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Here are three keys for No. 8 Ohio State against No. 7 Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff final on Monday night:
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (18) walks off the field after throwing an interception against Michigan.
Limit mistakes
Turnovers could leave the Buckeyes susceptible to an upset, and quarterback Will Howard has at times been mistake-prone. In six games against top-10 teams, he has thrown four interceptions, including one that resulted in a touchdown, and lost one fumble while diving toward the end zone at Penn State, wiping potential points off the scoreboard. With an opportunistic defense, Notre Dame could capitalize.
The Irish have recovered 13 fumbles and intercepted 19 passes, contributing to a plus-17 turnover margin that ranks third in the Football Bowl Subdivision. There is little margin for sloppiness against the Irish who do not beat themselves. Ohio State need to play as clean as possible.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard runs for a first down against Georgia.
Contain Riley Leonard
Leonard is a true dual-threat quarterback, having run for 866 yards and 16 touchdowns. Only five FBS signal callers amassed more rushing yards this season. Not only do the Irish have designed runs in place for Leonard, but he also scrambles as plays break down. Leonard’s toughness as a runner makes him a challenge for defenses to bottle up. He has forced 41 missed tackles and gained 517 yards after contact, ranking 10th and 15th in the respective categories, according to Pro Football Focus. The Buckeyes’ linebackers especially need to keep an eye on Leonard in the red zone, where he has scored 13 touchdowns.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith scores a touchdown against Oregon.
Take downfield shots
Texas limited the Buckeyes’ vertical passing game in the semifinals by using a zone coverage with two high…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-beat-notre-dame-110415623.html
Author : The Columbus Dispatch
Publish date : 2025-01-17 11:04:00
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