The Week That Will Be: The National Championship

The Irish and the Buckeyes meet for the crown.

The good news is that we are about 10 days into the off-season, with only about 220 days to go – it’s practically right around the corner.

With any luck, perhaps Longhorn baseball can get us through to the end of June.

The transfer portal is now closed for every team except for Notre Dame and Ohio State. This includes Texas, of course, with the only portal entry since we last talked being tight end Amari Niblack. While it is unfortunate it didn’t work out for Niblack, who seemed to be stuck in between positions at Texas, if he is our only loss in this window, Texas did well.

There has been some chatter about Texas’s lack of activity in the portal this window. Whether that had more to do with timing – Texas had bigger issues readily at hand – or a lack of quality – there were no Adonai Mitchells or Jordan Addisons or even Matthew Goldens available – remains to be seen, but Texas has some work to do in the April window, where they will likely need at least one WR, a TE, some veteran help on the OL, perhaps a floor guy at RB, probably at least two DT, a secondary guy on the level of Gavin Holmes and perhaps a kicker.

April is also the date of the NFL Draft, where early entrants Quinn Ewers and Jaydon Blue hope to hear their name called. Most draft experts seem to have Quinn in the second round, but he should test well at the Combine, throw well at the Texas pro day and will interview well – it only takes one team to fall in love with you to go in the first round.

All in all, Texas has a good chance to have more than 11 players drafted, the school record set last year. It is a far cry from a couple of years ago when Texas had zero players drafted – and more proof that we are in good hands with Steve Sarkisian.

That contract extension was well earned.

Spring practice will be here before we know it, and this is an important period for this Texas program, with a new quarterback to break in, and with limited portal entrants meaning that there will be plenty of opportunity for young talent to make the coaches rethink bringing someone in over them in the spring portal window.

But first, we do have one more game.

The National Championship: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State – 8.5

It is the 8 seed and the 7 seed for all the marbles – there must have been some massive upsets, no? Well, no, betting favorites thus far have won every game in this bracket.

The biggest question in this game is – does Notre Dame have the ability to do what Texas and Michigan did to Ohio State? The Wolverines held the Buckeyes to 10 points, while Texas held the Ohio State to 21 – 14 if you want to discount the screen pass right before the half.

Texas and Michigan both helped the corner covering Jeremiah Smith with a safety – while the other safety patrolled the other side of the field. They were able to do this because both Texas and Michigan were able contain the Ohio State rushing attack (led by TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins) with a light box.

Notre Dame has what is thought to be one of the best defensive lines in the country, but losing Rylie Mills against was lost in the Indiana game due to injury and will miss this one. Without him, Notre Dame gave up 204 yards rushing to Penn State, but even with him they gave up 197 to USC and 190 to Northern Illinois – if the Buckeyes are able to control the line of scrimmage, the game is over for the Irish.

Offensively, the Irish simply need more from Riley Leonard. He only threw for 90 yards against Georgia. That won’t work here. He threw two interceptions against Penn State. That won’t work here. They don’t need him to throw for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he needs to be smart with the football and stay on the field – the Irish converted 11-of-17 third downs against Penn State, they need to keep that up against the Buckeyes.

Irish star running back Jeremiyah Love has been practicing without a knee brace – they'll need everything he has to defeat Ohio State.

Don’t discount Notre Dame’s ability to just get the job done, but these Buckeyes are immensely talented, and frankly I think the national championship was last week. I don’t see the Irish being able to stop this train.

Ohio State 31 Notre Dame 17