The first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff has been full of surprises, nail-biting moments and instant classics. There were few dull moments in this playoff — unless, of course, you were an Alabama fan. With ticket prices soaring to what one joking Notre Dame student described as “several kidneys,” it’s safe to say the excitement around the new playoff format is palpable. More games, more action and more opportunities to watch your team chase a national title.
This will be the ninth meeting of the two teams. Notre Dame won the first two, in 1935 and 1936, but Ohio State won the last six, including the heartbreaker in Notre Dame Stadium last year when the Irish only had 10 men on the field as Ohio State scored a touchdown leaving only one second on the clock.
But that was last year.
Both of these teams, especially Notre Dame, have grown significantly since that game and the Irish do not want to repeat past mistakes. But let’s recap how both of these teams arrived at this point.
Ohio State
The Buckeyes started the season 5-0, trouncing the likes of Akron, Marshall and Iowa. Their smallest margin of victory in that run of the season was 28 points against Iowa. And then, they went to Oregon. The Ducks were ranked third in the country before the game started, just one below Ohio State. In one of the most thrilling games of the season, Oregon secured a narrow one-point victory, thanks to a calculated decision by head coach Dan Lanning. Lanning deliberately sent 12 men onto the field to prevent Ohio State from executing a big-yardage play in the game's final moments. The Buckeyes bounced back with five consecutive wins, including victories over top-five opponents Penn State and Indiana. However, rivalry week proved costly for Ohio State, as they fell to an unranked but fired-up Michigan team. The loss reignited debate over the ethics of planting flags on an opponent’s field — a celebration that Michigan used to punctuate their upset victory.
Nevertheless, Ohio State entered the playoff as the No. 8 seed, securing the final spot to host a home playoff game. On their road to the national championship, they dispatched Tennessee with ease, turned a highly anticipated rematch against Oregon into a one-sided affair and outlasted a talented Texas squad.
Ohio State’s defense has been dominant all season, allowing the fewest points (12.2 per game) and the fewest yards (251.1 per game) in the nation. They also rank third in team sacks, trailing only Boise State and Ole Miss.
Notre Dame
The Irish’s season was a tale of redemption. Notre Dame got off on the right foot, starting the season with a ranked win at Texas A&M. Fans were confident that this would finally be Notre Dame’s year before disaster struck the very next weekend, at the home opener. The loss to Northern Illinois was a devastating blow for the team and its fans. However, in hindsight, it may have been the spark the Irish needed. Dropping from No. 5 to No. 18 in the rankings, Notre Dame spent the rest of the season clawing their way back to the top. Since that setback on Sept. 7, the Irish have won 13 consecutive games, including playoff victories over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State. Notre Dame hasn’t claimed a national football title since 1988, but this season, it feels as though all the stars — and every one of our prayers — have finally aligned.
Like everyone else, I am counting down the minutes until 7:30 p.m. on Monday.
