Ohio State ended the regular season with many questions about its program under coach Ryan Day after the Buckeyes were upset by rival Michigan 13-10 on Nov. 30. Now, the Buckeyes not only are in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan.

Theismann has spent a good bit of time around this team, and Tim Brown — Notre Dame’s last Heisman Trophy winner (1987) — has spent even more. Brown, who was at the Indiana and Penn State playoff games, has gotten to know Freeman and several key players well.

Notre Dame and Ohio State entered the College Football Playoff as the No. 7 and No. 8 seeded teams. Neither won a conference; heck, Notre Dame isn't in a conference to win. Ohio State's loss to Michigan on November 30th knocked them out of the Big Ten title game.