Ohio State vs. Notre Dame prediction, odds, CFP National Championship spread, game time, where to watch on TV

And then there were two. The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff is set to crown a national champion on Monday as 7-seed Notre Dame takes on 8-seed Ohio State at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

This will be the ninth meeting for two of college football’s most storied programs and marks the third consecutive season the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish will face off — the longest such streak in the series’ relatively brief history. Ohio State and Notre Dame completed a home-and-home series in 2023 when the Buckeyes walked into South Bend, Indiana, and walked out with a 17-14 victory.

Notre Dame has not beaten Ohio State since 1936. The Fighting Irish’s only wins in the series came in 1935 and 1936. It’s been all Ohio State since.

The two programs are no strangers to postseason play against each other. They met in the 2006 and 2016 Fiesta Bowls, with the Buckeyes winning both matchups.

Ohio State has been dominant in its CFP run. The Buckeyes won their first two games, including a decisive victory against top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl, by a combined score of 83-38. In their Cotton Bowl semifinal against Texas, the Longhorns had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but Jack Sawyer’s strip-sack and subsequent 83-yard touchdown return secured a 28-14 win for Ohio State.

Notre Dame has delivered its own set of impressive performances. The Fighting Irish defeated Indiana by 10 — leading by even more for much of the game — in the first round, then cruised past SEC champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. They capped their run with a last-second field goal to earn a 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl, becoming the first program in college football history to win two bowl games in the same season.

CBS Sports experts have filed their picks for the College Football Playoff National Championship. Here’s what to expect.

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: Need to know

Can Smith get back on track?: Ohio State freshman Jeremiah Smith was held in check against Texas, finishing with just one reception for three yards. It was the first time all season he failed to record multiple receptions in a game and only the third time he was held below 50 yards receiving.

The Longhorns employed multiple strategies to slow him down. They clogged passing lanes with defensive linemen and linebackers while bracketing Smith in double coverage with cornerbacks and safeties. Notre Dame now has recent tape to study in its effort to contain one of college football’s premier playmakers. However, Ohio State has an equal amount of time to adjust, setting up an intriguing chess match.

Entering the semifinal round, Smith had recorded 13 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns in Ohio State’s first two playoff games.

Notre Dame’s injury list growing: Notre Dame overcame significant injuries to reach this point. The Fighting Irish have been without starting defensive linemen Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traore, starting offensive lineman Ashton Craig, and potential first-round NFL Draft cornerback Benjamin Morrison since October.

In their first-round win against Indiana, Rylie Mills — the team leader in sacks — suffered a season-ending knee injury. Then, in the semifinal win over Penn State, starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp sustained an injury that will keep him out of the national title game.

Adding to their challenges, leading rusher Jeremiyah Love has been managing a nagging knee injury. However, he played through it against the Nittany Lions and is expected to be available for the matchup with the Buckeyes.

Defensive battle on tap: The CFP title game will feature two of the nation’s top defenses. Ohio State (12.2 points per game) and Notre Dame (14.3 ppg) rank first and second nationally in scoring defense, respectively.

The Buckeyes have not allowed more than 21 points in the CFP, while the Fighting Irish gave up just 27 total points in their first two playoff games. Both teams rank in the top 10 nationally in total defense. Ohio State and Notre Dame are first and second, respectively, in pass defense and rank first (Notre Dame) and third (Ohio State) in defensive efficiency, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).