Ohio State Has Edge Over Notre Dame in College Football Title Match

by Eric Fulton

​We are now down to the College Football Playoff Championship Game to conclude the 2024 season. Many people thought either Ohio State or Notre Dame would be in the game coming into the season. However, no one would have seen it coming by how they arrived. Neither team was ranked in the top five at the start of the playoffs. Both teams had shocking losses to unraked teams at home during the season. Neither team played in their conference championship game (Notre Dame is independent). However, for one of these teams, the season will end by becoming a national champion.

Let's start by talking about offense for both teams.

The Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish each have transfer quarterbacks in Will Howard (Ohio State) and Riley Leonard (Notre Dame). Each played well and overcame a lot of pressure from their fan bases this season. The key to the game will be who is able to make the biggest play and also who makes fewer mistakes.

You have Jeremiyah Love for Notre Dame against Ohio State's dynamic duo of Treyveon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins at the running back position. I think the Irish defense will have a tough time against the running duo for Ohio State. 

In the wide receiver spot, the Buckeyes have a talented freshman in Jeremiah Smith, who looks like he will be the next great wide receiver once he turns pro. I think Ohio State has too many offensive weapons for Notre Dame to stop. I am giving the Buckeyes the edge on offense.

Defense will be a massive factor in this matchup.

I like Ohio State's defense, led by defensive end Jack Sawyer, who is the leader on the team. He led the Buckeyes in tackles and made a key play in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Texas to clinch the title game for the Buckeyes. Also, Ohio State will have JT Tuimoloau, a fantastic linebacker, and Alabama transfer Caleb Downs, the leader in the defensive backfield. For Notre Dame, look for Rylee Mills, who led the defense in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (8.5). In the defensive backfield, Jack Kiser (85) and Xavier Watts (75) are the two leading tacklers for the Irish. The biggest thing for me is who can make that extra play on defense that can help their team win the game. I believe Ohio State will play the better defense of the two.

Special teams will play a key role in this game too.

Mitch Jeter for Notre Dame has struggled for much of the season but has kicked well recently. Ohio State's Jayden Fielding has the better field goal percentage of the two, at 73%. Both kickers will probably make their field goals and extra points, but I will also give the Buckeyes this category.

The coaching matchup in this championship game is excellent. Both Ryan Day (Ohio State) and Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame) are excellent head coaches, and it is good to see that one of them will become a national champion head coach. It has been a while since these two great powerhouses in college have won a national championship. Ohio State has been looking for its first title since 2014 when head coach Urban Meyer led it. Notre Dame has been looking for its first title since 1988 when head coach Lou Holtz led it. I am rooting for Marcus Freeman. The reason is that Freeman is already the first black head coach to lead an FBS team to the national championship, and now he is looking to win it all on what happens to be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

I am excited about this game. Both teams played well and earned their spot in the championship game. I think Ohio State has more talent on the field, and I think their key players will be the difference in this one, leading them to victory.