COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - The day has arrived and will be looked back on fondly by either Ohio State or Notre Dame fans forever.
The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish meet Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This will mark the first title game under a 12-team playoff as each team enters without a championship in at least 10 seasons.
Despite regular season losses to Oregon and Michigan, Ohio State has been the most dominant team in the playoff, with double-digit victories over Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas to get to Atlanta.
Notre Dame has not been beaten since a shocking early loss to Northern Illinois and faces the Buckeyes on a 13-game winning streak. The Fighting Irish knocked off Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State to make their first title game since 2012.
How to watch
Monday's game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and be broadcast on ESPN. It will be streamed on ESPN's website and app but can only be accessed with a cable subscription. You will not be able to watch the game with an antenna.
ESPN will offer alternate telecasts with Pat McAfee's Field Pass broadcast on ESPN2, the Command Center broadcast on ESPNU, SkyCast on ESPNews and ESPN's website offering the game with Ohio State or Notre Dame radio.
National championships
The Ohio State Buckeyes have won eight national titles in a variety of eras. From its most recent playoff national title in 2014 to being chosen by poll voters as the champions in 1942, Ohio State could become the ninth school to win nine national championships.
Notre Dame has waited 36 years since being named consensus national champions in 1988 with an undefeated season. With 11 titles, the Irish are in a group with six other schools boasting double-digit national championships. A win Monday would put the Irish past USC and on par with Michigan, who took its 12th national title last season.
History in Atlanta
Monday marks just the second time Ohio State is playing a postseason game in Atlanta. The first came in 2022 when the Buckeyes fell in heartbreaking fashion, 42-41 to Georgia in a playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl on New Year's Eve. Coach Ryan Day and his team will hope to squash those tough memories.
Notre Dame has traversed the U.S. in its over 100-year existence, playing in iconic baseball and football venues from coast to coast. It has even played a game in Dublin, Ireland. But Monday will be its first postseason game in the "Big Peach."
Legendary players
The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish have produced over 1,000 NFL draft picks and 24 Pro Football Hall of Famers combined, while each school has had seven Heisman Trophy winners.
Ohio State boasts the only two-time Heisman winner with running back Archie Griffin, while Troy Smith, Eddie George, and Les Horvath are among others who've won. Some of the best receivers past and present also hailed from Ohio State, such as Cris Carter, Terry Glenn and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Notre Dame's legends are among the most revered names in football history: Knute Rockne, Paul Hornung, Joe Montana. No school has produced more NFL draft picks or Pro Football Hall of Famers than Notre Dame, which also has dozens of alumni in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Iconic classes
With legendary schools come iconic classes with players that have been celebrated for generations.
One hundred years ago, the Fighting Irish were led by the "Four Horsemen" under coach Rockne. The backfield of Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley and Elmer Layden earned the nickname from sportswriter Grantland Rice as they mowed through opposition in their three seasons together and won the 1924 national title.
Under coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes had their iconic class of super sophomores. Rex Kern, Jack Tatum, Jim Stillwagon, Bruce Janikowski, and more started at Ohio State for three seasons, winning the 1968 national championship and only losing two games in three seasons.
Biggest crossover
Recent leaders of both Ohio State and Notre Dame football wore the opposite colors, most notably the Fighting Irish's coach.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman donned the scarlet and gray for five seasons as a linebacker. He was an all-Big Ten selection twice and was part of the 2006 and 2007 teams that made back-to-back national championship games.
Gene Smith, who retired as the Ohio State athletic director in June, played defensive end for Notre Dame in the mid-1970s. Smith won the 1973 title as a player and the 1977 championship as an assistant coach.
Rudy vs. Johnny Utah
The silver screen has depicted Notre Dame and Ohio State players, real and fictional.
One of the most recognizable football films is "Rudy," starring Sean Astin as underdog Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger. The biographical film depicts the obstacles overcome by Ruettinger to suit up and play for Notre Dame and is considered one of the best sports films made.
Ohio State has also had its share of the silver screen. Early 1990s action thriller "Point Break" starred Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah, a former Buckeyes signal caller turned FBI agent. Reeves also played ex-OSU QB Shane Falco in the 2000 comedy "The Replacements."