Last dance under the bright lights of Mercedes-Benz! What’s bigger than a battle between two football powerhouses fighting with legacies on the line? A shot at the 12-team playoff title? You bet! This ain’t no ordinary game—it’s a hurricane of football fury. However, it seems that Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame team might be facing some challenges with the latest injury updates. Yes, you heard that right. A single mistake in the game could cost them the national title.

According to the latest updates by Pete Thamel, Notre Dame will be starting redshirt freshman Charles Jagusah at left tackle in the National Championship game. Freshman Anthonie Knapp, who started against Penn State, sprained his left ankle during the game and is now sidelined. Jagusah, who earned the starting job in fall camp before tearing his pectoral muscle, returns to the lineup for his first start at left tackle since the 2023 Sun Bowl.

Meanwhile, surgeons will perform tightrope surgery on Knapp to repair the injury; he should recover in six weeks, allowing him to participate in the spring game. In the interim, Jagusah steps into a critical role as he works to anchor Notre Dame’s offensive line during their championship pursuit. Starting with a new player in such a crucial game, where a small mistake can lead to a big disaster, is something that can put Marcus Freeman and the team’s winning hopes at rest.

Moreover, here’s the kicker: it’s not like Charles Jagusah is a bad player or anything, but Anthonio Knapp has been protecting Notre Dame’s quarterback Riley Leonard’s blindside since the start of the season. However, with their right guard, Rocco Spindler, returning to the field after sustaining his own ankle injury in the Penn State game, it might give an edge to the team.

Well, the only good news about all this mess is that Notre Dame’s star running back, Jeremiyah Love’s, condition looks much better now. He was struggling with a knee injury but will be playing against the Buckeyes. However, is Jeremiyah Love’s presence enough to align them all? For now, it looks like a struggle.

Marcus Freeman is facing increasing pressure

Marcus Freeman’s got a lot on his plate with all these injuries, and things just got hotter. Now, amidst that, Eddie George, the legendary Ohio State running back and now Tennessee State head coach, hopped on the Kickoff podcast and threw his full support behind his Buckeyes in the finals.

He said, “I’m going to go with Ohio State because they’re hot right now. They believe. They’ve weathered every storm; they’ve answered every which way. You know, we saw last week when Texas took away their playmaker in Jeremiah Smith, and they had different answers. TreVeyon Henderson, Will Howard made plays. The defense has really been the star of the show throughout the playoffs. I think it’s going to be a hard-fought, physical battle, one where it could be a 27-24 win with Ohio State winning.” Well, that’s a fact.

TreVeyon Henderson’s 75-yard TD against Texas was straight-up poetry in motion, and Will Howard’s 289-yard performance proved he’s more than just a game manager. Ohio State’s ability to adapt on the fly makes them a nightmare matchup. Marcus Freeman’s Irish have their hands full trying to outsmart a team that’s diabolically immune to pressure (Michigan exception). And defense? First in the overall ranking and third in run defense. Their playoff opponents averaged a stunning 62.3 rushing yards per game. That’s a huge nut to crack.

Moreover, George’s take put Marcus Freeman under the spotlight. Notre Dame’s offense relies heavily on Love to keep the chains moving. Ohio State’s defense is a big problem. So, who’s got the edge?

Ohio State’s defense is elite, their offense is humming, and they’re coming in as 9.5-point favorites. But Notre Dame’s no slouch. The Irish could win if Jeremiyah Love runs like Marshawn Lynch, overpowering Ohio State’s front seven, who have a hefty 16 playoff sacks. The winner? Whoever can land that knockout punch. Atlanta’s about to witness a heavyweight classic.