Notre Dame vs. Ohio State will feature some of the best college football players in the country in Monday’s national title game.
On January 20 in Atlanta, college football fans will witness history as Ohio State and Notre Dame collide in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff National Championship. For Ohio State, it’s a chance to claim their first title since 2014. For Notre Dame, the opportunity to return to glory comes with hopes of lifting the championship trophy for the first time since 1988.
This expanded playoff has done more than crown a champion—it has given stars the stage to shine and legends room to grow. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer etched his name into Buckeye lore with a game-sealing fumble return for a touchdown in their Cotton Bowl triumph over Texas. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s Jaden Greathouse flipped the Orange Bowl script with a dazzling breakaway touchdown against Penn State.
In a bygone era, players like Sawyer and Greathouse would have had just two games to leave their mark. With the 12-team playoff, they’ve had four. As the championship nears, here are 10 of the most impactful players to watch—an array of future first-round picks and rising underclassmen ready to define their legacies. Here are the players you need to key on in Notre Dame vs. Ohio State.
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Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: 8 Key Players in the National Championship Game
8. TreVeyon Henderson | RB | Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson’s injury history might lower his draft stock, but his talent guarantees a team is getting a steal. Need a stout pass blocker? Check. Home-run speed? Absolutely. Agility and burst to erase angles? Without question. Ohio State wisely brought in Quinshon Judkins to share the workload, keeping Henderson fresh and explosive when it matters most.
He reminded everyone of his game-changing ability against Texas, turning a screen pass into a 75-yard touchdown before halftime. Averaging a career-best 7.3 yards per carry, Henderson is lethal in open space. One missed gap, and Notre Dame could pay dearly. He’s a pivotal player in Notre Dame vs. Ohio State.
TREVEYON HENDERSON IS GONE 💨
75-yard touchdown right before halftime.pic.twitter.com/vaPLwh6W7W
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 11, 2025
7. Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame
Notre Dame relies on a trio of rushers in Love, Leonard, and Jadarian Price, but Jeremiyah Love has become the game-changer down the stretch. Over the final four games of the season, Love erupted for 474 yards and six touchdowns, averaging a staggering 10.7 yards per carry.
Though limited in the College Football Playoff due to a knee injury, the break before the title game could rejuvenate him. After backing up Audric Estime in 2023, Love stepped into the spotlight this year, rushing for 1,121 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Leonard has shared the workload, keeping Love fresh for his signature, game-breaking runs. With a single carry, Love could change the course of the championship. For the Fighting Irish, his best will be essential.
It’s one thing to hurdle a guy when he tries to go low.
It’s quite another to hurdle over an entirely normal, eyes-to-the-midsection tackling attempt.
Jeremiyah Love: madman. pic.twitter.com/KVmgkxTWE9
— Jack Soble (@jacksoble56) January 15, 2025
6. Donovan Jackson | OL | Ohio State
Offensive linemen rarely bask in the spotlight, but Donovan Jackson’s season has been nothing short of exceptional. When Ohio State lost starting left tackle Josh Simmons to a season-ending injury, Jackson made the seamless transition from left guard to left tackle.
While his first start against Penn State was a learning curve—allowing five pressures and two sacks—Jackson has been a wall ever since. Throughout the College Football Playoff, he’s surrendered just two pressures and hasn’t allowed a single sack. His adaptability and dominance have been pivotal to the Buckeyes’ championship run.
5. Charles Jagusah | OL | Notre Dame
Notre Dame faced a daunting task entering 2024 after losing standout offensive tackles Joe Alt (Round 1, Pick No. 5) and Blake Fisher (Round 2, Pick No. 27) to the NFL Draft. Their departure left the Irish with two glaring voids on the offensive line.
The challenge grew even greater when projected starting left tackle Charles Jagusah tore his right pectoral in August. Remarkably, Jagusah returned for the postseason, logging crucial snaps in the Orange Bowl after Rocco Spindler went down with an ankle injury.
Now, with Knapp ruled out due to his own ankle issue, head coach Marcus Freeman has hinted Jagusah may step in. If so, he’ll face Ohio State’s elite edge duo of Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau—a trial by fire for his first snaps at tackle all season.
4. Xavier Watts | DB | Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s passing defense has been a cornerstone of its success, and senior safety Xavier Watts is its unquestioned leader. A do-it-all presence on the field, Watts has tallied an incredible 13 interceptions over the past two seasons, earning All-America honors along the way.
In 2023, he claimed the prestigious Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defender, thanks to an FBS-leading seven interceptions and a knack for delivering in clutch moments. During the College Football Playoff, Watts has shined with 25 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and another interception.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden will lean heavily on Watts as a stabilizing force against Ohio State’s electrifying receiver corps.
I don’t know if Xavier Watts is gonna be my top-rated safety in the 2025 draft yet
But he’s definitely my favorite to watch pic.twitter.com/170VWo1i5u
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) December 21, 2024
3. Caleb Downs | DB | Ohio State
To understand the impact of sophomore linebacker Caleb Downs on Ohio State, revisit the defining moment of the Cotton Bowl. With Texas threatening at the goal line, Downs read the toss play instantly, sliced through the gap, and delivered a momentum-shifting tackle for loss.
A transfer from Alabama, Downs’ versatility has been nothing short of elite. He recorded 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and six passes defended during an All-American campaign that showcased his brilliance on the biggest stages. Were he eligible for the NFL Draft today, Downs would undoubtedly be a top-five selection. In Notre Dame vs. Ohio State, you need to keep your eye on him.
CALEB DOWNS PICKS IT OFF‼️
DAGGER. pic.twitter.com/ObSlSInI5Y
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025
2. Jack Sawyer | Edge | Ohio State
Jack Sawyer’s strength is his calling card, allowing him to overpower offensive tackles as both a pass rusher and run defender. While he lacks elite speed and bends off the edge, his raw power more than compensates, particularly when it comes to disrupting run plays.
The Cotton Bowl provided a masterclass in Sawyer’s dominance. While his fumble recovery for a touchdown stole headlines, his relentless assault on Texas tackle Cameron Williams stood out, as he repeatedly found ways to disrupt the backfield. With Notre Dame missing a starter at left tackle, Sawyer is primed for another standout performance.
BUCKEYE LEGEND, JACK SAWYER!
— Ohio State Football Fan Page (@OhioStFootball) January 11, 2025
1. Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith is a generational talent, a wide receiver whose skill set would make him the WR1 in the 2025 or 2026 NFL Draft—if only he were eligible before 2027. To understand Smith’s impact, revisit the Cotton Bowl film, where Texas designed its entire defensive approach around containing him. Double teams, brackets, and cloud coverage were the norm, all in an effort to slow the electrifying freshman.
Despite this attention, Smith’s previous two games showcased his dominance: 13 catches, 290 yards, and four touchdowns. Notre Dame, a man-coverage-heavy defense, faces a monumental challenge in Smith.
He excels in every phase: creating separation with precise routes and elite burst, dominating at the catch point with strong hands and body control, and torching defenses post-catch with agility, balance, and explosive acceleration. Smith is as complete as they come.
TWO UNBELIEVEABLE ONE-HANDED CATCHES BY JEREMIAH SMITH 🤯
THEY CAN'T GUARD HIM 👀 pic.twitter.com/vGUUs6rn41
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 29, 2024
