Buckley played 14 seasons with six NFL teams from 1992-2005, winning a ring with the 2001 New England Patriots.

Buckley, 53, was the head coach of the XFL's Orlando Guardians in 2023, finishing with a 1-9 record.

"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Buckley as the new head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University football team," interim athletic director George Ivory said. "He brings a winning mindset, a deep commitment to developing our student-athletes both on and off the field, and a vision that aligns perfectly with our program's values."

Buckley was the No. 5 pick in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers after an All-American career at Florida State.

He recorded 50 interceptions, with six returned for touchdowns, in 209 career games (131 starts) with Green Bay (1992-94), the Miami Dolphins (1995-99, 2003), the Denver Broncos (2000), the Patriots (2001-02), the New York Jets (2004) and the New York Giants (2005). Buckley added four picks in 16 playoff games.

Mississippi Valley State is located in Itta Bena, Miss., and competes in the FCS as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The team's most famous alumni are Hall of Fame members Jerry Rice and Deacon Jones.

The Delta Devils finished 1-11 (1-7 SWAC) during the 2024 season under former coach Kendrick Wade.

"We're going to build a culture of accountability, hard work, and belief -- because winning starts with the standards we set and the mindset we bring every single day," Buckley said.

And not just because the Buckeyes start the 2025 regular season against the Texas Longhorns in a high-profile home opener on Aug. 30 already being dissected around Columbus.

"Try losing the first game and see how that goes at Ohio State. We'll see about that," Day said in Atlanta on Tuesday, his first day as a championship-winning head coach.

"We do have a talented group coming back, so we'll get back and try to figure that out. I don't know if spring practice is going to look like it usually does. I don't know if it can for the amount of games these guys have played. But for the young guys, we've got to get them going, get them indoctrinated into the program and then we'll ramp up soon."

Transfer quarterback Will Howard delayed postgame sleep for the short flight back to Ohio, where a dramatic scene awaited seven weeks removed from a loss to defending champion and archrival Michigan in a stunning upset, 13-10. The national narrative in the afterglow of that defeat flickered somewhere between dim and doom. Fans weren't shy about pointing fingers at Day and in some corners clamored for Urban Meyer to return to rescue the program.

Day reminded players the season wasn't over Nov. 30 when Michigan attempted to plan its flag at Ohio Stadium. After blitzing through the first 12-team College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes (14-2) have a different level of appreciation for the journey they meandered to reach the mountaintop in Georgia on Jan. 20 with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame.

Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon tried to put the entire picture into words Tuesday.

"The humility and the resilience of not only the seniors but just everyone on our team. People deciding to come back for another year when they could have made all the money in the NFL and be first-round picks. They came back for the love of the brotherhood and the appreciation for the culture and all their teammates," he said. "I think that story is about determination, resilience, humility, just thankfulness, faithfulness, just everything good that comes out of a team game and a team sport. I think our team has showed it this year."

Day said he reminded his victorious locker room of the life lessons to be taken from the season that began 10 months ago with spring practice.

"Just waking up this morning, just grateful that we had an opportunity to be with this team and certainly I would say that everything that came with the season and all the hard work was worth it. It was worth it," Day said. "I'm proud of these guys. And again, we'll go down in history and cement themselves as champions.

"We're going to take some time to celebrate, enjoy it, because these guys deserve it."

Brown had entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 9 but announced he would fulfill his commitment to the Buckeyes through their College Football Playoff run, which concluded with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the title game.

He reposted a tweet from the Cal football account on X welcoming him to the program.

Brown is seeking a starting job after backing up Kyle McCord in 2023 and Will Howard this season. Brown, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played in total of 15 games at Ohio State and was a combined 27-of-48 passing for 331 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed 30 times for 37 yards and one TD.

A four-star quarterback in the Class of 2022, Brown was the nation's No. 43 overall prospect and No. 6 quarterback according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Brown heads to Cal, where 2024 starter Fernando Mendoza has transferred to Indiana.

