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ATLANTA — Before the first 12-team college playoff even began, there were already plenty of people proposing changes to determine the future national champions.
Ohio State (13-2) and Notre Dame (14-1) are not in contention, at least not this year.
If a four-team playoff had remained, the Buckeyes’ loss to a middling Michigan team and the Irish’s loss to Northern Illinois would likely have been game-changers.
“Our season would be over,” Notre Dame linebacker 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 in the CFP Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will end the longest season in college football history – 150 days since the Aug. 24 start.
“I think a lot of teams start their offseason,” 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 its first since 1988.
The Buckeyes already had a one-point road loss against Oregon when, as a three-touchdown favorite, they lost at home to Michigan 13-10 on Nov. 30. a four-touchdown favorite, they lost 16-14 to Northern Illinois on Sept. 7.
Ohio State survived the crushing defeat thanks to four wins over top-five opponents, tied for the most of the season. The Buckeyes beat Tennessee, Oregon and Texas in the playoffs.
Players on both teams said they used their humiliating losses as a reset.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said road upsets won’t mean much if his team falls short.
“That’s the sobering reality of this game, that no one cares what you go through, and you have to win the last one to complete the mission,” he said. “That’s it for our guys, and as much as some of these wins are big wins for us, for me it’s about winning this final game.”
Notre Dame closed the regular season with 10 straight wins, most of them in blowout fashion, and its nation-leading streak reached 13 after playoff wins over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State.
Xavier Watts, a two-time All-America safety for the Irish, said he and his teammates have no doubt they can bounce back after being embarrassed in the second game.
“We went against Purdue the next week and we kind of came out and let all our anger out,” Watts said. “Each week we just continued to improve. I just think every week we got better and better and saw growth, and here we are now.”
Ohio State is listed as an 8.5-point favorite by BetMGM Sportsbooks. There have been two bigger championship game lines in the CFP era. Georgia was favored by 13 1/2 over TCU two years ago and easily covered it with a 65-7 victory. Four years ago, Alabama was favored by nine over Ohio State and won 52-24.
The Buckeyes opened as 9.5-point favorites.
Notre Dame will make its second appearance of the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Irish beat Georgia Tech 31-13 on Oct. 19, with quarterback Riley Leonard running for two touchdowns, Jeremiah Love one and Adon Shuler scoring on a 36-yard punt return.
The Buckeyes have bad memories of the place. The 2022 team blew two double-digit leads to lose 42-41 to Georgia in the CFP Peach Bowl semifinals.
Ohio State outscored its first three playoff opponents 42-0 in the first quarter. Notre Dame has been held scoreless in the first 15 minutes of its last two games.
Notre Dame was at its best in the last four minutes of the second quarter and the first four minutes of the third. The Irish are 148-17 in the so-called “Middle Eight,” including 23-10 in their three CFP games. Ohio State was outscored 14-10 midway through eight.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman received a new long-term contract, but that hasn’t stopped his name from being floated 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. To hear the Bears have interest is humbling. It’s the NFL,” he said. “But it’s also a reminder that with team success comes individual success. I didn’t think about coaching in the NFL. All my attention was just to prepare this team for every opportunity that we have in front of us.”