It is about time for the national championship game to begin following the first year of the expanded 12-team playoff. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Notre Dame (14-1) will play Ohio State on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET in an attempt to win its first national championship since 1988.
The Fighting Irish advanced to the national title by defeating Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Since 2014, Ohio State (13-2) has been searching for a championship. The Buckeyes advanced to the championship game by defeating the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.
The rosters of Ohio State and Notre Dame are both loaded with talent, so the matchup should be thrilling. Fans will be able to view a number of players from each club in the upcoming NFL season.
The following six players should be watched throughout Monday night’s game.
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State wide receiver Egbuka, who weighs 205 pounds and stands 6 feet 1 inch, is a slick route runner who dominates one-on-one fights thanks to his footwork and ability to alter direction after breaking free from coverage. His style of play is comparable to that of Garrett Wilson, a receiver with the Jets who also attended Ohio State. In order to obtain coverage advantages, particularly in the slot, both players employ different routes.
Egbuka caught 75 catches for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns in 15 games. In the April draft, Egbuka is probably going to be selected in the late first or early second rounds. Egbuka has proven to be a reliable player in the slot, but there are concerns about whether he can be utilized as an outside receiver at the next level.
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame quarterback At quarterback, Leonard is among the top dual threats in the country. In 15 games, he completed passes for 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. In addition, he ran for 16 rushing touchdowns and 866 yards.
Leonard is capable of creating plays, but occasionally his judgment has been dubious. Inside the pocket, he is a respectable passer. However, Leonard has a tendency to make poor choices and try to hurl himself out of a sack when he is under pressure. Leonard is therefore probably a Day 3 pick.
Leonard will take on an Ohio State defense that leads the country in sacks (51) and yards allowed (251.1). Leonard will need to use his arm and legs to generate plays against a formidable Buckeyes defense if the Fighting Irish are to pull off the shock.
Ohio State’s Treveyon Henderson, RB Henderson can be a fantastic choice if your team is in need of a running back. At 5-10 and 212 pounds, he is a strong ball carrier with good speed who can convert a five-yard run into a possible long score.
Henderson has averaged 7.3 yards per carry while rushing for 967 yards and 10 touchdowns. Quinshon Judkins, who has ran for 12 touchdowns, shares carries with him. Henderson is probably selected on the second day of the draft. On the ground, Notre Dame’s defense gives up 133 yards per game. The Fighting Irish may be able to put quarterback Will Howard and the Ohio State offense in advantageous third-and-long situations if they can stop Henderson and the Buckeyes’ rushing attack.
Notre Dame’s Howard Cross III, DL The name should sound familiar if it does. Cross is the son of Howard Cross, a former NFL tight end who spent 13 seasons with the Giants and won a Super Bowl. The younger Cross, 6-1 and 288 pounds, plays on the defensive end of the ball, in contrast to his father. Cross has four sacks and 27 tackles for the Fighting Irish in 12 games.
Despite being smaller than most defensive linemen, Cross can get pressure on quarterbacks and win one-on-one games thanks to his strong lateral movement. He is anticipated to be selected in the late draft. Notre Dame, safety, and Xavier Watts
On Monday night, Watts will play his final game as a college student. His stellar school record includes winning the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the top defensive player in college football, and being selected to two All-American teams (2023–24). Watts has recorded 74 tackles and six interceptions so far this season. He is a high-motor safety who excels at both passing and running.
Additionally, Watts is a physical safety who is excellent in zone systems, which should excite general managers and scouts. He might be a contender for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year title in 2025. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith Even though Smith won’t be eligible for the NFL draft for another two years, I saved the best for last. However, Smith is already the country’s top wide receiver at the age of 19.
A year ago, the 6-3, 215-pound star from Miami Gardens, Florida, was the country’s top recruit. Though I doubt anyone anticipated him becoming this good so quickly, Ohio State understood Smith had the potential to be exceptional. In 15 games with the Buckeyes, Smith has caught 71 passes for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was voted the Big Ten Receiver of the Year and made the first team of the American football team.
Smith just finished with one catch for three yards in a lackluster performance against Texas. To stop them from making big pass plays, Longhorn defenders bracketed Smith throughout the game. Smith won Rose Bowl MVP after finishing with seven receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over Oregon one week prior.
Despite having the second-best passing defense in the country (165.3), Notre Dame hasn’t faced a team as good as Smith and Egbuka.