The longest college football season in history comes to an end Monday when No. 8 seed Ohio State faces No. 7 Notre Dame in the CFP national title game.
Pointspread | -8.5 -110 |
Moneyline | -400 |
Over / Under | o +45.5 |
Pointspread | +8.5 -110 |
Moneyline | +310 |
Over / Under | u +45.5 |
The Buckeyes are 8-point favourites with a total of 45.5.
College Football Playoff National Championship Betting
Expect some major changes to the College Football Playoff ahead of the 2026 season (the first time it can really be adjusted due to TV network contracts), including a likely expansion to 14 teams, because clearly the seeding was off in the first-ever 12-team field.
There is no universe where Notre Dame should have been seeded seventh and Ohio State eighth this season, but because neither won a conference title they couldn’t be higher than fifth – the Irish don’t play in a conference, so that’s the absolute highest they can be seeded under this format. Interesting that none of the five conference winners in the field even reached the semifinals.
To win in college football these days, you have to do well in the transfer portal and both these clubs did. There are numerous key transfers on both sides, but Ohio State starting QB Will Howard transferred from Kansas State ahead of this season and Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard came in from Duke. It’s the collegiate finale for both.
Both schools are seeking their ninth national title in the Associated Press Poll era, which is since 1936. Only Alabama has more with 14. Ohio State is 6-2 all-time vs. Notre Dame and has won the past six – most recently 17-14 in South Bend in September 2023. Technically this isn’t a bowl game, but OSU is 2-0 in the series in bowls (2005 & 2015 Fiesta Bowl).
Ohio State Buckeyes
So much for the job status of OSU coach Ryan Day being in some jeopardy after the regular-season finale loss to Michigan. The Buckeyes are in the national title game for the first time since losing to Alabama following the 2020 season and seeking their first championship since following the 2014 season – the first of the College Football Playoff era. The Buckeyes would become only the third national champion with at least two losses in the AP Poll era (1960 Minnesota, 2007 LSU). They lead the nation in scoring defence at 12.2 PPG, and end Jack Sawyer became an OSU legend forever with his epic 83-yard fumble return for a score to clinch the Buckeyes’ 28-14 win over No. 5 Texas in the semifinals.
The Horns looked as if they were about to tie the game at 21-21 with first-and-goal at the OSU 1 with just under four minutes left, but Sawyer sacked UT quarterback Quinn Ewers on fourth-and-goal from the 8 and then returned it for the touchdown. That was Ohio State’s fourth win this season against an AP Top 5 team, tied for the most in FBS history. It has won all three CFP games by at least 14 points. QB Will Howard has been terrific in the three playoff games, completing 74% of his throws with six TDs and averaging 306.3 ypg. Ohio State is 5-0 ATS in its past five vs. ranked opponents.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman played linebacker at Ohio State from 2004-08 and was named second-team All-Big Ten twice. We have seen a head coach win a national title against his alma mater fairly recently with Clemson’s Dabo Swinney beating Alabama following the 2018 season. I picked against Notre Dame in its semifinal against No. 6 Penn State as the Irish were on two days fewer rest and dealing with some injuries, but they won their FBS-best 13th game in a row, 27-24, on a Mitch Jeter 41-yard field goal in the final seconds. There were a shocking 31 points scored in the fourth quarter of that one despite two excellent defences. Notre Dame ranks second nationally in scoring defence at 14.3 PPG.
QB Riley Leonard left the Penn State game for a bit to be checked for a concussion but was cleared and returned – he threw the-game tying 54-yard TD pass to Jaden Greathouse with 4:38 remaining. The Irish are seeking their first national title since the 1988 season. They have the most wins (14) and best points differential (+352) in a season in school history. ND is 11-0 ATS in its past 11 games. 2
CFP Prediction: Who Will Win Ohio State vs. Notre Dame?
