Buckeyes, Irish used humiliating loss as springboard to their national championship showdown

ATLANTA (AP) – Before the first 12-team College Football Playoff even started, there were already plenty of people suggesting changes to determine future national champions.

Ohio State (13-2) and Notre Dame (14-1) aren’t feuding, at least not this year.

Had it remained a four-team playoff, the Buckeyes’ loss to a middling Michigan team and the Irish’s loss to Northern Illinois would likely have been deal-breakers.

“Our season would be over,” Notre Dame defensive lineman Howard Cross III said. “Now we have a chance to play in this game.”

Two of the biggest brands in the sport will square off CFP Championship Game Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will end longest season in college football history — 150 days since the start of August 24.

“I think a lot of teams start their offseason program,” Buckeyes offensive lineman Donovan Jackson said with a laugh, “and we’re still playing.”

Ohio State will be playing for its first championship since 2014 and Notre Dame for the first since 1988.

The Buckeyes already had a one-point road loss to Oregon when they were a three-touchdown favorite upset 13-10 at home by Michigan on 30 November. The Irish’s season appeared to be over before it really got started when, as a four-touchdown favorite, lost 16-14 to Northern Illinois on 7 September

Ohio State survived its crushing defeat because of its four wins over top-five opponents, tied for the most ever in a season. The Buckeyes have beaten Tennessee, Oregon and Texas in the playoffs.

Players on both teams said they used their humiliating loss as a reset.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said the twists and turns of the trip won’t matter much if his team falls short Monday.

“It’s the stark reality of this game that nobody cares what you go through and you have to win the last one to finish the mission,” he said. “That’s it for our guys, and as much as some of these wins have been big wins for us, for me it’s about winning this last game.”

Notre Dame closed the regular season with 10 straight wins, most in lopsided fashion, and its national-leading streak has reached 13 after playoff wins over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State.

Xavier Watts, the Irish’s two-time All-America safety, said he and his teammates had no doubt they could bounce back after being embarrassed in their second game.

“We went against Purdue the next week and we kind of went out there and let all our anger out,” Watts said. “Every week we just continued to improve. I think every week we just continued to get better and better and experience growth and here we are now.”

Buckeyes big favorites

Ohio State was listed as an 8.5-point favorite by BetMGM Sportsbook on Sunday. There have been two major championship game lines in the CFP era. Georgia was favored by 13 1/2 over TCU two years ago and was easily covered with a 65-7 victory. Four years ago, Alabama was favored by nine over Ohio State and won 52-24.

The The Buckeyes had opened as a 9.5-point favorite.

Memories of Mercedes-Benz

Notre Dame will make its second appearance of the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Irish beat Georgia Tech 31-13 on October 19, when quarterback Riley Leonard ran for two touchdowns, Jeremiah Love for one and Adon Shuler scored on a 36-yard interception return.

The Buckeyes have bad memories of the place. The 2022 team squandered two double-digit leads and lost 42-41 to Georgia in the Peach Bowl CFP semifinals.

Point, counterpoint

Ohio State has outscored its first three playoff opponents 42-0 in the first quarter. Notre Dame has gone scoreless through the first 15 minutes in its last two games.

Notre Dame has been at its best in the last four minutes of the second quarter and the first four minutes of the third. The Irish have a 148-17 scoring advantage in the so-called “intermediates,” including 23-10 in their three CFP games. Ohio State has been outscored 14-10 in the middle of eight.

Freeman and the Bears

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman was awarded a new long-term contract last month, but that hasn’t stopped his name from being mentioned for the Chicago Bears job. The 39-year-old is 33-9 with the Irish.

“Here’s the reality: With team success comes individual recognition. It’s humbling to hear that the Bears have interest. It’s the NFL,” he said. “But it is also a reminder that with team success comes individual success. I haven’t thought about coaching in the NFL. All of my attention has just been on getting this team prepared for every opportunity that’s in front of us.”

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP College Football: and