On Monday evening, after nearly a five-month journey, the 2024 college football season will conclude as a champion will be determined.

The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff will culminate with Ohio State and Notre Dame competing in the national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where one of these elite teams will gain another accolade to their impressive trophy collection.

Watch the College Football Playoff championship live on Fubo (with free trial)

Though they are the No. 8 seed, the Buckeyes have appeared to be the top squad throughout the playoffs. Under Coach Ryan Day, the team has dominated their first three playoff matchups, defeating Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas by a total of 59 points. Their triumph over Texas was a bit more challenging, with a hard-fought 28-14 win secured only after an 83-yard scoop-and-score by Jack Sawyer with just over two minutes left in the game.

Ohio State’s road to a third national title this century involves facing a strong Fighting Irish team that has also performed exceptionally well lately. Following their surprising 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois on September 7, No. 7 seed Notre Dame has won 13 straight games, three of which were playoff victories against Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State. Their Orange Bowl victory against Penn State was capped off by a last-second 41-yard field goal from Mitch Jeter, resulting in a 27-24 win on January 9.

This matchup will see third-year Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman up against the school where he once played as a linebacker from 2004-2008. Should Notre Dame win, Freeman will make history as the first Black coach in FBS to win a national championship.

Stay tuned here for live scores, updates, highlights, and viewing instructions for the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame clash in the CFP championship:

Score Updates for the CFP Championship Game

This section will be refreshed after the game starts.

Today’s CFP Championship Game Details

• Date: Monday, January 20
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will kick off at 7:30 PM ET on Monday, January 20, at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

Which Channel Will Broadcast the CFP Championship Game Today?

• TV Channel: ESPN | ESPN2
• Streaming Options: ESPN App | ESPN+ | Fubo (includes free trial)

The matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame will be shown on ESPN, featuring play-by-play from Chris Fowler and analysis from Kirk Herbstreit, with sideline contributions from Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath.

Viewers can also use streaming options like the ESPN app or Fubo, which provides a free trial for new users.

Betting Odds for the CFP Championship Game

Odds as of Saturday, January 18 from BetMGM

• Spread: Ohio State (-8.5)
• Over/Under: 45.5 points
• Moneyline: Ohio State (-375) | Notre Dame (+300)

2024 Ohio State Football Schedule

• Saturday, August 31: vs. Akron (W, 52-6)
• Saturday, September 7: vs. Western Michigan (W, 56-0)
• Saturday, September 14: BYE
• Saturday, September 21: vs. Marshall (W, 49-14)
• Thursday, September 26: at Michigan State* (W, 38-7)
• Saturday, October 5: vs. Iowa* (W, 35-7)
• Saturday, October 12: at No. 3 Oregon* (L, 32-31)
• Saturday, October 19: BYE
• Saturday, October 26: vs. Nebraska* (W, 21-17)
• Saturday, November 2: at No. 3 Penn State* (W, 20-13)
• Saturday, November 9: vs. Purdue* (W, 45-0)
• Saturday, November 16: at Northwestern* (W, 31-7)
• Saturday, November 23: vs. No. 5 Indiana* (W, 38-15)
• Saturday, November 30: vs. Michigan* (L, 13-10)
• Saturday, December 21: vs. No. 9 Tennessee, CFP first-round (W, 42-17) **
• Wednesday, January 1: vs. No. 1 Oregon, CFP Rose Bowl quarterfinal (W, 41-21) **
• Friday, January 10: vs. No. 5 Texas, CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal (W, 28-14) **
• Monday, January 20: vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, CFP championship game **
• Record: 13-2, 7-2 Big Ten

* Indicates a Big Ten game

** Indicates CFP ranking

2024 Notre Dame Football Schedule

• • Saturday, August 31: at No. 20 Texas A&M (W, 23-13)
  • Saturday, September 7: vs. Northern Illinois (L, 16-14)
  • Saturday, September 14: at Purdue (W, 66-7)
  • Saturday, September 21: vs. Miami, Ohio (W, 28-3)
  • Saturday, September 28: vs. No. 17 Louisville (W, 31-24)
  • Saturday, October 5: BYE
  • Saturday, October 12: vs. Stanford (W, 49-7)
  • Saturday, October 19: vs. Georgia Tech (W, 31-13)
  • Saturday, October 26: vs. No. 24 Navy (W, 51-14)
  • Saturday, November 2: BYE
  • Saturday, November 9: vs. Florida State (W, 52-3)
  • Saturday, November 16: vs. Virginia (W, 35-14)
  • Saturday, Nov. 23: against No. 17 Army (Victory, 49-14)
  • Saturday, Nov. 30: at USC (Victory, 49-35)
  • Friday, Dec. 20: against No. 10 Indiana, CFP first round (Victory, 27-17) **
  • Thursday, Jan. 2: against No. 2 Georgia, CFP Sugar Bowl quarterfinal (Victory, 23-10) **
  • Thursday, Jan. 9: against No. 6 Penn State, CFP Orange Bowl semifinal (Victory, 27-24) **
  • Monday, Jan. 20: against No. 8 Ohio State, CFP championship **
  • Season Record: 14-1

