CFP Showdown: Will Notre Dame’s Underdog Spirit Topple Ohio State’s Empire?

As Monday night looms over the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the 2025 College Football Playoff national championship isn’t just another game—it’s a swirling mix of history, hope, and high stakes. Will Notre Dame, chasing their first title in 36 years under Marcus Freeman—the trailblazing first Black and Korean coach in this spotlight—pull off the unthinkable against a favored Ohio State squad? The Buckeyes, ten years removed from their last championship, are perched on the edge of either cementing an incredible comeback story or facing a stunning upset. But here’s the real kicker: four burning questions hang in the air, each a potential game-changer that could tip the scales and rewrite what we think we know about this epic showdown. Can Notre Dame’s battered offensive line survive? Will their defensive edge hold true despite injuries? What defensive chess moves await in containing Ohio State’s star receiver Jeremiah Smith? And, crucially, will Ohio State quarterback Will Howard keep his cool and ball security under fire? The answers to these will whisper volumes about the Irish’s slim, but tantalizing, chance at glory. Ready to dive deeper into what might just be the game of the season? LEARN MORE.