NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field has been whittled down to two as Ohio State prepares to face Notre Dame in the CFP National Championship on Monday, Jan. 20 in Atlanta. Program legends will be made as Ohio State seeks its first national title since 2014, while Notre Dame aims to rise back to the top of the college football world for the first time since 1988.
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the 12-team playoff has been the opportunity for stars to rise and legends to grow. There are players like Jack Sawyer, a solid defensive end who made one of the biggest plays in Ohio State history with a fumble return for a touchdown in the waning moments of the Cotton Bowl win over Texas. The same is true of Notre Dame’s Jaden Greathouse, who flipped the Orange Bowl with a breakaway touchdown against Penn State.
In a previous era, there would have only been two opportunities to prove yourself as an impact player. For Notre Dame and Ohio State, there were four with national spotlights. Here are 10 of the most impactful players among the two teams heading into the championship game, including numerous future first-rounders and breakout underclassmen.
If there was any question of how important Smith is to Ohio State, flip on the film of the Texas defense in the Cotton Bowl. Every single snap, the Longhorns were bringing doubles, bracketing the star freshman and clouding him to keep Smith contained. In the previous two games, Smith posted 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns. Notre Dame is a man-heavy defense but will have to figure out alternatives against a player of Smith’s caliber.
2. Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State
Ohio State needed a defender to step up and take a Joey Bosa-like role on the defense line, and…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ohio-state-vs-notre-dame-10-most-impactful-players-in-college-football-playoff-national-championship/
Author : Shehan Jeyarajah
Publish date : 2025-01-14 17:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
