Ohio State and Notre Dame Prepare for Historic CFP Championship Clash

The first-ever 12-team playoff culminates Monday with two storied programs vying for the national title under contrasting narratives.

Ohio State enters the championship game as an 8-point favorite, riding a dominant playoff run with three double-digit victories.
Notre Dame overcame early-season adversity, including a shocking loss to Northern Illinois, to win 13 straight games and lead the nation in covering the spread (13-2 ATS).
Key betting trends show significant public support for Notre Dame to cover the spread, while sharp money may favor Ohio State closer to kickoff.
Ohio State boasts the nation's top scoring defense and an offense led by quarterback Will Howard, who has excelled in the playoffs with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Notre Dame faces challenges with injuries on their offensive line but has relied on creative play-calling and contributions from across the roster to reach the final.