Notre Dame will enter Monday night time’s nationwide championship recreation in Atlanta as an extended shot. A group few anticipate to win. An 8.5-point underdog in opposition to Ohio State.
Since 2013, the one group that was a much bigger underdog within the sport’s closing recreation was TCU two years in the past, and the Horned Frogs have been hammered by Georgia in an unpleasant one-sided title recreation.
Ohio State is anticipated to win and win massive. Then once more, few predicted the Irish would get so far, notably after that beautiful Sept. 7 loss to Northern Illinois in South Bend as a 28-point favourite.
They haven’t misplaced since, carrying a 13-game successful streak into Monday night time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After a straightforward opening-round victory over No. 10 Indiana, seventh-seeded Notre Dame ousted SEC champion and No. 2 seed Georgia, then knocked off Huge Ten runner-up Penn State, the sixth seed.
In each contests, the Combating Irish seemed overwhelmed early, solely to search out their footing after a shaky begin.
In addition they confirmed grit in that win over the Nittany Lions, scoring the sport’s closing 10 factors in a seesaw affair.
There’s some group of future magic with the Irish.
Regardless of quite a few accidents to key gamers, regardless of that surprising early-season loss, they’re one of many final two groups standing. They received’t be in awe of closely favored Ohio State.
The Publish takes a take a look at different storylines for the massive recreation under:
Can Notre Dame run the ball?
Ohio State is an elite run-stuffing protection, third within the nation in opposition to the run at 89.9 yards per recreation.
Notre Dame likes to hold it on the bottom, averaging 210.8 yards, which was 14th finest within the nation.
Three completely different gamers — quarterback Riley Leonard and tailbacks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Worth — ran for no less than 733 yards and 7 touchdowns.
It’s the Irish’s offensive identification, controlling the road of scrimmage and establishing the cross off the run.
However the Buckeyes held Oregon, Texas and Tennessee to a mixed 187 speeding yards in three playoff wins, rebounding nicely after getting mauled up entrance by Michigan in that beautiful Thanksgiving weekend loss in Columbus, Ohio.
Employed weapons excel underneath heart
This shall be a primary — two first-year quarterbacks at new colleges assembly within the nationwide championship recreation.
The switch portal has definitely labored out for Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard (Duke) and Ohio State’s Will Howard (Kansas State).
Ohio State, actually, had some curiosity in Leonard, though he wound up committing to Notre Dame fairly early within the course of. Howard additionally heard from the Irish initially.
Paradoxically, the 2 quarterbacks have been roommates on the Manning Passing Academy this previous summer season.
They’ve taken the same street so far, each performing nicely for lower-level packages, transferring up and enjoying their strategy to the top of the game.
They’ve overcome setbacks, and a few doubted their capacity to steer their groups so far.
However the duo have additionally come up massive within the playoff, combining 11 complete touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Freshman versus Freshman
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith can wreck this recreation.
He obliterated Tennessee and Oregon within the first two rounds of the playoff, producing 13 catches for 290 yards and 4 touchdowns, earlier than he was shut down by Texas within the semifinals.
For the season, he has 71 catches for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns, all Buckeyes information for a freshman.
However Notre Dame has a first-year stud of its personal in cornerback Leonard Moore, the Nationwide Freshman Defensive Participant of the Yr, as voted on by the Soccer Writers Affiliation of America.
He led the Irish protection with 10 cross breakups together with 43 tackles, two interceptions and two pressured fumbles. Smith and Moore may see loads of each other on Monday night time.
Marcus Freeman in opposition to his old-fashioned
You’re going to listen to a ton in regards to the Notre Dame coach within the coming days.
He’s dealing with the varsity, Ohio State, he performed for from 2004-08, and is trying to lead Notre Dame to its first title since 1988.
Solely 39 years of age, Freeman lately inked a four-year contract extension by way of the 2030 season.
He’s been capable of do what his predecessor, Brian Kelly, couldn’t — win massive video games.
Freeman already owns 14 victories over top-25 opponents in simply three seasons, and expertly navigated that ugly loss to North Illinois. Now, he has to get previous his alma mater.