Ohio State is losing Howard, a graduate transfer from Kansas State, as well as Brown and freshman backup Air Noland, who transferred to South Carolina. Julian Sayin, a transfer from Alabama, is entering his redshirt freshman season, while Lincoln Kienholz will be in his third year in the program if he stays. The Buckeyes also have signed five-star Tavien St. Clair.

The Buckeyes (14-2) defeated the Fighting Irish (14-2) on Monday night 34-23 in Atlanta to win the College Football Playoff title game, making history as the first national champion in the 12-team CFP era.

It was the first title for Ohio State since 2014. Notre Dame concluded the season with its highest end-of-season ranking since 1993.

Oregon (13-1) topped the poll for eight straight weeks before losing to Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinal and finished No. 3, followed by CFP semifinalists

Texas (13-3) and Penn State (13-3).

It was the first top five finish for the Nittany Lions in 20 years.

The Big Ten, expanded this season with the addition of four schools, placed three teams in the final top five for the first time ever.

Rounding out the top 10 were No. 6 Georgia (13-3), which was the second seed in the CFP, followed by Arizona State (11-3), Boise State (12-2), Tennessee (10-3) and Indiana (11-2).

The Southeastern Conference finished with seven teams in the Top 25, while the Big Ten had five, and the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 had four each.

The remainder of the AP Top 25 final poll:

11. Ole Miss (10-3)

12. SMU (11-3)

13. BYU (11-2)

14. Clemson (10-4)

15. Iowa State (11-3)

16. Illionis (10-3)

17. Alabama (9-4)

18. Miami (10-3)

19. South Carolina (9-4)

20. Syracuse (10-3)

21. Army (12-2)

22. Missouri (10-3)

23. UNLV (11-3)

24. Memphis (11-2)

25. Colorado (9-4)

The spotlight was all his on Monday night.

Howard built off a record-breaking first half to complete 17 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, lifting the Buckeyes to a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta.

It was after a 56-yard completion to Jeremiah Smith with 2:38 left in the game that reality seemed to set in for Howard, who took some time to showboat a bit by throwing his arms up while running downfield while Ohio State coach Ryan Day jumped for joy on the sideline and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James celebrated from box seats.

Such a moment was always the goal for Howard, a Kansas State transfer who had always dreamed of performing on college football's biggest stage.

"If you were to ask a 19-year-old or 18-year-old Will Howard if he'd be at Ohio State playing in the national championship, I think he'd probably say, ‘You're crazy, man,'" Howard said earlier this week.

Now, Howard is a champion, and teammates think that this is just the beginning for the 23-year-old.

"Just the type of quarterback he is, in my eyes he's a first-round draft pick," Smith said. "Will's just a great leader -- on and off the field."

Howard made CFP championship game history by completing his first 13 passes on Monday, and he was 14-for-15 passing for 144 yards and two TDs before the break. Ohio State scored a touchdown on all three of its drives in the first 30 minutes of action to build a commanding 21-7 lead by intermission.

The Fighting Irish rallied but couldn't find a way to get past Howard and the Buckeyes, with the Ohio State signal-caller being named Offensive MVP following the game.

"They've changed my life in more ways than I can say, man," Howard told ESPN, referring to the impact that Day and his new teammates have had on him. "Coach Day and these guys here have completely, completely changed my life. ... I can't believe God gave me the chance to be a Buckeye."

The Buckeyes (14-2) led 31-7 in the third quarter before Notre Dame (14-2) rallied on TD receptions of 34 and 30 by Jaden Greathouse and a pair of two-point conversions to make it 31-23 with 4:15 left in the game.

An Ohio State third-and-11 pass reception of 56 yards to Jeremiah Smith put the ball at the Notre Dame 10 with 2:29 to go, and Jayden Fielding made a clinching 33-yard field goal with 26 seconds left.

Howard was 17 of 21 for 231 yards and two touchdowns, Smith had five catches for 88 yards and a score, and Judkins rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries.

Ohio State completed a four-game romp through the first 12-team CFP bracket, winning each of its playoff contests by a multi-score margin. The postseason blitz followed a regular-season-ending loss to rival Michigan that led to questions about the job stability of Buckeyes coach Ryan Day.

