In a roller-coaster season, the Irish took a deep dive early before slowly ascending over the last four months. They entered 2024 with postseason aspirations and an intriguing roster, led by Duke transfer Riley Leonard at quarterback, an explosive running back in Jeremiyah Love and a formidable defense. It lasted two weeks.

No one is going to mistake blue bloods Notre Dame and Ohio State for a Cinderella, but the winner of Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship will complete one of the greatest redemption arcs in modern college football history.

Notre Dame last won a national championship in 1988. Penn State hasn't been crowned champion of college football since 1986. These blue blood programs are two wins away from a title and meet tonight in the Orange Bowl for the first semifinal of the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame (14-1) and Ohio State (13-2) will meet on Jan. 20 in Atlanta to claim the first championship of the 12-team CFP.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes are both seeking their ninth national title of the AP Poll Era when they collide in the 2025 College Football Playoff Nationa

College football will have consecutive national champions from outside the Sun Belt region for the first time in three decades if Ohio State beats Texas in a playoff semifinal this week.

The College Football Playoff committee let Channel 2 Action News get a closer look at the trophy. Officials brought it to our midtown Atlanta studios on Thursday.

Now, we've got one more game left. On Monday night in Atlanta (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), Ohio State, a nearly 10-point favorite, will seek its first national title in 10 years while underdog Notre Dame will seek its first in 36.

College Football Playoff national championship game odds, predictions, picks for Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday, Jan. 20.