At this time of the season, it comes down to the teams’ effort and not individual effort. Ohio State is hitting their stride at the right time and Notre Dame is finding ways to win. So, what separates these two teams?

Two of the best defenses in college football will be on the field in Atlanta on Monday. 

Ohio State’s defense leads the country in points and yards allowed (12.2 and 251.1, respectively) and is third in total sacks with 51. 

Notre Dame’s defense is second in points allowed (14.3), ninth in yards allowed (298.3), and senior safety Xavier Watts is a two-time consensus All-American and the 2023 Bronko Nagurski winner for defensive player of the year in college football. This year he is tied for second with six interceptions after leading the country in interceptions last year. 

Both defenses are senior-laden and have been together for a few years. The issue for the Fighting Irish is the difference in talent on the offensive side of the ball.

Notre Dame is 102nd in the country in passing with 194.3 yards per game. That has gone down to 171.3 per game during the playoffs including 90 passing yards against Georgia, which has the 38th best passing defense in the country.

The Fighting Irish will be facing the best passing defense in the country, with the Buckeyes allowing 161.1 passing yards per game.

On offense for Ohio State, senior Will Howard is second in the country in total QBR at 87.6. He will be throwing to freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith, who is sixth in the country in receiving yards at his position with 1,227. Smith is just 155 yards away from the top wide receiver.

Howard’s second and third options at receiver, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, would be the first option at a lot of schools across the country. Egbuka is a projected first round pick in this year’s upcoming draft. 

The Buckeyes also have one of the best running backs duos in the country with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, who are both expected to be day two draft picks.

Ohio State has the best front seven in college football and will be able to meet Notre Dame’s modern four horsemen behind the line of scrimmage. On the otherhand, it will be hard for the Fighting Irish’s depleted secondary to hold off the high-flying Buckeye offense.

Prediction: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 14