The risk associated with composing a pre-national championship panegyric on the University of Notre Dame’s football team in a Jesuit publication is above average.

O n Thursday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish play the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl, which doubles as one of the college football playoff semifinals. The game marks the latest of Notre Dame’s many successes on the gridiron.

Today, let’s review the paths Ohio State and Notre Dame took to get to the College Football Playoff national championship, which will be Monday in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET (watch on ESPN or Fubo, which you can try for free ). Plus, we’ll reveal your title predictions.

Ohio State and Notre Dame have reached the same destination with rosters built much the same way. The teams set to play in the College Football Playoff championship game in Atlanta on Monday night sign elite high school recruiting classes year after year.

A four-team College Football Playoff would have omitted the nation's best team from the bracket. The bigger playoff saved this matchup.

Monday’s national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame is fast approaching. A title drought will end for one of these programs. The Buckeyes could bring fans a national title in the first year of the 12-team playoff format.

Ohio State is one win away from accomplishing its big goal of winning a National Championship. A decade since their last title win, the Buckeyes have Notre Dame standing in front of them to reach that feat.