Early Picks, Forecasts, and Odds for Ohio State vs Notre Dame

The 7-seed for the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship With the most prestigious award in sports at stake, Notre Dame will take on eighth-seeded Ohio State on Monday, January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. While the Buckeyes haven’t won a national championship since 2014, the first season of the College Football Playoff under the four-team format, the Fighting Irish are vying for their first national championship since 1988.

With an exciting 27–24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame guaranteed its position.

With fewer than ten seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Irish made the game-winning field goal to erase two deficits and stop a 14-0 Penn State rally. Notre Dame won its first two playoff games by an average of 11.5 points, which led to that outcome.

After yet another defeat to Michigan, Ohio State coach Ryan Day went from a hot seat to the brink of the Buckeyes’ first national championship in a matter of weeks. The fact that Ohio State missed out on the Big Ten championship for the fourth straight year is no longer significant because this squad has much higher aspirations.

(7) Notre Dame — Sugar, winner of the Orange Bowl

To get here, Notre Dame has fought against overwhelming odds. After losing to Northern Illinois in Week 2 as 30-point favorites, the Fighting Irish suffered a significant early setback that increased the pressure to win in the closing minutes. In addition, Notre Dame has experienced a number of significant injuries this season.

The Irish have persevered despite everything by adopting a “next man up” mindset. As they enter the College Football Playoff National Championship, Notre Dame is on a 13-game winning streak.

Despite all the personnel concerns, Notre Dame has a solid core thanks to veteran standouts like defensive tackle Howard Cross III and linebacker Jack Kiser.

(8) Rose, Cotton Bowl champion, Ohio State

It is finally happening that the college football team with the most talent is playing like that. Refocusing on freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith, who is considered one of the top football players in the nation even though he is still in his rookie season, has been crucial to the turnaround. Throughout the College Football Playoffs, he has been everywhere for the Buckeyes. Smith had a quiet game against Texas, but his playoff totals—13 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns—are impressive.

Since losing to Oregon, the Buckeyes haven’t let up more than 21 points. As a team, Ohio State has kept four of its previous seven opponents to less than 100 yards of rushing.

The secondary is undoubtedly aided by having a defensive front led by veterans like Jack Sawyer, who has played some of his best football in the postseason.

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