The long college football winter is ahead of us. Eight long months of Twitter debates and “Mount Rushmore” conversations from lazy sports radio hosts await. But there is one final game to be played.
No. 7 Notre Dame (14-1) will face No. 8 Ohio State (13-2) with the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff title on the line.
Our staff from 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge is back for one final Station Survey. Let’s take note at how wrong they are, so we can all laugh at them. Lord knows we’ll have plenty of time on our hands after tonight.
Jacob Hester, Co-Host Off the Bench: Ohio State will win. More explosive playmakers that will be the ultimate difference. They can beat you no matter what you try to take away. It’s a close game because of Notre Dame’s gritty mindset, but not enough in the end. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 21
T-Bob Hebert, Co-Host, Off the Bench: The Buckeyes are just too complete in the end. While I can only see a couple of avenues in which Notre Dame wins; the paths to an Ohio St win are many. I think Notre Dame fights hard and is the better “ team” but the raw talent of Ohio State is too much in the end. Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 20
Taylor Sharp, Video Producer, Off the Bench: Ohio State has too many weapons. Notre Dame is a good story but I think that ends tonight. Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 13
Alondra Villarreal, Audio Producer, Off the Bench: Ohio State bc they have the more talented roster and are a more complete team. I do think Notre Dame covers. Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 20
Rivers Hughey, Digital Media Director, LouisianaSports.net: I saw an ad comparing Ohio State vs. Notre Dame to David vs. Goliath, which feels ridiculous considering Notre Dame has 11 national championships. Counterpoint: the last time they won one, I wasn’t even born (Sept. 1988, for those keeping up with my youth). On paper, Ohio State should win this game—but luckily for us, games aren’t played on paper. Give me gritty and pretty Marcus Freeman over the Buckeyes for the plot. Notre Dame 31, Ohio State 28
Hunt Palmer, Host, The Hunt Palmer Show: Ohio State just has too much talent, and I don’t trust Riley Leonard to score enough points to keep up with the Buckeyes. ND’s only chance will be turnovers. Ohio State 30, Notre Dame 17
Matt Moscona, Host, After Further Review: Notre Dame’s defense can keep the Irish in it. There just isn’t enough firepower offensively to keep pace. Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 17
Paul O’Neill, Video Producer, After Further Review: Both Ohio State and Notre Dame have talent at every position on their rosters from top to bottom, but Ohio State has the better players at every position. We will see a good matchup between the two teams, but history will most likely repeat itself. The more complete team in Ohio State should take care of business and Notre Dame should fall in yet another National Championship game. Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 24
Matthew Musso, Audio Producer, After Further Review: Ohio State is the more talented team and has arguably been the most talented team in the country all season. Where their biggest advantage lies is against the run, especially in the red zone. They are a brick wall up front. The Buckeyes look like a team that can finally force a game into the hands of Riley Leonard’s right arm. Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 21
