The National Championship Game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes is just hours away, and it’s been a long road for fans on both sides.
The Ryan Day-led Buckeyes squad made it through the winding season, even after a conference loss to its arch-rival Michigan Wolverines to end the regular season. Meanwhile, Marcus Freeman’s team is considered the underdog, not having won a matchup against Ohio State since 1936.
Joel Klatt Believes Ohio State Will Win National Championship
College football insider Joel Klatt also shares the consensus sentiment, taking a clear stance:
“Overall, folks, I think this matchup lies in the Buckeyes’ hands. They’re the better team. They’re the better roster. They’re the better defense. They’re the better offense.”
This matchup lies in the Buckeyes hands
Can Ryan Day & Ohio State finish the job? pic.twitter.com/SfLvQRa3r2
— Ohio Divided (@BuckeyeNatty) January 20, 2025
Further talking about Ohio State’s blips in its schedule, where the team lost against Michigan, or when the Buckeyes played a close game against Nebraska and Texas, with either the clock running out right on time or phenomenal plays being their saving grace.
“The only avenue for Notre Dame to win is if they can take Ryan Day, and they can take these Buckeyes, and they can somehow bait them into the type of game they played against Nebraska and Michigan and, in some ways, Texas,” Klatt added.
After making it to the College Football Playoff, Ohio State has played tremendously, with double-digit wins against each of their three opponents leading up to the National Championship Game. Many longtime players, like defensive end Jack Sawyer, decided to forgo their plan for the NFL and came back this season to look to win it all.
On the other hand, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, known more for his running game than passing, is also in his final season of eligibility and is one of his team’s top rushers.
MORE: When Was the Last Time Ohio State Won the National Championship?
“This has to be a low-scoring game for the Irish. They will not score more than 20 points, maybe even more than 17 points on this defense. This is the best defense in college football,” Klatt said.
“Since Oregon lost in the middle of the season, they have been phenomenal. They’ve got too much veteran talent and quality players that it’s even going to be tough for Riley Leonard to run around. Who is he gonna beat to the sidelines? Sonny Styles? No. Caleb Downs? No. Lathan Ranson? No.”
Klatt further pointed out that Notre Dame would need good field position for shorter runs, which they will have to get by forcing turnovers or capitalize on mistakes made by the Buckeyes.
After the Michigan loss, a switch flipped for Ohio State, and the team outscored its playoff opponents by 111-52. So, for Notre Dame, the fight will have to be played out precisely, as Klatt noted of the Buckeyes output.
“Because when it’s dynamic, when it’s horizontal, when it’s quick and when they get those speed players when they get the ball in their hands in space quickly? Man, it’s difficult to cover,” Klatt said.
ESPN has pegged the Buckeyes as the winner by 1.9 points, and if they continue on with the brand of football they brought into the playoffs at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, this prediction might just come true.
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