ATLANTA — Ohio State and Notre Dame are two college football programs rooted in history and tradition.
The Buckeyes’ iconic names range from coach Woody Hayes and running back Archie Griffin to coach Ryan Day and defensive end Jack Sawyer. Their appearance, combining scarlet and gray and wearing helmets covered with horse chestnut leaves, is synonymous with success.
The Fighting Irish will honor names ranging from coach Lou Holtz and quarterback Joe Montana to coach Marcus Freeman and quarterback Riley Leonard. They wear glittering gold helmets in any setting, especially against the backdrop of the large Touchdown Jesus mural that has become a campus landmark.
But through the program’s presence in a sport that’s been around for more than a century, Monday brings something never seen before.
Ohio State and Notre Dame will meet in Atlanta for the national championship game.
A new college football-packed season will see a pair of iconic teams go head-to-head for the first time in this environment.
How Ohio State and Notre Dame ended up in Atlanta
College football has changed its postseason format for the 2024 season. Instead of four teams participating in the College Football Playoff, the field was expanded to 12 teams.
In the past, perfection was often the standard for reaching the pinnacle of a sport. Things have changed this season, with Ohio State and Notre Dame leading the way in a new landscape.
The Fighting Irish defeated Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State in the playoffs to advance to the final round. However, in September, reaching the postseason seemed like a no-brainer.
A week after an impressive win over Texas A&M, Notre Dame lost as a home favorite to Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference, which includes teams like Kent State and Akron.
Those losses often led to a significant downturn in the season. The Fighting Irish were No. 5 in the final CFP rankings, suggesting they didn’t have a chance to play for a national title in previous seasons.
Ohio State football is looking for its third win in as many seasons against Notre Dame.Getty Images
Ohio State definitely wouldn’t have been in this field before.
The Buckeyes opened the season with five straight wins, but lost on October 12 against Oregon. The one-point loss didn’t really hurt Ohio State’s performance.
If the Buckeyes respond well, they could face the Ducks in a rematch in the Big Ten title game, with the winner advancing to the CFP.
Things changed dramatically on Nov. 30 when Ohio State, a three-touchdown favorite, lost at home to Michigan. Given their 10-2 record, the Buckeyes never had a chance to win a national title during the four-team era.
But this season is different, giving Day and Freeman a chance to prove their team belongs at the pinnacle of college football.
“I think the new format has allowed our team to grow and develop throughout the season,” Day said. “Losing hurts, but it allows us as coaches and players to seriously consider and address issues.”
What a win means for Notre Dame
Before becoming Notre Dame’s head coach, Marcus Freeman was a linebacker for Ohio State football.plain dealer
Notre Dame last won a national title in 1988. Since then, the Fighting Irish have struggled for consistency in the race to get back to the top while Freeman, a former Ohio State linebacker (2004-08), serves as the program’s fifth head coach since Holtz. I’ve been fighting against it. Retired after the 1996 season.
Under coach Brian Kelly (2010-21), Notre Dame regained some of its glory.
The Fighting Irish made the BCS National Championship Game (an earlier postseason format that selected the top two teams from the regular season to play in the title game) during the 2012 season. They also appeared in the CFP twice (2018 and 2020) during the four-team era.
However, even when Notre Dame was on the big stage, the results were often poor. Freeman won three games in the playoffs this season and started to change the narrative.
A victory over his alma mater would cement his impressive rise as a coach in just his third season in charge.
“The goal every year is to win a national championship,” Freeman said. “That’s why all of these players choose to come to Notre Dame. Part of the reason is to join a program that can win a national championship.”
What a win means for Ohio State
Ohio State rarely lost big games, but Day has earned a reputation similar to Notre Dame’s Kelly.
The Buckeyes continue to be the face of consistency in college football. Excluding the 2020 pandemic season when OSU only played eight games, they have won at least 10 games in 12 consecutive seasons.
Day is the only active coach in the country to lead a team to at least four CFP appearances since becoming full-time head coach in 2019.
Despite its success, Ohio State hasn’t won a national title since the 2014 season when Hall of Fame coach Urban Meyer was at the helm.
Only two active head coaches have won a national championship: Clemson University’s Dabo Swinney and Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Failure to achieve that goal did not make Day a failure as a manager.
However, combined with a four-game losing streak to rival Michigan, Day’s tenure caused dissatisfaction among Ohio State’s fan base. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, there’s a chance to change that narrative.
“I have to leave without a doubt, that’s all,” Day said. “Whether it’s a game or a season, that’s it. We’ve got to finish this thing the right way. Talk about the fundamentals, build on what we wanted to do this season and get it done the right way, or Leave no doubt, all of this matters. It was all for this moment.”
