One week from tonight, college football will produce a national champion and a coach lifting the trophy for the first time. The Athletic writers Pete Sampson (Notre Dame) and Cameron Teague Robinson (Ohio State) will be in Atlanta for the festivities.
In this beat writer Q&A, Sampson and Teague Robinson discuss how both programs got here, which star players could lift the trophy and if there’s an under-the-radar player (or five) to know.
Sampson: Is it me or did this just have to be the national championship game? Meaning the two college football programs with the biggest brands and the most narrative? I love this sport for so many reasons, but an Ohio State-Notre Dame national championship game almost feels too good to be true for the sake of college football.
Teague Robinson: Honestly this was the matchup I was hoping for when the bracket was released. This is a ratings dream for ESPN and for us from a storyline perspective. To me, though, it’s also a perfect example of what college football is now. Notre Dame lost a bad home game to Northern Illinois in the first month of the season and then recovered to make the title game. Ohio State lost to Michigan at the end of the year and recovered, as well. Personally, I think that’s good because overcoming adversity is part of sports, and it’s really cool to see both teams do just that.
Sampson: This does feel like a narrative overload, that’s for sure.
Let’s table Marcus Freeman vs. Ohio State for a minute and get to the quarterbacks. A year ago, Notre Dame chose Riley Leonard over Will Howard. Clearly, it’s worked out for both. Notre Dame needed more of a run-first quarterback to make this offense function. Ohio State needed more of a pass-first quarterback to make those receivers go. What kind of season has Howard had in Columbus this year? Leonard’s season started very slowly before picking up. Has Howard’s season been similar or different?
HERE COME THE IRISH ☘️#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/Irv3DvL7Kp
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) January 10, 2025
Teague Robinson: Howard had a slow start in the spring to the point where I thought Devin Brown was better in those early weeks. But since Howard came back in the summer, he’s been different. His pocket awareness is what stood out early, but really since the close win over Nebraska, he’s looked like a much more confident passer. Even after he threw the pick six against Penn State, on the first pass, he never wavered. He can struggle at times against teams that mix pressure with confusing zone looks, which is what Texas did. Otherwise, between his personality being exactly what this team needed and his versatility, everything has worked out for the best.
One thing that stands out to me watching Leonard is his toughness. When he hurdled the Georgia player, I knew that the game was over. I know he has limitations as a passer, at times, but it seems like his grit and toughness are good examples of what the entire Notre Dame roster is about. Is that fair to say?
Sampson: Freeman talks a lot about being an offensive line (and defensive line) driven program, which is basically code for, “We’re going to run the ball down your throat.” And Leonard makes Notre Dame’s run game very difficult to stop because you have to account for him on both designed runs and scrambles, where he just sort of makes stuff happen. That doesn’t even get to sack avoidance, where Leonard rates near the top of the country. As limiting as Leonard’s arm might be, his legs have helped turn Notre Dame into a pain to defend in the red zone. All the intangible stuff matters, too, but Leonard’s ability to create with his legs is critical. Remember those two fourth-down quarterback runs where Ohio State stopped Sam Hartman in South Bend last year? Leonard picks those up.
All year I’ve wondered if Notre Dame could beat an opponent with Leonard’s arm. And I’m still wondering after 15 games.
My hunch is Caleb Downs will be part of whatever counter Ohio State drafts for Leonard. Just how impactful has the Alabama transfer been? Notre Dame probably won’t test Ohio State’s secondary in the passing game, but that group will have to answer the bell in run support.
Teague Robinson: Downs has been fantastic. He sniffed out that goal line pitch against Texas that led to Jack Sawyer’s strip sack and score, and I’m not sure many safeties in the country would make that play. He’s their best open-field tackler and might be one of the best in the country.
