The final preparations are underway for both the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish. NBC4's Joe Nugent takes a look at how both coaches are approaching the final game of the season. Chris Hagan reports on how Notre Dame's players are rallying around their head coach.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are closing in on a national title, and only the Notre Dame Fighting Irish stand in the way. In the lead up to the National Championship

The Buckeyes entered every playoff game looking for one more chance to play together. Now they prepare for their last dance with a national championship in sight.

Spindler, the former Clarkston star, will help anchor the Notre Dame offensive line in the College Football Playoff championship in Atlanta.

Maybe he was right. But this was early January in 2008, and Freeman — a linebacker and team captain for Ohio State — was discussing the Buckeyes’ upcoming Bowl Championship Series title game against LSU at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Let the record show it was the Tigers who ended up winning that one, 38-24.

Ohio State is hours away from meeting Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game, capping a season that just in the past eight weeks has seesawed between the depths of another loss to Michigan and the potential high of claiming the program first championship since the debut of the four-team format a decade ago.

Jim Knowles is at his most comfortable hiding in an office, door closed, with a cup of coffee as he dissects plays and draws up game plans. He's not a mystery in the Ohio State football facility, but when that door is closed,

The star safety transfer found a perfect fit in the national title-hunting Buckeyes after entering the portal after Nick Saban's retirement.

The Purdue Boilermakers keep winning and Ohio State has had tough luck. Here's an expert prediction, stats and projected lineups.

Before the first 12-team College Football Playoff even started, there were already plenty of people suggesting changes for determining future national champions. Ohio State (13-2) and Notre Dame (14-1) aren’t quibbling,

Sawyer is a true hometown star for Ohio State — he was born and raised in Columbus. On top of football, he also grew up playing basketball. Sawyer attended Pickerington High School North in Ohio, where he became one of the nation's top recruits.