The first 12-team College Football Playoff is between the final two contenders: Notre Dame and Ohio State.
The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish and eighth-seeded Buckeyes will meet on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T. Whichever team wins will end the championship drought. Notre Dame is aiming for its first title since 1988. Ohio State’s silence isn’t that long, as the Buckeyes won their first CFP championship a decade ago, but given how consistent they’ve been, it looks like it’s for a while.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Ohio State’s Ryan Day are also seeking their first championships as head coaches, and Freeman’s past will be in the spotlight. Freeman and the Irish lost to the Buckeyes and Day in each of the past two seasons. But after a stellar coaching job this season, Freeman now faces his alma mater — he was an All-Big Ten linebacker for Ohio State under coach Jim Tressel — with everything on the line. . Day, meanwhile, can get the highest goal for a team that falls short of the former, but never stops swinging.
Your first look at the championship matchup and what to expect in ATL. — Adam Rittenberg
when: January 20 at 7:30pm ET. TV: ESPN
What we learned in the semi-finals: Notre Dame’s flexibility and situational awareness/execution are undoubtedly its hallmarks and could lead the team to a title. The Irish have overcome injuries all season and did so again against Penn State. They also erased two deficits and held the edge in the “middle eight” — the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second — while dominating third downs on both sides of the ball. Notre Dame can rely on a front man like the quarterback. Riley Leonardrunning back Jeremiah Love And linebacker Jack Keizerbut also at backup QB Steve Angelliwide receiver Jayden Great House And the cooker Mitch Jeter. These Irish fight, and are very difficult to knock out.
The X Factor: Greathouse entered Thursday with modest numbers — 29 receptions, 359 yards, one touchdown — and had just three catches for 14 yards in the first two CFP games. But he also recorded career highs in both receptions (7) and receiving yards (105) and tied the score on a 54-yard touchdown with 4:38 to play. A Notre Dame offense that’s looking for more from its wide receivers, especially downfield, could lean more heavily on Greathouse, who has surpassed his receptions total over the past five games but may That is finding its groove at the right time. He also came up big in the clutch, recording all but six of his own in the second half.
How Notre Dame wins: The Irish won’t have the talent edge in Atlanta, in part because they lost several stars to season-ending injuries, but they have the right traits to hang with any opponent. Notre Dame needs contributions in all three phases and must continue to sprinkle in downfield passes, a factor offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has emphasized. And they finally started to see results against Penn State. The Irish probably can’t afford to lose the turnover margin, though they can help themselves by replicating their third-down glory — 11 of 17 on offense, 3 of 11 on defense. Allowed — by Penn State win. — Rittenberg
What we learned in the semi-finals: The Buckeyes have a defense with championship metal, headlined by a senior defensive end. Jack SawyerThat produced the greatest defensive play in Ohio State history. With just over two minutes left on fourth-and-goal, Sawyer sacked the Texas quarterback Quinn EversForced a fumble that he scooped up and ran 83 yards for a game-clinching touchdown, lifting Ohio State to the national title game. The Buckeyes weren’t perfect in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and they struggled offensively all night against a talented Texas defense. But Ohio State has shown late why its defense is one of the best in college football.
The X Factor: Two snaps of the play before Sawyer scoops and sets the table for the score. On second-and-goal from the Ohio State 1-yard line, the senior safety was tackled. Lathan Ransom Dashed past oncoming blockers and knocked down the Texans running back. Quintrevion Wisner for a loss of 7 yards. After an incomplete pass, the Longhorns were forced into desperation mode on fourth-and-goal with just over two minutes remaining. All American security Caleb Downswhich stymied Texas’ ensuing drive, rightfully grabbed all the headlines for the Ohio State secondary. But the Buckeyes have other veteran standouts like Ransom on defense.
How Ohio State Wins: Texas took away Ohio State’s top offensive playmaker, a true freshman wide receiver. Jeremiah SmithWho had just one reception for 3 yards on three targets. As the first two playoff games underscored, the Buckeyes’ offense is at its best when Smith gets the ball early and often. Notre Dame is sure to emulate the Texas blueprint by positioning the defensive backs to challenge Smith. Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has to contend with a scheme that finds ways to get the ball in Smith’s hands, no matter what the Fighting Irish do. — Jack Trotter