Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
To preview the national championship game, we're joined for a third straight season by Notre Dame beat writer Tyler Horka, who covers the Fighting Irish for Blue & Gold Illustrated. In our conversation with Horka, we addressed Notre Dame's tendencies to play a lot of man coverage, quarterback Riley Leonard, Marcus Freeman and more.
#7 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish
Starting with a big-picture question, neither of these two teams would have qualified for the CFP under the old four-team model. Yet, both are now competing for a national title. How much do you think the expanded playoff has boosted the interest in the sport from more fan bases, at least from your end?
Tyler Horka: Notre Dame missed the College Football Playoff with an 11-1 record in 2021. With the same regular season record in 2024, the Fighting Irish are playing for a national championship. Ohio State's season would have been over the moment it lost to Michigan, but here the Buckeyes are as the favorite to win it all in mid-January. More teams with a real chance of claiming college football's ultimate crown is good for the sport, period. The top seeds and teams had their chances. Notre Dame and Ohio State made the most of theirs. More power to 'em.
Notre Dame plays Cover 1 close to 50 percent of the time defensively. It’s been the bread and butter of the defense, but Ohio State traditionally slices up defenses who rely too heavily on man coverage. Do you envision they’ll move to more zone looks for this matchup specifically, or stay the course and keep the focus on its strength?
Horka: It'll be a mixture of both. I anticipate a little more zone than usual because that's what the matchup calls for. But if I know anything about Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden, he likes to win his way, and his way, with the personnel the Irish have in the secondary, equates to playing man coverage. Always has, and for large stretches of this game, even against Ohio State's top-notch wide receivers, always will.
It seems Notre Dame has been bit with the injury bug at various points this season. From Anthonie Knapp being ruled out at left tackle for the championship, to Benjamin Morrison suffering a season-ending injury midseason, to Rylie Mills going down against Indiana, you get the idea. How have the Fighting Irish navigated these injuries and how will they play a factor in the title game?
Horka: I'll add a couple — rush ends Jordan Botelho AND Boubacar Traore, the top two edge rushers on the roster, have been out for the season. So has starting center Ashton Craig. The way Notre Dame combats it all is an easy answer — depth. Marcus Freeman and his assistants have recruited a plethora of it, much more than Brian Kelly ever did in his time as head coach here. Morrison goes down and he's replaced by the Football Writers Association of America's National Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in Leonard Moore. Craig is replaced by a senior in Pat Coogan who started all 13 of Notre Dame's games at guard in 2023. Heck, Knapp is in line to be replaced by the guy he replaced. Yes — Charles Jagusah could start at left tackle. He was the presumptive starter there in fall camp before he tore his pectoral muscle. There are just multiple guys at every single position on the depth chart that can play championship-level ball.
Riley Leonard has turned in a nice season for the Fighting Irish, but seems more deadly as a runner than a passer. What are Leonard’s strengths and weaknesses and how do you foresee him being used against the Buckeyes?
Horka: Leonard is not one of the most prolific passers in the country. That's obvious. But man, is he ever a gamer. If Notre Dame needs a third or fourth down in a close game, Notre Dame is going to keep the ball in his hands and let him get it. And he'll surprise you every now and again with an absolute rope of a throw. See the one to Aneyas Williams against Penn State. For the most part, he protects the football. He tossed two interceptions against Penn State, but that was uncommon. He probably can't afford to throw two against Ohio State, so I don't expect him to. He's earned that much confidence and trust from people who cover him, and he's earned it from people who root for him too.
We’re undoubtedly both going to see a lot of Lou Holtz questions and jokes pop up in the next week. It has no barring on the upcoming game, but what did Notre Dame folks think of that whole Lou Holtz comment and Day postgame situation after last year’s game?
Horka: Full disclosure — Notre Dame fans do not think very highly of Ryan Day. The Lou Holtz thing exacerbated that. I'll leave it there.
What in your opinion has made Marcus Freeman so successful so early in his tenure at Notre Dame and considering he’s already drawing some NFL interest, could you ever see him eventually leaving for an NFL opportunity given the chance?
Horka: Never say never on the whole NFL thing. He's 39. He's got all the time in the world for that and if that's the direction he eventually goes, he'll probably do well there. But right now, he's so bought into Notre Dame and winning in South Bend and that's absolutely the main reason why he's 14-1. He's bought in, he's gotten everybody around him to buy in, and the belief is as high or higher than it ever was when Brian Kelly was here. He makes it so easy to work and play for him. When 60-year-old coordinators and 20-year-old players are both saying the same things about the guy, you know he's genuine, and you know everybody who matters has his back.
What are some other keys to the game in your opinion?
Horka: For Notre Dame, take care of the football and play your game. You can't give this Ohio State team extra possessions. Can't allow the Buckeyes to strike quickly. Don't let it get out of hand early. Notre Dame came back against Georgia and Penn State, but the Irish were only down 3 to the Bulldogs and 10 to the Nittany Lions. If you fall behind by 10-14 against Ohio State, it's likely game over. So, start fast. Whichever team runs the ball and stops the run the best will have a great chance of winning. Notre Dame has to win this game in the trenches. If the Buckeyes win there, the Irish will lose.
Finally, how do you foresee this contest playing out and what is your score prediction?
Horka: I think it's going to be a similar scratch-and-claw, grind-it-out game like Notre Dame played against Georgia and Penn State. For that, and because this team just feels different than any other in South Bend for three decades, I have the Fighting Irish springing an upset, 28-24.
