The first 12-team College Football Playoff is all the way down to the ultimate two contenders: Notre Dame and Ohio State.
The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish and eighth-seeded Buckeyes will meet Jan. 20 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T. Whichever workforce wins will finish a championship drought. Notre Dame goals for its first title since 1988. Ohio State’s lull is not practically as lengthy, because the Buckeyes received the primary CFP championship a decade in the past, however given how persistently elite they’re, it looks like some time.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Ohio State’s Ryan Day are additionally aiming for his or her first championships as head coaches, and Freeman’s previous shall be within the highlight. Freeman and the Irish misplaced to the Buckeyes and Day in every of the previous two seasons. But after a masterful teaching job this season, Freeman now will face his alma mater — he was an All-Big Ten linebacker for Ohio State underneath coach Jim Tressel — with every thing on the road. Day, in the meantime, can safe the loftiest aim for a workforce that fell in need of earlier ones, however by no means stopped swinging.
Here’s your first have a look at the championship matchup and what to anticipate within the ATL. — Adam Rittenberg
When: Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN
What we realized within the semifinal: Notre Dame’s resilience and situational consciousness/execution are undeniably its signature traits and will propel the workforce to a title. The Irish have overcome accidents all season and did so once more in opposition to Penn State. They additionally erased two deficits and continued to carry the sting within the “center eight” — the ultimate 4 minutes of the primary half and the primary 4 minutes of the second half — whereas dominating third down on either side of the ball. Notre Dame can depend on entrance males reminiscent of quarterback Riley Leonard, working again Jeremiyah Love and linebacker Jack Kiser, but in addition on backup QB Steve Angeli, extensive receiver Jaden Greathouse and kicker Mitch Jeter. These Irish combat, and so they’re very laborious to knock out.
X issue: Greathouse entered Thursday with average numbers — 29 receptions, 359 yards, one landing — and had solely three complete catches for 14 yards within the first two CFP video games. But he recorded profession highs in each receptions (7) and receiving yards (105) and tied the rating on a 54-yard landing with 4:38 to play. A Notre Dame offense searching for extra from its extensive receivers, particularly downfield, might lean extra on Greathouse, who exceeded his receptions complete from the earlier 5 video games however is perhaps discovering his groove on the good time. He additionally got here up big within the clutch, recording all however six of his receiving yards within the second half.
How Notre Dame wins: The Irish will not have the expertise edge in Atlanta, partly as a result of they’ve misplaced a number of stars to season-ending accidents, however they’ve the appropriate traits to hold with any opponent. Notre Dame wants contributions in all three phases and should proceed to sprinkle in downfield passes, a component offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has pushed. And they lastly did begin seeing outcomes in opposition to Penn State. The Irish doubtless cannot afford to lose the turnover margin, though they might help themselves by replicating their third-down brilliance — 11 of 17 conversions on offense, 3 of 11 conversions allowed on protection — from the Penn State win. — Rittenberg
What we realized within the semifinal: The Buckeyes have a protection with championship mettle, headlined by senior defensive finish Jack Sawyer, who delivered one of many largest defensive performs in Ohio State historical past. On fourth-and-goal with simply over two minutes remaining, Sawyer sacked Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, forcing a fumble that he scooped up and raced 83 yards for a game-clinching landing, propelling Ohio State to the nationwide title sport. The Buckeyes weren’t good within the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and so they struggled offensively for a lot of the night time in opposition to a gifted Texas protection. But Ohio State confirmed late why its protection is arguably one of the best in school soccer, too.
X issue: The play two snaps earlier than the Sawyer scoop-and-score set the desk. On second-and-goal from the Ohio State 1-yard line, unheralded senior security Lathan Ransom dashed previous incoming blockers and dropped Texas working again Quintrevion Wisner for a 7-yard loss. After an incomplete move, the Longhorns have been pressured into desperation mode on fourth-and-goal down a landing with simply over two minutes remaining. All-American security Caleb Downs, who had an interception on Texas’ ensuing drive, rightfully will get all of the headlines for the Ohio State secondary. But the Buckeyes produce other veteran standouts reminiscent of Ransom all through their protection.
How Ohio State wins: Texas took away Ohio State’s prime offensive playmaker, true freshman extensive receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had just one reception for 3 yards on three targets. As the primary two playoff video games underscored, the Buckeyes offense is at its greatest when Smith will get the ball early and infrequently. Notre Dame is certain to emulate the Texas blueprint, positioning the defensive backs to problem Smith. Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has to counter with a plan that finds methods to get the ball into Smith’s fingers, it doesn’t matter what the Fighting Irish do. — Jake Trotter
