This Monday, Ohio State takes on Notre Dame in the National Championship. The matchup will be the first National Championship in the new 12 team playoff bracket that was recently introduced in college football. It is a matchup that will be remembered for a long time as the start of a new era in college football.
Both teams have deep history in the National Championship game. Ohio State has won eight National Championships. Their first win was in 1942 and their last win was in 2014. Notre Dame is perhaps even more of a historic team, dominating throughout the 20th century. They went on to win 11 National Championships from 1924 to 1988. The Fighting Irish have not won one since, so a championship this year would mean a return to glory for them.
Not only is this game full of history, it is also an incredible matchup between two powerhouses. Ohio State has a strong roster, paved by the new process of signing through the NIL. Their roster is said to have cost around 20 million dollars. With that expensive price tag they were able to get many of the best recruits in the country. Players like Jeremiah Smith and TreVeyon Henderson have done an incredible job in bringing them to this game. The team’s Quarterback Will Howard has had a great season, throwing for 3,779 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. Their defense has also been great. Defensive End JT Tuimoloau has stood out with 11.5 sacks on the season. With all of the Talent, this team was able to get a record of 13-2 as well as some major upsets in the playoffs. Notre Dame also has a stacked roster, even without spending anywhere near the amount of money that Ohio State did. Their offense has been pretty good, with running back Jeremiah Love rushing for over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Quarterback, Riley Leanord, has also stood out, passing for 2,606 yards and rushing for 866 yards. The Irish’s defense, however, is where they really shine. Their secondary is very good, with safety Xavier Watts gaining 6 interceptions in the season. This roster has led Notre Dame to a 14-1 record.
This game is not only a good matchup, however, it also marks a change in college football. It displays the start of the NIL being a factor in the FBS. Teams that were paid for with millions of dollars are starting to pop up in that National Championship. It also marks the beginning of the 12-man playoff bracket, allowing teams in lesser divisions to have a chance at a title.
People across Hingham High have many different predictions on the outcome of this game. Junior Tommy Riordan, said, “I think that Ohio State will win the National Championship because of their almost perfect roster.” His brother, Cole Riordan, seemed to disagree, saying, “Notre Dame will win the National Championship because Ohio State will not be able to handle the Notre Dame secondary.” No matter the outcome, this will be an incredible matchup that will not be soon forgotten. It begins on Monday, January 20th at 7:30 PM EDT.
