One thing that can be stated unequivocally in this new 12-team College Football Playoff format is that the last two teams standing most assuredly earned their way to this title matchup. Both teams have already had to win three games in the postseason to get one victory away from a national championship.
In both cases, it was their most recent semifinal wins that were most in doubt. Notre Dame picked up the winning points against Penn State with a last-minute field goal. Ohio State’s 28-14 score against Texas might look more decisive, but it was within a yard of being tied in the final quarter before the Buckeyes’ scoop-and-score touchdown sealed it.
Naturally, those close results lead to causes for optimism and concern for both squads as they prepare to square off for the ultimate prize. Here’s how to watch the final showdown with a quick look at how they match up.
No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 8 Ohio State
Time/TV/Location: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Atlanta.
Why watch: The first worry for Notre Dame is the manner in which the defense got pushed around by Penn State’s running game in the first half. That might bode well for Buckeyes’ RB Quinshon Judkins, the thunder to TreVeyon Henderson’s lightning if you will. But the Ohio State offense wasn’t nearly as explosive against Texas as it had been in its two prior playoff outings, suggesting there might be a concerted effort to get standout WR Jeremiah Smith involved in the game plan earlier. Having talented alternate targets like Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate certainly helps QB Will Howard’s effectiveness, but he’ll need to be at his best to solve the excellent Fighting Irish aerial defense that for the most part relies on single coverage. DBs Xavier Watts and Christian Gray lead the numerous takeaway threats in the Notre Dame secondary.
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Ohio State’s defensive plan will similarly be geared toward keeping the Irish ground game bottled up. That is somewhat more of a challenge with QB Riley Leonard’s frequent success running for first downs while RB Jeremiyah Love provides a constant breakaway threat. But Leonard is likely going to need to hit a few passes as well, getting WRs Jaden Greathouse and Beaux Collins involved. That might be easier said than done against the Buckeyes’ equally accomplished secondary, featuring the safety trio of Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom.
Finally, a game of this magnitude could easily come down to a kick. That might have made Notre Dame fans nervous earlier in the campaign, but Mitch Jeter is healthy and confident again. He delivered a season-long 49-yard field goal in the first-round victory against Indiana as well as the game-winner from 41 against the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes can feel good about Jayden Fielding in that 40-plus yard range as well, though his lone try this season from beyond 50 was unsuccessful.
Why it could disappoint: It hopefully won’t, but if one team buries the other in an avalanche of points, Ohio State has more of a track record of doing that. Even if it becomes a punting contest, the numerous breakaway threats all over the field should keep the level of drama high.