This story was updated to correct misspellings.
Ohio State and Notre Dame are almost ready to put on a show for college football fans on Monday night in Atlanta. You need a little more than skill to win a College Football Playoff championship. Sometimes luck, an officiating call or a timely bounce of the ball can make all the difference.
So, too, can the health of a team. As they say, it’s not always who you play, but when you play them, and that can be especially true if some key players are either out of a matchup or not quite 100%. And, at this point in the season, an unprecedented 16 games in for both the Irish and Buckeyes, there are updates to injuries that could have a pretty big bearing on who walks out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium as college football national champions.
Ohio State doesn’t publish an injury report, but we’ve heard from some of the players and coaches on where things stand (supposedly) with some of the key personnel that we had questions about. As best we can tell, here’s where things stand ahead of Monday night for both teams.
Ohio State injury report
Ohio State comes into the championship game in relatively good health. We know left tackle Josh Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin are lost for the year. Other starters dealt with bumps and bruises after the Cotton Bowl. Defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau suffered an ankle injury but returned to finish the game in Dallas. Quarterback Will Howard had a golf-ball size lump on his non-throwing hand, and cornerback Denzel Burke was held out due to an upper body injury according to coach Ryan Day.
Couple Ohio State updates.
*DE JT Tuimoloau called his ankle injury against Texas “a little basketball ankle roll” and said “I feel really good.”
*Denzel Burke missed most of second half of Texas with a should injury. He said he’s practiced “every day” and feels “great.” pic.twitter.com/ZtCaE40gVM— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 18, 2025
Notre Dame injury report
The Irish appear to be a little more banged up heading into this one than Ohio State. Starting running back Jeremiyah Love is on the mend from a knee injury. There are offensive line concerns, as well as question marks at receiver, tight end and the defensive line.
No way Notre Dame right guard Rocco Spindler was going to miss THIS game — the national title vs. Ohio State.
“I feel great,” the senior told Blue & Gold. “One-hundred percent ready to go. It’s the biggest moment, so I’m going ’til the wheels fall off.”https://t.co/3WVUcWmXRQ pic.twitter.com/0khQKkYm7u
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) January 18, 2025
DE J.T. Tuimoloau injury update – Ohio State
It’s probably a good bet that Tuimoloau will not be 100%, but he doesn’t appear to be limping in Atlanta and doesn’t have a boot or anything on. Look for him to be ready to roll at close to his best with the best treatment the Buckeye training staff can provide.
CB Denzel Burke injury update – Ohio State
We didn’t even know Burke was injured until Day addressed it in one of the media sessions, but it appears as though he has recovered and will be available for the game.
QB Will Howard injury update – Ohio State
There was nothing seriously wrong with Howard’s hand despite the grotesque looking nature of such a large bump. It really boiled down to a broken blood vessel, and he’s 100% and ready to lead this team under center against the Fighting Irish
RB Jeremiyah Love injury update – Notre Dame
Love has been practicing without a knee brace, and that is good news for the Irish. He’s probably not at full speed, but close enough to be a threat in the game. The Irish will need him to be explosive and it appears he is closer to top form than last game.
LT Anthony Knapp injury update – Notre Dame
The Irish will be without their starting left tackle who was injured against Penn State. Making his second career start appears to be Charles Jagusah. It’ll be a matchup to watch with Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer coming off the edge.
WR Beaux Collins injury update – Notre Dame
The Irish would love to get one of their weapons at receiver back, and it looks like he is trending that way. He has practiced almost fully the last couple of days after nursing a calf strain and being listed as questionable. It looks like he’ll be good to go Monday.
RG Rocco Spindler injury update – Notre Dame
The starting right guard has been in and out of the lineup in the playoffs and could not finish the Orange Bowl. However, he is not listed on the injury report, so he’s ready to suit up and go after it, or so it would appear.
TE Cooper Flanagan injury update – Notre Dame
The tight end hurt his Achilles tendon in the Peach Bowl against Georgia and will be out for the championship game.
DL Rylie Mills injury update – Notre Dame
Mills injured his knee in the first round of the playoffs. It appears he, too, will not be available for the biggest game of the season Monday night.
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