A Buckeyes win would give the Big Ten back-to-back national champions for the first time since 1942, when the league was called the Western Conference. Paul Brown-coached Ohio State went 9-1 that year and was the third straight national champion from the conference. Voters crowned Minnesota in 1940 and ’41.

Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs and Ohio State will square off with Riley Leonard and Notre Dame for the College Football Playoff national championship.

When the Ohio State and Notre Dame football teams meet on Monday for the right to claim the College Football Playoff Championship, it’ll be just the ninth meeting between the two. In fact,