. It’s the first time we’re seeing a 12-team format, and these two powerhouses have battled their way here through a season full of ups and downs.
Both teams have faced their share of challenges, but they’ve emerged as the top dogs, ready to duke it out for the championship trophy. They might have stumbled during the regular season, but here they are, standing tall and ready for the ultimate showdown.
Ryan Day and Marcus Freeman have built these teams from the ground up with some serious recruiting skills. That’s where it all begins—getting those top-notch players on board.
Over 100 Blue-Chip Recruits in Action
We’re talking about a whopping 108 former blue-chip recruits between Ohio State and Notre Dame. These are the big-time prospects, rated four or five stars when they were high school seniors. Ohio State’s got ten former five-stars and 45 four-stars, plus a bunch of three-stars. Notre Dame doesn’t have any five-star recruits from the On3 Industry Ranking, but they’ve got four who were five-star prospects elsewhere, along with 53 four-stars and 29 three-stars.
The Stars Wearing Scarlet and Gray
All the former On3 Industry five-star recruits will be sporting Buckeye helmets in this game.
Jack Sawyer, hailing from Pickerington, Ohio, was the Cotton Bowl hero against Texas. He pulled off a jaw-dropping play, sacking former Buckeye QB Quinn Ewers and taking the ball 83 yards to score. Sawyer’s journey started back in 2019 when he became the first recruit to commit to Ohio State under Ryan Day.
“Ohio State was just the best place for me,” Sawyer shared with *Lettermen Row*. “Coach Johnson and Coach Day make it feel like home for me. There’s no need to wait. I’m ready to get rolling. I’m just so excited to be a Buckeye.”
Other offensive threats for Ohio State include Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and TreVeyon Henderson. Donovan Jackson has been holding down the fort on the offensive line, stepping up big time. Smith, the No. 1 recruit of 2024, shattered some records, including Cris Carter’s for receiving touchdowns by an Ohio State freshman.
On defense, Caleb Downs, a transfer from Alabama, is making waves as one of the country’s top safeties. But watch out—Notre Dame might have something to say about that. Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau have been wrecking havoc on offensive lines, while Sonny Styles brings the heat at linebacker.
But it’s not just the five-stars. Four-star recruits like Tyleik Williams and Cody Simon have been crucial, too. And let’s not forget the three-star standouts: Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins, and Josh Fryar. Howard, coming from Kansas State, has been a revelation, earning MVP honors in the Cotton Bowl.
While Ohio State boasts a loaded roster, Notre Dame is bringing its best squad in the last 20 years to the table.
Notre Dame’s Deepest Roster Yet
With 53 former four-star prospects and a few five-stars in the mix, this Notre Dame team is stacked. They’ve had a rough go with injuries, but each time someone goes down, another star steps up.
On the O-line, they’ve lost starters like Ashton Craig, Charles Jagusah, and Anthonie Knapp. Knapp, a standout freshman, even earned True Freshman All-American honors before getting injured. In his place, Tosh Baker, a fifth-year player, stepped up and showed what he’s made of.
Defensively, Notre Dame has dealt with season-ending injuries to key players like Jordan Botelho, Boubacar Traore, Rylie Mills, and Benjamin Morrison. But others have filled the gaps. Joshua Burnham and Junior Tuihalamaka have been solid at the ‘vyper’ position, racking up tackles and fumble recoveries.
And don’t sleep on Xavier Watts, who nabbed the Bronko Nagurski trophy as the nation’s top defender last year. This season, he’s already snagged six interceptions.
Jeremiyah Love, a sophomore running back, has been electric, even with injuries slowing him down. And top receivers like Jaden Greathouse and Beaux Collins are proving their worth, too.
Notre Dame’s quarterback situation mirrors Ohio State’s. Riley Leonard, a former three-star, transferred from Duke and has been lighting it up, accounting for 35 touchdowns.
More on the Matchup
The championship kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ESPN’s got the broadcast. Ohio State is the favorite by 8 points.
Notre Dame (14-1) just took down Penn State in the Orange Bowl semifinal, while Ohio State (13-2) bested Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
These two teams have squared off eight times before, and this marks the third straight year they’re meeting. Ohio State took the regular-season games in 2022 and 2023.
In past postseason matchups, Ohio State came out on top in both Fiesta Bowls in 2006 and 2016.
So, who’s going to take home the trophy? It’s anyone’s guess, but we’re in for an epic battle.
