Notre Dame hasn’t defeated Ohio State since 1936. With their ninth meeting coming on Jan. 20, as the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, it will be the third consecutive year they’ve faced each other.
With this, many fans and analysts alike are predicting who will hoist the trophy at the end of the 2024 season.
Fans Make CFP National Championship Predictions Amid QB Battle
Despite his consistent output, Notre Dame’s quarterback Riley Leonard is not a signal caller who is expected to lead the team’s offense. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s playmaker Will Howard ranks just behind Cam Ward in QBR rankings at 87.6, with Leonard sitting at No. 15.
Here's how CFP quarterbacks Will Howard and Riley Leonard stacked up this season in stats 📊
Who will the bigger game Monday night? pic.twitter.com/jKOKevzKgm
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 18, 2025
As highlighted by Fox, Howard has 3,779, 33 scores, and 10 interceptions this season, compared to Leonard’s 2,606 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, and eight interceptions. As the game approaches, many are pitting the opposing teams’ QB stats against each other and making their natty predictions off of it, with some not rooting for the underdogs.
“Ohio is taking it home! 💯🙏,” a fan said.
“Will, Will of course,” another fan echoed.
“Where are the rushing stats? Part of their respective ‘game,'” a fan questioned.
While Howard’s ahead in passing statistics over Leonard’s, the rushing game is a different matter. The Ohio State QB accumulated 169 yards on 89 carries with seven touchdowns this season. Leonard, who’s regarded for his rushing game as well as his passing, recorded 866 yards on 167 carries for 16 scores.
“What about Rush TDs?” another fan questioned.
“It is about stats with Leonard, he’s just gritty and knows how to win!” a fan said.
“Both have been great this season!” a fan wrote.
College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter gives Ohio State the edge with a spread of -4.5. They won their first two games easily; however, in their third against Texas, the game was close until late in the fourth quarter. Jack Sawyer made a big play with a sack-fumble and ran the ball back 83 yards for a score, helping the Buckeyes to a 28-14 win.
Notre Dame has been equally great. It beat Indiana by 10 points in the first round, leading by a larger score for most of the game. The Fighting Irish then easily won against SEC champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Orange Bowl was a close game, as the team only won by three points with a last-second field goal against Penn State, with the final score at 27-24.
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