The winner claims the national championship in the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and longest college football season ever. Ohio State is trying for its sixth title, and first since its 2014 team won the inaugural CFP. Notre Dame is going for its 12th title, and first since 1988.

Ohio State has a chance to have a third-straight coach lead it to a national title when it takes the field against Notre Dame on Monday. Ryan Day is coaching in his second title game but unlike its 52-24 loss to Alabama in 2020,

ATLANTA (AP) — Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was able to keep a team-first approach after having extra defensive attention make him almost invisible in the Buckeyes’ Cotton Bowl win over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals.