2024-2025 cbhsports College Football Playoff National Championship Preview

Image Courtesy: Land-Grant Holy Land

Monday, January 20
College Football Playoff National Championship (Atlanta)
7.Notre Dame (14-1) vs. 8.Ohio State (13-2)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Notre Dame and Ohio State are set for a rematch from September 23, 2023 in the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish on a last-second run by former tailback Chip Traynaum from the one yard line, 17-14. The two midwest powers will battle on southeast battle grounds in Atlanta while the SEC will not have a national championship team for a second consecutive season. Texas’ defense slowed the Ohio State’s offense for the first time in the College Football Playoff, only allowing 21 offensive points by the Buckeyes. Tremendous freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith had only one catch for three yards in the win over the Longhorns so sophomore Carnell Tate (87 yards) and senior Emeka Egbuka (51 yards) made up for it in the victory. Running back TreVeyon Henderson quickly responded to Texas’ touchdown that tied the game 7-7 in the second quarter by taking a slip screen for 75 yards, and a touchdown that gave them the lead. The Buckeyes will need more production on the ground out of their tailbacks after Henderson and Judkins (2 touchdowns) only put up a combined 78 yards on the ground. If quarterback Will Howard can put up almost 300 yards passing, a score, and use his legs to get first downs against the Irish, they can succeed against a terrific Notre Dame man defense. The Fighting Irish secondary has been terrific all season but they were especially great in their win over Penn State in the semifinal round. With 33 seconds left in the game, sophomore cornerback Christian Gray picked off Nittany Lion signal caller Drew Allar to set up Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard field goal after Riley Leonard’s (268 yards, 2 TDs overall, and 1 INT in the game) yards ten yard pass to Jaden Greenhouse (105 yards and 1 TD) and two yard run. Notre Dame’s ground attack of Jeremiyah Love (1 TD) and Jadarian Price (59 combined yards) will have to help Leonard set up the down field pass against an Ohio State defense full of stars including Jack Sawyer, Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Cody Simon and JT Tuimoloau. Sawyer got to Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and he stripped the ball out of his hands before he picked it up and ran it to the end zone to put the Buckeyes up 28-14 and claim their spot in the national championship. The Fighting Irish must protect Riley Leonard well so they can get a downfield passing game going, especially with Jaden Greenhouse being the only quality option down the field of late for their offense. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will face Ohio State, the team and school he played for as a student athlete attempting to win his first national championship. Ohio State’s Ryan Day is also looking for his first title and a win for him and his team on Monday night will take him off the hot seat talk Buckeye fans have him on. Projected Score: Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 14