** Indicates CFP ranking

Updates on CFP Championship Game

• • • Quarterbacks Will Howard and Riley Leonard previously shared a room at the Manning Passing Academy.
    • Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer stated, ‘It’s going to be an incredible game,’ regarding the CFP final.
    • What strategies can Ohio State adopt to defeat Notre Dame? Here are three critical factors for the College Football Playoff final.
    • Four Notre Dame players to keep an eye on during the national championship against Ohio State.
    • What motivated Notre Dame captain Jack Kiser to opt for a sixth season on the team?

Predictions for Ohio State vs Notre Dame

Here’s what our analysts predict for the College Football Playoff national championship game:

• • • Dan Wolken: Ohio State 33, Notre Dame 10
    • Eddie Timanus: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 17
    • Erick Smith: Ohio State 30, Notre Dame 16
    • Jordan Mendoza: Ohio State 23, Notre Dame 16
    • Paul Myerberg: Notre Dame 24, Ohio State 20
    • Scooby Axson: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 21

Venue: Mercedes Benz Stadium

The College Football Playoff national championship will be held at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This state-of-the-art stadium features a retractable roof and is the home of the Atlanta Falcons, having opened in 2017. It also hosted the CFP championship in 2018, where Alabama triumphed over Georgia in overtime. The stadium can accommodate up to 75,000 fans, but holds a record attendance of 79,330 from the 2022 Peach Bowl where Georgia defeated Ohio State 42-41 in a CFP semifinal match.

Results of College Football Playoff Semifinals

Friday, Jan. 10

Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 28, No. 5 Texas 14

Thursday, Jan. 9

Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 6 Penn State 24

Results of College Football Playoff Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14

Wednesday, Jan. 1

Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (OT)

Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21

Thursday, Jan. 2

Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10

Outcomes from College Football Playoff First Round

Friday, Dec. 20

No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17

Saturday, Dec. 21

No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10

No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24

No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17

List of College Football National Champions Since 2000

• • • 2023: Michigan
    • 2022: Georgia
    • 2021: Georgia
    • 2020: Alabama
    • 2019: LSU
    • 2018: Clemson
    • 2017: Alabama
    • 2016: Clemson
    • 2015: Alabama
    • 2014: Ohio State
    • 2013: Florida State
    • 2012: Alabama
    • 2011: Alabama
    • 2010: Auburn
    • 2009: Alabama
    • 2008: Florida
    • 2007: LSU
    • 2006: Florida
    • 2005: Texas
    • 2004: Southern California
    • 2003: LSU, Southern California
    • 2002: Ohio State
    • 2001: Miami (Fla.)
    • 2000: Oklahoma

Weather Expectations for CFP Championship

The upcoming College Football Playoff national championship will be hosted indoors at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The weather forecast outside predicts sunny conditions, but temperatures will be quite cold, peaking at around 34 degrees and dropping to as low as 22 degrees.

Betting Lines for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

The over/under for the Ohio State versus Notre Dame matchup is set at 46.5, as per BetMGM.

Moneyline Odds for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

Ohio State has been favored at -350 on the moneyline, while Notre Dame is positioned as the underdog at +280, according to BetMGM. If you’re interested in placing a bet, there’s no need to feel intimidated. Our college football betting guide is an excellent resource to help you get started. Additionally, we provide beginner tips for online betting, along with exclusive promotions and bonus codes for our YSL News readers on various sportsbooks and betting platforms.

Location of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Indiana, just south of the Michigan border.

Format for College Football Playoff

The new College Football Playoff format introduces an expanded field that features first-round byes, automatic bids, and home games for the first time in the history of the CFP.

The top four highest-ranked teams receive the top seeds (1-4) and get a bye in the first round. If the Group of Five champion does not rank among the top 12 teams in the final poll, it will be assigned to the No. 12 spot.

In addition, seven at-large teams make up the rest of the playoff field, starting with the No. 5 team. The first-round pairings include seeds 5 through 12, where games occur either at the home field of the higher-seeded team or another location if opted by the higher seed.

No. 5 takes on No. 12; No. 6 faces No. 11; No. 7 plays No. 10; and No. 8 meets No. 9. Winners of these first-round games then progress to the quarterfinals to compete against the top four seeds.

