The Ohio State Buckeyes. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
One. Last. Dance.
These five key battles will determine who hoists the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship trophy and who goes home empty-handed.
Matchups To Watch in the 2025 National Championship
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith vs. Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore
Jeremiah Smith is no normal true freshman, as he rewrote Ohio State’s freshman record books with 71 receptions, 1,227 yards, and 14 touchdowns this season. However, after roasting Tennessee (6-103-2 receiving line) and Oregon (7-187-2) in the first two rounds of the CFP, Texas held him to just one catch for three yards.
A large reason for his lack of production was the game plan and the presence of star CB Jahdae Barron. Now it’s time for some freshman-on-freshman crime. Leonard Moore has stepped up in a huge way for the Irish since CB1 Benjamin Morrison went down with an injury, breaking up 10 passes and intercepting two.
His long frame (6’2″) will make it difficult for Smith to create meaningful separation, but QB Will Howard is going to give his young buck several chances to alter the course of the contest.
Notre Dame’s Trenches vs. Ohio State’s Trenches
It’s cliche, but the trenches will almost assuredly decide the outcome of this game — all signs point to Ohio State coming out on top.
Notre Dame’s defense is No. 1 in dropback EPA and success rate but No. 5 and No. 53 in each respective category against the run. The unit now faces off against TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins without Rylie Mills on the interior.
Nick Singleton (15-84-3) and Kaytron Allen (19-82-0) were able to plow their way to strong rushing lines just last week, and Buckeyes OC Chip Kelly knows how to attack an opponent’s weaknesses.
That’s just the rushing attack, too. Pass rush-wise, the Irish don’t have a real difference-maker, relying on stunts/games and LB blitzes to get home. Plus, DT Howard Cross III hasn’t looked the same after missing multiple contests with a sprained ankle.
Now, let’s take a peak at Ohio State’s side. The offensive line lost starting center Seth McLaughlin and LT Josh Simmons to season-ending injuries during the regular season, but the unit has come together, with LG Donovan Jackson kicking outside.
They are vulnerable at the pivot, with Carson Hinzman manning the starting center role, but as we mentioned above, the Irish’s defensive tackle depth chart is weak.
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Yet, defensively is where the Buckeyes should shine the most. EDGEs Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau are going to feast on the left tackle spot, with head coach Marcus Freeman already ruling out starter Anthonie Knapp with an ankle injury.
Whether it’s Tosh Baker or Charles Jagusah starting, expect Riley Leonard to feel consistent pressure. Oh, and good luck running up the middle on Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton.
Ohio State QB Will Howard vs. Notre Dame S Xavier Watts
Howard has thrived chucking it deep this year, with 854 of his yards and eight of his TDs coming on throws 20+ yards downfield, according to Pro Football Focus. Additionally, only two of such attempts were intercepted, and just one was deemed a turnover-worthy play.
Well, Will Howard, meet Xavier Watts. The 2023 Nagurski Award winner, given to the nation’s best defender, snagged an FBS-leading seven INTs last season. It wasn’t a fluke, either, as Watts has recorded another six picks this year to go along with nine PBUs.
Howard must recognize where Watts is lined up on every play and ensure he doesn’t stare down reads or take unnecessary vertical shots in his vicinity.
Notre Dame’s CB2/3 vs. Ohio State’s WR2/3
With Moore likely keying on Smith, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly could deploy a similar attack as he did against Texas: use Smith as a decoy and rely on Carnell Tate (7-87-0) and Emeka Egbuka (5-51-0) to move the chains.
Ohio State’s WR corps is the best in the nation and by far the toughest Notre Dame has faced all year. Even in the postseason, the Irish haven’t been tested much in the secondary, with Indiana (Elijah Sarratt, Myles Price, and Ke’Shawn Williams), Georgia (Arian Smith, Dominic Lovett, and Dillon Bell), and Penn State (Harrison Wallace III, Omari Evans, and Liam Clifford) struggling to move the ball through their WRs.
CB2 Christian Gray has snatched a trio of picks himself, and slot defender Jordan Clark, the son of retired NFL star Ryan Clark, has shined since transferring from Arizona State. Nevertheless, they’ll be pushed to the brink by two future NFLers in Egbuka and Tate.
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard and TE Mitchell Evans vs. Ohio State S Caleb Downs
Caleb Downs was the key that unlocked Ohio State’s defense following their regular-season loss to Oregon. DC Jim Knowles has deployed him in the slot and box at a much higher clip, allowing him to make a greater impact.
KEEP READING: Who Wins in This Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Prediction?
Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans has been Leonard’s surest target, hauling in five grabs for 58 yards against Penn State. Expect Downs to take the safety blanket away and force Leonard to work the rest of the field, which won’t be easy with the aforementioned pressure barreling toward him.
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