After recording both a receiving touchdown and a rushing TD in the first half, Judkins ran for 70 yards to the Irish 5 on the second play of the third quarter, the longest run in CFP final history. He then carried it in from the 1 three plays later to make 28-7.

The lead expanded to 31-7 on a 46-yard field goal by Fielding after a Notre Dame fake punt failed.

The Fighting Irish pulled within 31-15 with 3:03 left in the third on a 34-yard reception by Greathouse of a pass from Riley Leonard and a two-point-conversion pass from Leonard to Jeremiyah Love.

The Buckeyes fell behind for the first time in four playoff games when Notre Dame scored on the opening possession, but the Buckeyes responded by scoring on all three of their first-half drives for a 21-7 lead at the break.

Howard set a CFP championship-game record by completing his first 13 passes for 138 yards and was 14 of 15 for 144 and two TDs in the first half.

Leonard capped an 18-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard run on Notre Dame's first drive. He had nine carries for 34 yards in the series.

Ohio State then had scoring drives of 75, 76 and 80 yards using a combined 33 plays and 16:37 of possession.

Leonard wound up 20 of 29 for 255 yards, and Greathouse made six catches for 128 yards and the two scores.

The Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame 34-23 on Monday night and are already the +450 favorites at DraftKings to repeat the feat.

Texas, which lost to Ohio State in this season's semifinals, has the second shortest odds at +500, followed by Georgia at +550 and Oregon at +750. Of note is that each of the top four early favorites will be starting new quarterbacks in 2025.

The top six spots are all filled with Big 10 and SEC programs, including Penn State and returning quarterback Drew Allar at +900 for fifth on the list. Alabama is sixth at +1200. Independent Notre Dame has been installed with the seventh-shortest odds at +1600.

FanDuel opened with the same top five: Ohio State (+450), Texas (+650), Oregon (+650), Georgia (+700) and Penn State (+850).

Clemson has the shortest odds among ACC schools at DraftKings at +2000 ahead of Miami at +2500. Kansas State and Arizona State lead the way for the Big 12, albeit at longshot odds with both at +9000.

The first non-Power 4/independent team on the list is the Mountain West's Boise State. The Broncos have been installed at +20000 following their run to this year's quarterfinals.

Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes have to replace Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The Buffs have been installed with +10000 odds -- the same as North Carolina with new coach Bill Belichick.

CFP 2024-25 TITLE ODDS*

Ohio State (+450)

Texas (+500)

Georgia (+550)

Oregon (+750)

Penn State (+900)

Alabama (+1200)

Notre Dame (+1600)

LSU (+2000)

Clemson (+2000)

Tennessee (+2000)

Miami, Fla. (+2500)

Ole Miss (+2500)

Michigan (+3000)

Texas A&M (+3500)

South Carolina (+4000)

Florida (+6000)

Southern Cal (+7000)

Oklahoma (+7000)

Auburn (+8000)

SMU (+8000)

Kansas State (+9000)

Arizona State (+9000)

Louisville (+10000)

North Carolina (+10000)

*DraftKings

In the previous four-team format, neither the No. 7 seed Fighting Irish (14-1) nor the eighth-seeded Buckeyes (13-2) would have made the CFP. Now, two of the most storied programs in college football history will battle it out for the title in Atlanta.

ODDS AND TRENDS

The Buckeyes are consensus 9.0-point favorites across regulated sportsbooks. The line on Monday was sitting at 9.5 at BetRivers, where the public has been split -- backing Ohio State with 51 percent of the total spread-line bets but Notre Dame with 53 percent of the money.

However, it's clear the public is expecting the Buckeyes to win the game outright, with their -455 moneyline drawing 65 percent of the bets and 53 percent of the money.

Meanwhile, BetMGM has seen the line shift from 9.5 to 8.5, leading to Ohio State commanding 55 percent of the spread-line bets and 64 percent of their money. The public has been split equally in the moneyline, backing the Buckeyes (-400) and Fighting Irish (+310) equally in terms of money wagered.

