And then there were two.
In a battle of heavyweights, No. 7 Notre Dame (14-1) and No. 9 Ohio State (13-2) will play Monday at 7:30 p.m. in New Orleans (ESPN) in the College Football Playoff title game — the first in the 12-team playoff era.
The programs have combined for 19 national championships and 14 Heisman Trophy winners. They will meet for the ninth time, with Ohio State owning a 6-2 series advantage. Notre Dame has not beaten Ohio State since 1936.
With a trophy on the line, here are the Buckeyes who will play the biggest roles in deciding the game.
Ryan Day | Ohio State head coach
Every coach wants a national title, but it’s a good bet this would be extra sweet for Day. He is 69-10 at Ohio State, but a 1-4 record against rival Michigan and a 1-3 record in the CFP before this season has earned him scorn. His team is playing its best football of the season and could put all the “What has Day done for us lately?” talk to bed with a national title.
Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State wide receiver
Smith had been lighting up defenses in the CFP, compiling 290 yards on 13 catches with four touchdowns in the first two rounds, but he disappeared in the win over Texas (one catch for three yards).
“I think when you look at it, it’s a little bit more about execution than it is anything else,” Day said during a Sunday news conference in reference to Smith’s quiet performance. “They really didn’t play us any differently than some of the other teams that we played. But we weren’t able to sustain a few of those drives and connect on a couple other plays.”
Texas corner Jahdae Barron called Smith a “big baller” before the semifinal matchup. There has never been a better time to be one.
Jack Sawyer | Ohio State defensive end
Sawyer is the heart and soul of this Buckeyes team and his scoop-and-score to close out Texas was a play for the ages. His task against Notre Dame is to get after QB Riley Leonard, who has thrown for only 313 yards in the past two CFP games. According to Pro Football Focus, Leonard ranks 125th in the FBS with a 36.2 passing grade when under pressure.
Will Howard | Ohio State quarterback
Howard picked apart Texas in the semifinals, finishing 24-for-33 for 289 yards and a touchdown. Notre Dame’s defense should allow for Howard to throw downfield more, but he must be accurate. The Irish are fifth in the nation with 19 interceptions.