The interesting thing about Downs is that Ohio State moved him closer to the box so that he could have more of an impact in the passing game and running game. He’ll be a big part of what they do against Notre Dame’s run game, along with safety Lathan Ransom. They’re like extra linebackers sometimes because Ohio State mixes and matches its coverages so much. One play Ransom will be the deep guy and Downs is inside, the next play they’ll run the slot corner Jordan Hancock deep, give Downs freedom to pick up routes across the middle and use Ransom as a gap filler. It’s a very versatile group and defense, but the run defense starts with Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton. Those are two future NFL defensive tackles who have shut down everybody on this Playoff run. If they can shed in the middle, Ohio State likes its chances.
Curious enough, though, that seems like the story on the other side of the ball. I was surprised to see Notre Dame struggle so much against the run after shutting down Indiana and Georgia. Ohio State running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson are an explosive duo, but because of some of the issues up front, they have had to show off their tackle-breaking abilities the last month or two. How does Notre Dame slow down Ohio State’s run game?
Moments like this >> pic.twitter.com/RI24YoACdr
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 12, 2025
Sampson: Notre Dame’s run defense in the first half against Penn State was alarming and really out of character compared to how they’ve played most of the season. I asked defensive coordinator Al Golden about that postgame and he felt the defense got unsound fundamentally and Penn State made the Irish pay for it. But you do wonder if Notre Dame has hit a bit of a breaking point on defense without defensive tackle Rylie Mills (knee), plus defensive ends Jordan Botelho (knee), Boubacar Traore (knee). The full week off is probably needed from Notre Dame’s defensive line. Other than Howard Cross, I’m not sure there’s a defensive lineman at Notre Dame who’d get meaningful snaps at Ohio State.
My hunch is Notre Dame will put an extra man in the box and take its chances with Ohio State’s receivers (yeah, I know). But the Irish finished No. 1 in the country in pass-efficiency defense the past two seasons and basically handled the Buckeyes star receivers when they played the past two years. Notre Dame is down star cornerback Benjamin Morrison, but this is a very good group of cornerbacks with All-America safety Xavier Watts at the back.
I’m interested in what happens when Ohio State’s offense doesn’t function. The brain-lock against Michigan aside, when things get off track, what happened?
Teague Robinson: Yeah, it’s been mostly self-inflicted issues.
The Texas game was interesting because the penalties hurt, but I also think the Longhorns zone defense gave Howard some trouble. Texas tried to bait Howard into throws, and the windows closed pretty quickly. So some switching zone schemes can give them trouble, but against Michigan and Nebraska, Ohio State struggled to run the ball and seemed like they wanted to just force it anyway.
When they open the playbook and spread the ball around through the air, everything starts to look so easy for them. The key is protection up front. Howard has been sacked just twice this postseason, both against Texas, and if he can stand upright, he usually looks really good because he’s pretty confident when he can go through his progressions. And he’s been really good against man coverage. The thing about man coverage this year, though, is that Jeremiah Smith brings a completely different dimension to this offense that even Marvin Harrison Jr. couldn’t. I think Chip Kelly has helped with that too. He’s done a good job making things easy for Howard.
I’m curious about the trenches, though. This game, for me, feels like which unhealthy offensive line can block the best. Ohio State lost two future NFL players, including Rimington Trophy winner Seth McLaughlin at center, but they’ve had a chance to adjust with a new line. How will Notre Dame adjust with its injuries?
Sampson: Notre Dame is down its starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp (ankle), a true freshman who won the job in training camp and never let up. He’s been good for a freshman, which is different than saying he’s been CFP-caliber good. Right guard Rocco Spindler has been battling an ankle injury since Indiana, gutted out the Georgia game, then went down against Penn State in the second quarter. His status is TBD.
Assuming Spindler can play, that leaves Notre Dame with a big call at left tackle. Sixth-year senior Tosh Baker got the call against Penn State but struggles with pass protection. The most interesting solution is Charles Jagusah, who was supposed to be Notre Dame’s starting left tackle until he suffered a season-ending chest/shoulder injury the first week of camp. But it just so happens this season is still going and he got called into action against Penn State at right guard for Spindler and played well. It’s a tough ask to get him ready for Ohio State’s edge rushers, but I’m not sure Notre Dame has a choice.