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BUCKEYES
27 -
FIGHTING IRISH
20
Score
Prediction
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 12 Jan 1:07pm | - | - | O +45.5 -110 |
Closing 21 Jan 3:43am | - | - | O +46.5 -110 |
Injuries
Nolan Baudo (WR)
Mitchell Melton (LB)
Seth McLaughlin (OL)
Gee Scott Jr. (TE)
Jace Middleton (TE)
Zen Michalski (OL)
Will Kacmarek (TE)
Lathan Ransom (S)
Josh Simmons (OL)
Carnell Tate (WR)
Jeremiyah Love (RB)
Howard Cross III (DL)
Benjamin Morrison (CB)
Mitch Jeter (PK)
Boubacar Traore (DL)
Jordan Faison (WR)
Cooper Flanagan (TE)
Riley Leonard (QB)
Jordan Faison (WR)
Charles Jagusah (OL)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nolan Baudo (WR) | Questionable | Undisclosed - 23 / 11 / 24 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
Baudo is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active in the next game. |
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Mitchell Melton (LB) | Questionable | Undisclosed - 23 / 11 / 24 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
Melton is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active in the next game. |
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Seth McLaughlin (OL) | out for season | Achilles - 20 / 11 / 24 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
McLaughlin ruptured his Achilles tendon, and will miss the rest of the season. |
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Gee Scott Jr. (TE) | Questionable | Undisclosed - 16 / 11 / 24 | 5-2 | 3-4 | + - |
Scott Jr is bothered by an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against Indiana on Saturday, November 23rd. |
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Jace Middleton (TE) | Questionable | Undisclosed - 09 / 11 / 24 | 6-2 | 3-5 | + - |
Middleton is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will be active in the next game. |
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Zen Michalski (OL) | Questionable | Lower Body - 30 / 10 / 24 | 6-3 | 3-6 | + - |
Michalski missed the previous three games with a lower-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active in the next game. |
|||||
Will Kacmarek (TE) | Questionable | Undisclosed - 26 / 10 / 24 | 6-4 | 4-6 | + - |
Kacmarek is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be active in the next game. |
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Lathan Ransom (S) | Prob Sat | Undisclosed - 26 / 10 / 24 | 6-4 | 4-6 | + - |
Ransom is dealing with an undisclosed injury, but is expected to play against Penn State on Saturday. |
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Josh Simmons (OL) | out of season | Knee - 22 / 10 / 24 | 6-4 | 4-6 | + - |
Simmons suffered a knee injury, and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season. |
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Carnell Tate (WR) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 05 / 10 / 24 | 8-4 | 4-8 | + - |
Tate is managing with an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against Oregon on Saturday. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeremiyah Love (RB) | Questionable | Leg - 30 / 11 / 24 | 5-0 | 3-2 | + - |
Love left the game due to a leg injury, and it is unclear if he will play the next game. |
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Howard Cross III (DL) | Questionable | Undisclosed - 14 / 11 / 24 | 7-0 | 4-3 | + - |
Cross is battling an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will play in the next contest. |
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Benjamin Morrison (CB) | out for season | Hip - 14 / 10 / 24 | 10-0 | 6-4 | + - |
Morrison is dealing with a hip injury, and he has been shut down for the remainder of the season. |
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Mitch Jeter (PK) | Questionable | Groin - 12 / 10 / 24 | 11-0 | 7-4 | + - |
Jeter is dealing a groin injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the Saturday's clash against Florida St, on November 9th. |
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Boubacar Traore (DL) | out for season | Knee - 08 / 10 / 24 | 11-0 | 7-4 | + - |
Traore has been sidelined with a left knee injury, and he will miss the remainder of the season. |
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Jordan Faison (WR) | Ques Sat | Foot - 01 / 10 / 24 | 11-0 | 7-4 | + - |
Faison suffered a foot injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the clash against Navy on Saturday. |
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Cooper Flanagan (TE) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 23 / 09 / 24 | 11-1 | 7-5 | + - |
Flanagan is nursing an ankle injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the clash against Navy on Saturday. |
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Riley Leonard (QB) | Prob Sat | Shoulder - 14 / 09 / 24 | - | - | + - |
Leonard is managing a shoulder injury, but he is likely to dress for Saturday's clash versus the Boilermakers. |
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Jordan Faison (WR) | Late Sept | Ankle - 02 / 09 / 24 | - | - | + - |
Faison is managing an ankle injury, and he will be out of action for one to two weeks. |
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Charles Jagusah (OL) | out for season | Upper Body - 09 / 08 / 24 | - | - | + - |
Jagusah is out of action due to an upper-body injury, and he is projected to miss the remainder of the season. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 12 Jan 1:07pm - - O +45.5 -110 Closing 21 Jan 3:43am - - O +46.5 -110 -
Injuries
Nolan Baudo (WR)
Questionable Undisclosed - 23 / 11 / 24Mitchell Melton (LB)
Questionable Undisclosed - 23 / 11 / 24Seth McLaughlin (OL)
out for season Achilles - 20 / 11 / 24Gee Scott Jr. (TE)
Questionable Undisclosed - 16 / 11 / 24Jace Middleton (TE)
Questionable Undisclosed - 09 / 11 / 24Zen Michalski (OL)
Questionable Lower Body - 30 / 10 / 24Will Kacmarek (TE)
Questionable Undisclosed - 26 / 10 / 24Lathan Ransom (S)
Prob Sat Undisclosed - 26 / 10 / 24Josh Simmons (OL)
out of season Knee - 22 / 10 / 24Carnell Tate (WR)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 05 / 10 / 24Jeremiyah Love (RB)
Questionable Leg - 30 / 11 / 24Howard Cross III (DL)
Questionable Undisclosed - 14 / 11 / 24Benjamin Morrison (CB)
out for season Hip - 14 / 10 / 24Mitch Jeter (PK)
Questionable Groin - 12 / 10 / 24Boubacar Traore (DL)
out for season Knee - 08 / 10 / 24Jordan Faison (WR)
Ques Sat Foot - 01 / 10 / 24Cooper Flanagan (TE)
Ques Sat Ankle - 23 / 09 / 24Riley Leonard (QB)
Prob Sat Shoulder - 14 / 09 / 24Jordan Faison (WR)
Late Sept Ankle - 02 / 09 / 24Charles Jagusah (OL)
out for season Upper Body - 09 / 08 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Nolan Baudo (WR) Questionable Undisclosed - 23 / 11 / 24 4-2 3-3 + - Baudo is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active in the next game.
