On Monday, Jan. 20, the NCAA college soccer championship comes to a climax with a showdown that promises to be epic: Notre Dame takes on Ohio State in a battle for the national title. The 2014 champion Ohio State team has been a consistent contender ever since, but has yet to repeat its success. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has not won the championship since the establishment of the College Playoffs, which makes this matchup all the more compelling and emotionally charged from the first minute.
🗓️ Date: Monday, January 20.
⏰ Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
📺 TV/Streaming: ESPN
📍Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium : Atlanta, GA
Ohio State: Defensive dominance and lethal offense
Ohio State clinched its place in the grand final after a resounding 28-14 victory over Texas, which had been the No. 1-ranked team for several weeks. Despite two surprising early-season losses to Oregon and Michigan, the Buckeyes have been impressive in their performance, showing an explosive offense and a nearly unbeatable defense.
Ohio State's defense stands out as the best in the nation, ranking first in points allowed (12.2 per game) and yards conceded (251.1 per game). In addition, with 51 catches, they are among the best in the nation in this statistic. On offense, the Buckeyes' quarterback has thrown for 3,779 yards and 33 touchdowns. Running back TreVeyon Henderson has totaled 967 yards and 10 touchdowns, while receiver Jeremiah Smith has accumulated 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Next Game Up 📌 pic.twitter.com/U19Rfd64UH
- Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 15, 2025
Notre Dame: Defensive strength and an unstoppable ground attack
Notre Dame, meanwhile, has had an outstanding season, with a defense that ranks second in points allowed (14.3 per game) and ninth in yards allowed (298.3 per game). Although with 38 catches, their defense is still fearsome, and their disciplined and aggressive approach has made the Fighting Irish a tough team to beat.
On the offensive side, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has thrown for 2,606 yards and 19 touchdowns, but his biggest threat has been the ground game. Jeremiyah Love has been a scoring machine, with 1,121 yards and 17 touchdowns. Receiver Jaden Greathouse, with 464 yards and 2 touchdowns, has been one of the team's top aerial weapons.
God. Country. Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/uOy0IKYbF3
- Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) January 2, 2025
On the road to the national title
Ohio State (seeded No. 8) began its playoff journey with a dominant 42-17 victory over Tennessee (seeded No. 9) in the first round. Then, in the quarterfinals, it shocked Oregon (seeded No. 1) by defeating them 41-21. In the semifinals, they defeated Texas (seeded number 5) 28-14, securing their place in the final.
Notre Dame (seeded number 7) beat Indiana (seeded number 10) 27-17 in the first round. In the quarterfinals, they surprised one of the favorites Georgia (seeded number 2) by beating them 23-10. Finally, in the semifinals, they beat Penn State by a tight 27-24, thus earning their ticket to the final.
Now, the No. 5 team faces No. 6 in a final that promises to be a first-class spectacle.
Forecasts
This game promises to be extremely competitive, with explosive plays and surprises that only college soccer knows how to offer.
The big favorite is Ohio State at -375 to Notre Dame's +300.
The total is set at 46 being both "More than" and "Less than" -110.
In the first half bet the total favorite is set at 23 being "Over" -111 and "Under" -109.
Remember that lines are dynamic and can change constantly.
Don't miss this exciting duel for the college soccer national championship!