Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: 10 Most Influential Players in the College Football Playoff National Championship

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field has been reduced 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 looks to win its first national title since 2014, while Notre Dame aims to return to the top of the college football world for the first time since 1988.

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the 12-team playoffs was 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 final moments of the Cotton Bowl victory over Texas. The same is true for Notre Dame’s Jaden Greathouse, who turned the Orange Bowl on its head with a breakaway touchdown against Penn State.

In an earlier era, there were only 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 influential players on both teams heading into the championship game, including many future first-rounders and underclassmen.

If anyone is wondering how important Smith is to Ohio State, watch the film of the Texas defense in the Cotton Bowl. At every turn, the Longhorns brought doubles, boxing the freshman and darkening him to keep Smith contained. In the previous two games, Smith had 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns. Notre Dame is a heavy defense but will need to find alternatives against a player of Smith’s caliber.

2. Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State

Ohio State needed a defender to step up and play a Joey Bosa-like role on the defensive line, and Sawyer delivered. During the College Football Playoff, Sawyer had 4.5 sacks and constantly terrorized opposing linemen. Against Texas, Sawyer forced a strip-sack from Quinn Ewers and returned it over 80 yards for a game-clinching touchdown. He was the best defensive player in the College Football Playoff.

Leonard has been inconsistent throwing the ball, but his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. The senior transfer from Duke stepped up and provided sensational playmaking ability and carried the Fighting Irish offense for stretches. Although he only threw for 90 yards against Georgia, Leonard’s fingerprints were all over the game with 80 critical rushing yards. He is a classic player who wins by the margin.

To see how valuable Downs is to Ohio State, watch the most important play of the Cotton Bowl. Texas ran a goal-line draw that was blocked well, but Downs immediately read the play, pulled the gap and put together a massive tackle for the loss. Downs, a sophomore, is currently believed to be a top-five pick in the NFL draft thanks to his versatile skillset. He had 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six passes defended during an All-American campaign after transferring from Alabama.

Notre Dame’s pass defense is perhaps the best unit on its team, and Watts leads the way at safety. The senior plays all over the field and has 13 interceptions over the past two seasons during All-America campaigns. During the CFP, Watts had 25 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and another interception. Defensive coordinator Al Golden will use Watts as a security blanket against OSU’s sensational receiving room.

6. Howard Cross, DL, Notre Dame

Notre Dame lost numerous defensive linemen to injuries throughout the season, including Cross for a time. However, the sixth-year senior has been a consistent mainstay for the Irish and leads a defense that ranks among the best in the country. With Cross in the lineup, Notre Dame’s defense stayed on schedule.

Notre Dame relies on a trio of rushers with Love, Leonard and Jadarian Price, but Love became a serious difference maker late in the year. During a four-game stretch to end the season, Love recorded 474 yards and six touchdowns on an unreal 10.7 yards per carry. Love has been limited in the last two CFP games due to a knee injury, but some rest before the title game should do him some good. The Fighting Irish need him to be at his best.

Offensive linemen don’t always deserve the spotlight as impact players, but Jackson put together a sensational season. When Ohio State lost left tackle Josh Simmons to a season-ending injury, Jackson slid from left guard to left tackle. He gave up five pressures and two sacks in his first start against Penn State, but has since allowed just two pressures and zero sacks throughout the College Football Playoff. His performance was critical.

Ohio State made the smart decision to bring in running back Quinshon Judkins and limit touches for the injury-plagued Henderson. Now the senior is the freshest running back remaining and looks like his incredibly explosive self. Against Texas, Henderson completed a 75-yard screen pass for a touchdown before halftime. He is averaging a career-high 7.3 yards per carry. If Notre Dame misses a gap, Henderson can bring it home.

10. Jaden Greathouse, WR, Notre Dame

Greathouse’s numbers aren’t obvious: 36 catches for 464 yards and two touchdowns. However, he proved his potential with a 54-yard touchdown run against Penn State, which ranks among the greatest plays in program history. Greathouse doesn’t often get the opportunity to showcase his vast potential due to the inconsistent passing game at Notre Dame, but he is a game-changing player with the ball in his hands.