Mitchell Melton (LB) Questionable Undisclosed - 23 / 11 / 24 4-2 3-3 + - Melton is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active in the next game.
Seth McLaughlin (OL) out for season Achilles - 20 / 11 / 24 4-2 3-3 + - McLaughlin ruptured his Achilles tendon, and will miss the rest of the season.
Gee Scott Jr. (TE) Questionable Undisclosed - 16 / 11 / 24 5-2 3-4 + - Scott Jr is bothered by an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against Indiana on Saturday, November 23rd.
Jace Middleton (TE) Questionable Undisclosed - 09 / 11 / 24 6-2 3-5 + - Middleton is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will be active in the next game.
Zen Michalski (OL) Questionable Lower Body - 30 / 10 / 24 6-3 3-6 + - Michalski missed the previous three games with a lower-body injury, and it is uncertain if he will be active in the next game.
Will Kacmarek (TE) Questionable Undisclosed - 26 / 10 / 24 6-4 4-6 + - Kacmarek is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be active in the next game.
Lathan Ransom (S) Prob Sat Undisclosed - 26 / 10 / 24 6-4 4-6 + - Ransom is dealing with an undisclosed injury, but is expected to play against Penn State on Saturday.
Josh Simmons (OL) out of season Knee - 22 / 10 / 24 6-4 4-6 + - Simmons suffered a knee injury, and will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Carnell Tate (WR) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 05 / 10 / 24 8-4 4-8 + - Tate is managing with an undisclosed injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against Oregon on Saturday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Jeremiyah Love (RB) Questionable Leg - 30 / 11 / 24 5-0 3-2 + - Love left the game due to a leg injury, and it is unclear if he will play the next game.
Howard Cross III (DL) Questionable Undisclosed - 14 / 11 / 24 7-0 4-3 + - Cross is battling an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will play in the next contest.
Benjamin Morrison (CB) out for season Hip - 14 / 10 / 24 10-0 6-4 + - Morrison is dealing with a hip injury, and he has been shut down for the remainder of the season.
Mitch Jeter (PK) Questionable Groin - 12 / 10 / 24 11-0 7-4 + - Jeter is dealing a groin injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the Saturday's clash against Florida St, on November 9th.
Boubacar Traore (DL) out for season Knee - 08 / 10 / 24 11-0 7-4 + - Traore has been sidelined with a left knee injury, and he will miss the remainder of the season.
Jordan Faison (WR) Ques Sat Foot - 01 / 10 / 24 11-0 7-4 + - Faison suffered a foot injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the clash against Navy on Saturday.
Cooper Flanagan (TE) Ques Sat Ankle - 23 / 09 / 24 11-1 7-5 + - Flanagan is nursing an ankle injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for the clash against Navy on Saturday.
Riley Leonard (QB) Prob Sat Shoulder - 14 / 09 / 24 - - + - Leonard is managing a shoulder injury, but he is likely to dress for Saturday's clash versus the Boilermakers.
Jordan Faison (WR) Late Sept Ankle - 02 / 09 / 24 - - + - Faison is managing an ankle injury, and he will be out of action for one to two weeks.
Charles Jagusah (OL) out for season Upper Body - 09 / 08 / 24 - - + - Jagusah is out of action due to an upper-body injury, and he is projected to miss the remainder of the season.