OK, we’ve gone long enough without a psycho-analysis of what Ryan Day has been through this season. Can you explain to non-Buckeyes exactly what the head coach has endured? When Kirk Herbstreit is talking about the “lunatic fringe” on national television, something is up.
Teague Robinson Oh, how much time do we have?
Day has been through a lot, but much of it has been self-inflicted because if you don’t beat Michigan, people will get mad in Columbus. It reached its peak this year when Ohio State lost to Michigan and then the brawl started on the field and people saw him just staring into space and doing nothing. It got so bad that athletic director Ross Bjork had to comment 24 hours after the game that he wasn’t going to fire him.
It was all a bit over the top, though, because now, six weeks later, we’re talking about him coaching in a national championship game and potentially leaving Atlanta with the best winning percentage among active coaches and as one of three active coaches with a title. Ohio State was never going to fire him. The only thing that would’ve made sense is if he left for an NFL coordinator job. And if that happened my first thought for the best replacement was not Mike Vrabel. Hear me out … it was for Ohio State to throw a bag at Marcus Freeman!
Speaking of Freeman, I know he downplayed the Ohio State connection in the press conference on Sunday, but do you think this game means any more to him because it is Ohio State and he’s coaching against some good friends?
Sampson: Dare I say it regarding Freeman and Ohio State … it just means more?
It’s probably for the best that Freeman got the “coaching against my alma mater” out of the way the past two years because that would get overwhelming in a hurry this week if not. The first shot in Columbus, Notre Dame was overmatched and it knew it. Last year, the Irish went head-to-head to the final seconds. In terms of year-over-year improvement, that was a big step forward. Now comes the national championship game, which is another level entirely.
I don’t think the Ohio State connection will be as big a deal to Freeman as it will to everyone else. He’s kept his nerve in some big spots during the CFP, so I would assume that continues next Monday night. Obviously, beating Ohio State would mean something different to a guy who grew up on Buckeyes football and still calls Jim Tressel “my coach.” As for Freeman coaching at Ohio State … it’s weird how that contract extension got done before Ohio State’s CFP game, right?
Let’s wrap up the matchup itself. Which players, outside of the obvious ones, might make the difference on Jan. 20?
Teague Robinson: I’ll go with one on each side of the ball.
Tight end Gee Scott Jr. is the guy on offense for me. He came to Ohio State as a wide receiver and grew into a physical tight end who has embraced blocking. This game, as much as he’ll be used for blocking, his receiving will be important. Can he create separation against man coverage?
And on defense, it’s Hamilton. If Ohio State is going to win it has to stop the run, or at least slow down Jeremiyah Love. That will mean Hamilton and Williams need to have big days but I’m leaning toward Hamilton because he also has to take on double teams to free up the linebackers and safeties.
Who makes the difference in this game for Notre Dame?
Sampson: If Notre Dame wins, cornerbacks Christian Gray and Leonard Moore will have a lot to do with it. Gray is just a sophomore and might not be under the radar after that late interception of Drew Allar last week. But Moore is still an unknown, despite the fact he’s been Notre Dame’s highest-rated defensive player on PFF this season. Nobody beyond the coaching staff knew what Notre Dame had in the three-star freshman when training camp opened. And if Morrison was still healthy, Moore would still be on the bench. He’s long and lean for a corner. Notre Dame can’t play man defense all game against Ohio State, but when it does, Gray and Moore have to hold up. If they do, Notre Dame’s defense can make Howard work for it.
Offensively, the receiver group is anonymous, even if Jaden Greathouse had a breakout performance against Penn State. If we’re talking about a true deep cut, freshman running back Aneyas Williams is worth remembering. He’s not going to take carries away from Love, but he’s excellent in the passing game and might be able to beat Ohio State’s linebackers like Jaydon Blue did last week.
Man, there’s so much to unpack about this game during the next week. Can’t wait to see you down in Atlanta.
(Photos of Marcus Freeman, Ryan Day: Gary A. Vasquez, Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
