The first iteration of the 12-team College Football Playoff has been whittled from 12 to eight to four and now just two teams remain. Ohio State and Notre Dame meet Monday for all the marbles.
Ohio State is going for its first title since the end of the 2014 season. It’s been much longer for Notre Dame; the Irish last won a championship in 1988 when the team capped a 12-0 season with a Fiesta Bowl victory over West Virginia.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN | Line: Ohio State -8.5 | Total: 46.5
It’s no secret that Notre Dame wants to run the ball and it’ll need to have success on the ground against Ohio State. The Irish would be best suited keeping it out of the Buckeyes’ hands and eating up as much clock as possible.
Another key that could swing the game: Which quarterback will make a costly mistake? Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard has thrown an interception in every CFP game so far and Ohio State’s Will Howard has had some truly devastating turnovers in the two games the Buckeyes lost this season. This could be the game for either team where a turnover leads to a game-shifting touchdown.
Follow all the action in Atlanta below.
Live22 updates
Irish convert on fourth-and-1 inside 5
Notre Dame is on the doorstep now.
Irish inside the red zone
This has been a methodical opening drive for Notre Dame. The Irish are now inside the 20 after another first-down run by Riley Leonard.
Notre Dame converts on fourth down
The Irish are clicking now and over midfield after another first-down run by Leonard.
Irish move the sticks
Three plays, two runs and a first down for Riley Leonard. The Irish will want to control this game on the ground and the first series showed that.
Notre Dame will start at the 25
We are underway in Atlanta!
OSU wins coin toss, defers
The Irish will have the ball first in Atlanta. Let’s goooo!
Awesome environment. Both fan bases are loud and fired up. Let’s have ourselves a game.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) January 21, 2025
Atmosphere in Atlanta is madness. Vibes are immaculate. This place is very drunk and very ready for football.
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) January 21, 2025
The ESPN open for the Ohio State-Notre Dame CFP National Championship Game is a top-notch hype video narrated by Common. 🏈📺🎙️ pic.twitter.com/oHyMbJbnU2
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 21, 2025
The national anthem is done and the teams are coming out of the tunnel now. We are moments away from kickoff!
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