The Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 20 for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. It’s the biggest game on the calendar, with both teams battling to break a national title drought.
However, between injuries and transfer portal entrants there could be several Ohio State and Notre Dame players not playing in the college football national championship game.
Top Ohio State Players Not Playing in College Football National Championship
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Buckeyes might not be in action in the college football national championship game.
- Denzel Burke, DB (probable with injury)
- Seth McLaughlin, OL (injury)
- Josh Simmons, OL (injury)
- Zen Michalski, OT (injury/transfer portal)
- Reis Stocksdale, WR (injury)
- Rashid SeSay, RB (injury)
- Jace Middleton, TE (questionable with injury)
- Nolan Baudo, WR (questionable with injury)
- Jayden Bonsu, S (transfer portal)
- Air Noland, QB (transfer portal)
- Miles Walker, OT (transfer portal)
- Kojo Antwi, WR (transfer portal)
- Jayden Ballard, WR (transfer portal)
- Gabe Powers, LB (transfer portal)
The main headliner on the list of players not playing in the college football national championship game will probably play, according to the latest update from the Buckeyes. Star cornerback Denzel Burke missed the second half of the Cotton Bowl win over the Texas Longhorns, but defensive coordinator Jim Knowles called the injury “minor” and expects that he should be ready for Monday’s game.
Meanwhile, Ohio State has several transfer portal entrants among their players not playing in the college football national championship game. However, most of those are low-level contributors, and backup quarterback Devin Brown remains with the team until the end of their playoff run despite having recently committed to the California Golden Bears. WR Antwi committed to the Colorado State Rams.
Top Notre Dame Players Not Playing in College Football National Championship
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Fighting Irish might not be in action in the college football national championship game.
Notre Dame has dealt with injury blows throughout the 2024 college football season, and their list of players not playing in the national championship game is a testament to their struggle. Chief among them, ahead of the Ohio State game, is the loss of starting left tackle Knapp, who has been ruled out following a “high ankle sprain” suffered during the win over the Penn State Nittany Lions.
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Furthermore, wide receiver Collins, who ties the team for receiving touchdowns and ranks second with 458 receiving yards, is questionable with a calf injury. With the game expected to be a battle in the trenches between two imposing ground games, his loss may not be felt as keenly as that of Knapp.
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