Sean Gallagher

The first 12-team College Football Playoff has resulted in Ohio State and Notre Dame meeting in Atlanta for the national championship.

It may not be too surprising that the Buckeyes are in this game, especially when looking back at preseason expectations, but the Fighting Irish are the bigger surprise.

Especially when you look at how the season unfolded.

Notre Dame’s Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois saw many write them off, and who could blame them. You can’t beat a middle-of-the-road MAC team, how are you gonna beat the better teams on your schedule?

Since then, Marcus Freeman and the Irish have rolled off 13-straight wins, with the latest being a dramatic 27-24 win in the semifinal at the Orange Bowl over Penn State.

Ohio State’s adversity came at the worst time. Upset by arch-rival Michigan in the regular season finale, with a trip to the Big Ten championship game off the table, and an ugly scene on the field after the game, with players, media and others getting pepper sprayed.

But to their credit, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes shrugged it off and embarrassed Tennessee and top-ranked Oregon in the 1st round and quarterfinals, and like Notre Dame, found itself in a tight game against Texas in the semifinals at the Cotton Bowl, in which their defense made the difference down the stretch.

For some, this is a game they wish both teams could lose, while others might pick a lesser of two evils. Notre Dame is apparently winning over people, which is odd for a team that is the Yankees of college football: You love them or you hate them. No middle ground.

Whoever come out on top January 20th, it will be the perfect ending to their redemption tour.