What do opposing coaches think about Notre Dame’s chances against Ohio State?

Notre Dame is not only gaining more fans among college football enthusiasts but also attracting the attention of rival coaches, who seem to hold Marcus Freeman’s team in high regard.

“I don’t think people realize just how strong Notre Dame really is,” said one defensive backs coach who went head-to-head with the Irish in the playoffs. “I didn’t realize it until we played them. They’re incredibly tough. Their DBs are excellent, their defense is relentless, and Al Golden does a fantastic job. Their special teams are off the charts too. Marty Biagi is outstanding—he goes after almost every punt. They do all the little things you hate. This team is so well-coached and cohesive. From the outside, they look solid.”https://svtoday.org/

Notre Dame enters Monday’s College Football Playoff (CFP) championship game against Ohio State as eight-point underdogs. Earlier in the season, the Irish managed to defeat Georgia 23-10 as 1.5-point underdogs, and similarly won against Penn State 27-24 despite being 1.5-point underdogs. However, Ohio State presents a significantly stronger challenge. Their receivers are more explosive than anything Notre Dame has faced so far. According to several opposing coaches who have faced the Irish, most wouldn’t be surprised if Notre Dame pulls off an upset. These coaches, granted anonymity to provide honest evaluations, shared their insights.

“Right now, Ohio State is playing at their peak,” said the defensive backs coach, “but Notre Dame is really, really good. I’m telling you.”

“They don’t look that impressive in warm-ups,” said another defensive coordinator who also faced Notre Dame in the playoffs, “but they’re tough and gritty. They don’t make mistakes. They excel in special teams and defense, and their offense is a handful.”

Quarterback Riley Leonard, while not drawing significant attention from NFL scouts, has been effective. He has thrown for 2,606 yards with a 19-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. As one defensive coordinator put it, “He doesn’t make a lot of NFL-level throws, but he gets the job done.” Leonard has yet to throw for more than 250 yards in a game this season, but he has rushed for 16 touchdowns and 866 yards. Most notably, Leonard leads the most efficient third-down offense in the playoffs, converting on 22 out of 44 attempts.

“The guy can beat you with his legs,” said the DC who faced Notre Dame in the playoffs. “He can pick up first downs with his feet, and that’s huge. He’s bigger and more athletic than people realize.”

Another defensive coordinator added, “He’s taller and faster than I thought. He covers a lot of ground. We had a few chances to hit him, but we missed or bounced off him. You’ve got to wrap him up. He’s a tough guy.”

In terms of passing, Notre Dame’s attack is fairly limited.

“Leonard does a great job with slot fades and deep outside fades,” said a defensive coordinator who faced the Irish late in the regular season. “Their big plays often come from the same concepts over and over again.”

Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse had a standout performance against Penn State with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. However, in his previous five games, he didn’t exceed 17 yards in any one of them. If Ohio State doesn’t stay alert, Notre Dame could surprise them with a big play when it matters most.

“Greathouse was huge,” said the defensive backs coach. “He made three critical plays. His slot fade is their signature move, and you can’t let them hit that. They did it against Penn State at a crucial moment.”

The coach explained that disciplined coverage, with leverage outside, is the key to shutting down that play.

The defensive coordinator who faced Notre Dame in the playoffs praised the Irish receivers’ ability to make contested catches. “We had guys all over them, and they still made the catch,” he said, also giving credit to tight end Mitchell Evans, calling him a standout. “He’s better than people think. He doesn’t drop balls, and he blocks well.”

While the receivers may not stand out individually, the defensive backs coach emphasized that it was the Irish’s overall running game, particularly quarterback-led, that caused trouble. “Their quarterback-run game was the best we saw all season,” he said. “They’re really well-coached schematically. You can’t predict which run they’ll use once they’re in the right situations, especially on short-yardage or goal-line plays.”

The Irish offense also benefits from excellent self-scouting. “They know their tendencies inside and out,” said the coach. “There’s someone in their offensive room with a defensive mindset, probably Marcus Freeman himself. Their use of shifts, motions, and tempo really keeps defenses on their toes.”

It’s also worth noting that offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has defensive coaching experience, which helps in creating effective game plans.

The defensive coordinator who faced Notre Dame in the playoffs was confident Denbrock would have a strategy to counter Ohio State’s offense. “They’ll move their players around, and you’ve got to prepare for the final formation before the snap. They don’t huddle much, so you need to be sharp in reading their shifts.”

Running back Jeremiyah Love is Notre Dame’s most dangerous weapon. After a spectacular 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana in the CFP’s first round, he was less effective against Georgia due to an injury. Still, his two-yard touchdown against Penn State, where he broke five tackles, demonstrated his unique talent.

“That was one of the greatest short-yardage runs I’ve seen,” said the DB coach. “I was on the phone screaming, ‘Did you see that?’ He’s so strong and quick—people don’t realize how solid he is.”

Another defensive coordinator who faced Notre Dame in recent weeks called Love “elite” and predicted he’d be healthier in the next game. “He may be the best running back in the country. He’s that good.”

Love’s combination of speed and power impressed another coach who faced top NFL running back prospects this season. “He runs hard, and he’s fast. He’s the real deal.”

Notre Dame’s offensive line, though not filled with individual stars, is one of the best-coached units the defensive coaches faced all season. “They were the best group, as a unit,” said one coach. “They work well together, protect well, and push people off the ball.”

Defensively, Notre Dame remains strong even without top cornerback Benjamin Morrison and sack leader Rylie Mills. Their defense is ranked 6th in the nation for fewest yards per play allowed and leads in the lowest completion percentage allowed at 50.7%. Notably, only Georgia’s Gunnar Stockton completed more than 60% of his passes in a game against them.

The Irish frequently play man coverage, though they mix it up with other strategies. “They’re really well-coached and developed over the season,” said a Power 4 receivers coach. “They do a good job adjusting to different offensive schemes, and their man coverage can be hard to beat.”

In terms of Ohio State’s potent offense, including running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, one defensive coordinator said, “Notre Dame will need to contain Ohio State’s explosiveness to have a shot.”

The DB coach who faced Notre Dame in the playoffs praised their defensive backfield. “Their DBs are fast and skilled. They’re impressive.”

The coaches agree that for Notre Dame to succeed against Ohio State, they’ll need to avoid turnovers and focus on defending the Buckeyes’ explosive plays. “It’s going to take a few Ohio State mistakes for Notre Dame to win,” said one defensive coordinator. “But this is a team with confidence and belief—they’re really good.”

If Notre Dame can slow Ohio State down and play their game, they may just pull off the upset.