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CFP National Championship Showdown: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame – A Numbers Game!

CFP National Championship: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame by the numbers

CFP National Championship: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame promises to be an unforgettable clash, as the formidable Buckeyes face off against the legendary Fighting Irish. This matchup not only highlights the rich history of college football but also sets the stage for a thrilling showdown.

The Buckeyes are making their first national title game appearance since the 2020 season, while the Fighting Irish return to this stage for the first time since 2012, adding to the anticipation.

Leading Ohio State is quarterback Will Howard, alongside freshman standout Jeremiah Smith, who have been instrumental in the team’s success, averaging a remarkable 19.7 points per game over their CFP journey.

On the opposing side, Riley Leonard and Jeremiyah Love are at the helm for Notre Dame, aiming to become the tenth underdog to seize the national title in the CFP/BCS era, a feat last accomplished by Clemson in 2018.

As the championship game approaches, here are the key statistics to consider:

(8) Ohio State vs. (7) Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET)

0:00: Ohio State has enjoyed a remarkable season, not trailing for a single second in the CFP and only being behind for a total of 76:35 throughout the entire season, ranking second in FBS behind Ole Miss.

2: Since the FBS/FCS split in 1978, Ohio State stands out as just the second team to achieve four victories against top-five AP-ranked opponents (Indiana, Penn State, Oregon, Texas). A win against Notre Dame would mark a historic fifth such victory in a single season.

3: Leonard is among a select group of three quarterbacks in FBS this season to surpass 2,600 passing yards and 800 rushing yards, joining the ranks of John Mateer and Devon Dampier.

6

Ohio State Buckeyes

OSU

-8.5

-368

O 46.5

5

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

ND

+8.5

+289

U 46.5

5: Five former Ohio State players who became coaches have faced their alma mater, with a combined record of 5-18-1 in those matchups. Notable names include Marcus Freeman (0-2 with Notre Dame) and Luke Fickell (0-2 with Cincinnati and Wisconsin).

7-4: Ryan Day’s postseason record at Ohio State is 7-4, including a perfect 2-0 in Big Ten title games and a 5-4 mark in CFP games. He joins Urban Meyer as the only Ohio State coaches with two seasons featuring at least 13 wins.

8: Notre Dame enters the game as an 8.5-point underdog. Historically, there have only been eight underdogs of 8-plus points in the national title game since the BCS and CFP eras began in 1998, with the most recent instance being TCU as a 13.5-point underdog in the 2022 season.

9: This matchup marks the ninth meeting between Ohio State and Notre Dame, with the Buckeyes winning the last six encounters (1995-96, 2006, 2016, 2022-23). The Fighting Irish won the first two meetings (1935-36). This will also be the sixth consecutive game since 1996 where both teams are ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll.

12.2: Ohio State leads the nation in defensive performance, allowing just 12.2 points per game, while Notre Dame follows closely with a solid average of 14.3 points allowed per game.

13: Safety Xavier Watts from Notre Dame has recorded 13 interceptions this season, the highest in FBS, and he stands alone as the only player to surpass the double-digit mark in this category.

18: Jeremiyah Love is on the verge of tying the Notre Dame single-season rushing touchdown record with just one more touchdown, matching Audric Estimé’s total from last season.

19: Riley Leonard needs only 19 rushing yards to break the Notre Dame single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback, previously set by Tony Rice in 1989. Additionally, he requires two rushing touchdowns to tie the single-season record held by Estimé.

21: Ohio State and Notre Dame boast a combined total of 21 national titles recognized by the NCAA, with Notre Dame ranking fourth overall with 13 titles, while Ohio State’s eight titles place them seventh.

32: Jeremiah Smith is just 32 receiving yards away from breaking the Big Ten single-season record for a freshman, currently held by Rondale Moore (1,258 yards in 2018). He already owns Ohio State freshman records for catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, as well as the Big Ten record for touchdown catches in a single season.

95: Emeka Egbuka requires 95 receiving yards to surpass Michael Jenkins’ school career record of 2,898 yards. He also needs just three catches to break K.J. Hill’s all-time record for receptions at Ohio State.

555: Notre Dame has scored a record-setting 555 points this season, marking the highest total in their history. This is also only the second time they have crossed the 500-point threshold in a season, with 509 points scored last year.

1,000: Ohio State could achieve a historic milestone with four players reaching 1,000 yards in a single season. Jeremiah Smith has already surpassed this mark, while Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, and Quinshon Judkins are all on the cusp.

13,167: As of January 20th, it will have been 13,167 days since Notre Dame last claimed a college football title against West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 1989.

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Written By

Dave Gallo is a leading sports bettor and handicapper since 1999, known for his impressive 10-0 winning streaks. A journalism, advertising, and media studies major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he combines his betting expertise with academic knowledge. Gallo's strong work ethic and passion for sports fuel his ongoing success and scholarly pursuits.

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