Football is the ultimate team sport, but a single individual performance can change everything — especially on the biggest stage. As the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish battle for the national championship, which players are primed to seize the spotlight and claim offensive and defensive MVP honors?
2025 National Championship Offensive MVP Odds
All odds are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
- Will Howard, QB, Ohio State -110
- Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State +350
- Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame +500
- TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State +1200
- Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame +1500
- Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State +1800
- Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State +1800
- Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame +4000
- Jordan Faison, WR, Notre Dame +4000
- Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State +5000
Will Howard, Ohio State -110
Has Will Howard been perfect this year? No, but he’s done enough to lead his team to the natty. Yes, his tape vs. Michigan can’t be overlooked, but neither should his sheer stockpile of NFL-level throws. Whether hole shots vs. Cover 2, posts vs. two-high looks, or downfield sideline dots against single-high, Howard has made the throws that translate to the pros.
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Howard’s arm strength is a tad lackluster for his size (6’4″, 235), but it gets the job done more often than not. Paired with clean fundamentals and solid mobility, Notre Dame’s going to have to play at their peak to slow down Howard and Ohio State’s offense.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State +350
Jeremiah Smith is one of the best overall WRs we’ve ever seen and would easily be the WR1 in the 2025 and 2026 NFL Draft classes (he isn’t eligible until 2027).
Smith can win before the catch with his elite start/stop ability, decisive route running, and deceptive speed. He can win at the catch point with his body control, strong hands, and leaping prowess. And he can win after the catch with lateral agility, contact balance, and rapid acceleration.
What’s not to like?
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame +500
Riley Leonard has struggled when forced to throw from the pocket on a down-to-down basis, which is exactly what the Buckeyes will attempt to do. However, he’s efficient in the quick passing games and is lethal on the ground, thanks to legitimate athleticism evident in his track and basketball background.
But if Leonard can’t get going on the ground and can’t connect downfield, the Irish QB will be in for a long game.
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State +1200
Stout pass blocker? Check. Home-run speed? Check. Agility and acceleration to obliterate pursuit? Quadruple check.
TreVeyon Henderson isn’t quite as decisive in zone schemes vs. man/gap, but when 100%, he is a game-changer capable of flipping the field on any given touch.
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame +1500
7.1.
That was Jeremiyah Love’s yards per carry average this season … on 159 carries.
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After seeing limited touches behind Audric Estime in 2023, Love took over the lead role in 2024 and promptly rushed for 1,121 yards and 17 scores. While Leonard has eaten heavily into Love’s production, it’s largely kept the RB fresh for back-breaking runs to the house.
A knee injury has nagged him throughout the playoff, but all he needs is one carry to alter the course of the title match.
2025 National Championship Defensive MVP Odds
All odds are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
- Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State +180
- Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State +300
- JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State +750
- Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame +900
- Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State +900
- Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame +1200
- Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State +2000
- Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State +3000
- Ty Hamilton, DT, Ohio State +3000
- Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB, Ohio State +3000
Jack Sawyer, Ohio State +180
Jack Sawyer has the power to manhandle offensive tackles as a pass rusher and run defender. His lack of pure speed and bend limit his pass-rush upside, but at the collegiate level, his raw strength is more than enough.
Exhibit A: the Cotton Bowl vs. Texas. Sawyer’s fumble-six made the headlines, but he beat up on OT Cameron Williams all game, routinely winning around the arc. With Notre Dame down a starter at left tackle (Anthonie Knapp), expect Sawyer to feast once again.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State +300
Caleb Downs stepped off the plane and immediately earned Alabama’s starting safety spot as a true freshman. He’s been even better for Ohio State.
The do-it-all safety churns downhill in run support and uses his physical gifts as a standout in coverage. A large reason for Ohio State’s defensive resurgence following the Oregon loss was deploying Downs in a more versatile role closer to the line of scrimmage — that’s how impactful his skill set is.
JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State +750
A former top recruit, JT Tuimoloau had a slow start as a freshman but has since become a game-wrecker. The 6’5″, 269-pounder has generated 130 tackles, 37.5 TFLs, 18.5 sacks, two INTs, 10 PBUs, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries throughout his career.
Alongside Sawyer, Tuimoloau is primed to dominate against a depleted Notre Dame offensive line, with head coach Marcus Freeman already ruling out Knapp. Whether it’s Tosh Baker or Charles Jagusah filling in, Leonard can expect relentless pressure from the Buckeyes’ edge rushers.
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame +900
Xavier Watts won the 2023 Nagurski Award winner, given to the nation’s best defender, after snagging an FBS-leading seven INTs. It wasn’t a fluke, as Watts has recorded another six picks this year to go along with nine PBUs, one forced fumble, and 74 total tackles.
Watts has a knack for being where the football is, which could haunt Howard in the national championship. If Howard stares down a read, expect Watts to make him pay.
Cody Simon, Ohio State +900
From 2021 to 2023, Cody Simon was a mainstay at Ohio State’s second level, but he didn’t earn a full-time starting role until 2024. The wait was more than worth it, as Simon has recorded 104 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, seven sacks, and seven PBUs.
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His relative inexperience in coverage can pop up from time to time, but the Buckeyes can rely on his tackling and vision against the run to slow an offense’s march to the end zone.
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