It’s important to note that once the final bracket is set, there is no “re-seeding” to guarantee that the highest-ranked team goes against the lowest-ranked remaining team. Thus, No. 1 will face the winner of the No. 8/9 matchup; No. 2 will go against either No. 7 or No. 10; No. 3 will meet No. 6 or No. 11; and No. 4 will challenge No. 5 or No. 12.

The CFP committee will not create special conditions to prevent teams from the regular season from facing each other in the postseason.

When Did Ohio State Last Claim a National Championship?

The Buckeyes have secured eight national championships in total, with their latest victory occurring in 2014 against Oregon, where they won 42-20 in the inaugural year of the College Football Playoff. The seasons in which they won their national championships are:

• • • 1942
    • 1954
    • 1957
    • 1961
    • 1968
    • 1970
    • 2002
    • 2014

When Did Notre Dame Last Claim a National Championship?

The Fighting Irish have not won a national title since 1988 but have an impressive tally of 11 championships in their long history. The seasons in which Notre Dame claimed their national championships are:

• 1924
• 1929
• 1930
• 1943
• 1946
• 1947
• 1949
• 1966
• 1973
• 1977
• 1988

Historical Matchup: Ohio State vs Notre Dame

The Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish will clash for the ninth time, with Ohio State leading the series with 6 wins and 2 losses. Below are the past eight match results:

• • • 1935 – Notre Dame 18-13
    • 1936 – Notre Dame 7-2
    • 1995 – Ohio State 45-26
    • 1996 – Ohio State 29-16
    • 2006 – Ohio State 34-20
    • 2016 – Ohio State 44-28
    • 2022 – Ohio State 21-10
    • 2023 – Ohio State 17-14

Ohio State Player Roster

Offensive Lineup

• • • Quarterback: Will Howard, Graduate
    • Running Back: TreVeyon Henderson, Senior
    • Wide Receiver X: Jeremiah Smith, Freshman
    • Wide Receiver Z: Carnell Tate, Sophomore
    • Wide Receiver Y: Emeka Egbuka, Senior
    • Tight End: Gee Scott Jr., Graduate
    • Right Tackle: Josh Fryar, Senior
    • Right Guard: Tegra Tshabola, Sophomore
    • Center: Carson Hinzman, Sophomore
    • Left Guard: Austin Siereveld, Freshman
    • Left Tackle: Donovan Jackson, Junior

Defensive Lineup

• • • Left Defensive End: Jack Sawyer, Senior
    • Nose Tackle: Ty Hamilton, Senior
    • Defensive Tackle: Tyleik Williams, Senior
    • Right Defensive End: JT Tuimoloau, Senior
    • Weakside Linebacker: Sonny Styles, Junior
    • Middle Linebacker: Cody Simon, Graduate
    • Left Cornerback: Denzel Burke, Senior
    • Strong Safety: Lathan Ransom, Senior
    • Free Safety: Caleb Downs, Sophomore
    • Right Cornerback: Davison Igbinosun, Junior
    • Nickel Back: Jordan Hancock, Senior

Special Teams

• • • Punter: Joe McGuire, Freshman
    • Kicker: Jayden Fielding, Junior
    • Punt Returner: Brandon Inniss, Sophomore

<li(Kick Returner: Carnell Tate, Sophomore

Notre Dame Player Roster

Offensive Lineup

• • • Quarterback: Riley Leonard, Senior
    • Running Back: Jeremiyah Love, Sophomore
    • Wide Receiver X: Beaux Collins, Senior
    • Wide Receiver Z: Jordan Faison, Sophomore
    • Wide Receiver F: Jaden Greathouse, Sophomore
    • Tight End: Mitchell Evans, Senior
    • Right Tackle: Aamil Wagner, Sophomore
    • Right Guard: Rocco Spindler, Junior
    • Center: Pat Coogan, Junior
    • Left Guard: Billy Schrauth, Sophomore
    • Left Tackle: Tosh Baker, Graduate

Defensive Lineup

• • • Defensive End: RJ Oben, Graduate
    • Nose Tackle: Howard Cross III, Graduate
    • Defensive Tackle: Gabriel Rubio, Junior
    • VYPER: Joshua Burnham, Sophomore
    • Weakside Linebacker: Jack Kiser, Graduate
    • Middle Linebacker: Drayk Bowen, Sophomore
    • Rover: Jaylen Sneed, Sophomore
    • Field Cornerback: Christian Gray, Sophomore
    • Free Safety: Xavier Watts, Graduate
    • Boundary Safety: Adon Shuler, Freshman
    • Boundary Cornerback: Leonard Moore, Freshman
    • Nickel Back: Jordan Clark, Graduate

Special Teams

• • Punter: James Rendell, Graduate
  • Kicker: Mitch Jeter, Graduate
  • Punt Returner: Max Hurleman, Graduate
  • Kick Returner: Jayden Harrison, Graduate