"If you include the futures market, we'll be fine with either team taking home the trophy but Notre Dame moneyline betting will surely become an overall negative result by kickoff," BetMGM senior sportsbook trader Michael Ranftle said.

One thing that has not been split is the total points line market.

Sitting at 45.0 at BetRivers, the Over has been backed by 76 percent of the money. The market has held steady at 45.5 at BetMGM, where the Over has drawn 74 percent of the money.

PROP PICKS

--Buckeyes QB Will Howard Over 225.0 Passing Yards (-205 at DraftKings): The speed of Notre Dame's defense has been one of the storylines throughout this year's CFP. So, too, has been the growth of Howard in Ohio State's offense. He has averaged 306.3 passing yards through three CFP games, leading to this being the most popular player prop at the book.

--Fighting Irish RB Jeremiyah Love Under 42.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at BetMGM): Love leads Notre Dame with 1,122 rushing yards this season, but Notre Dame's offense has fallen largely on the hands and legs of quarterback Riley Leonard of late. Love rushed for a combined 65 yards on just 17 carries in the past two games while dealing with a knee injury.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Texas limited explosive Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to one catch for 3 yards in the semifinals after he racked up 13 receptions for 290 yards and four touchdowns in the Buckeyes' first two playoff wins over Tennessee and Oregon.

Texas put as many as three defenders around Smith to keep him in check, but Ohio State prevailed 28-14 at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 at Arlington, Texas.

Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly gave no indication that Smith was rattled by his unusually quiet game. Instead, it seems like he is focused on helping Ohio State win its first national title in 10 years.

"He's always a forward-looking guy; what's next, what's the next challenge and what do we get to do?" Kelly said.

Smith's 1,227 receiving yards are the seventh-most in the nation, but Notre Dame has a star freshman of its own that could help make life difficult again for the touted receiver on Monday night.

Cornerback Leonard Moore, who was named the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America, has tallied 10 pass breakups and two interceptions for the Fighting Irish.

Moore logged only one tackle in Notre Dame's 27-24 semifinal win over Penn State on Jan. 9 but had two passes defended in a 23-10 quarterfinal victory over Georgia one week earlier.

The Fighting Irish pride themselves on playing man coverage, and Moore made it clear that will remain the case on Monday.

"A lot of teams have gone to a zone mindset when playing them," he said. "I think Penn State played a decent amount of man because that's their identity. Going into this game, we're not going to change who we are. We're going to play man coverage like we do every week."

Smith's slow night against Texas allowed Ohio State's other weapons to contribute. Carnell Tate had seven catches for 87 yards and running back TreVeyon Henderson took a screen pass 75 yards for a score.

"They came out and bracketed (Smith) and everyone else had to win and do their job. That's exactly what we did," Tate said. "When (Smith) does his job, it opens it up for us. When we do our job, it opens it up for (Smith)."

Tate is regarded as the Buckeyes' third-best receiver behind Smith (14 touchdowns on 71 receptions) and Emeka Egbuka (75 receptions, 947 yards, 10 touchdowns).

"You're not going to be able to stop their receivers totally," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. "They're a talented bunch. So, we'll come up with a plan and be able to adapt and adjust based off what's going on in the game."

THE NEWS

Freeman's squad will also have to deal with Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, who has completed 73.9 percent of his passes (65 of 88) for 919 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions in the Buckeyes' three playoff games.

The Fighting Irish secured their three-point win at the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Mitch Jeter's 41-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining. That the field goal came after a Notre Dame interception was not surprising.

The Fighting Irish have plucked 19 picks this season, the fifth-most in FBS. They also rank second in pass defense (165.3 yards per game) and scoring defense (14.3 points allowed per game).

The team above them in the latter two categories? Ohio State.

The Buckeyes allow just 251.1 total yards and 12.2 points per game and present the ultimate test to a Notre Dame offense led by quarterback Riley Leonard.

The Duke transfer hasn't had an explosive playoff like Howard, completing 67.1 percent of his throws (53 of 79) for 514 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, but Leonard can extend plays with his legs. He has added 145 rushing yards and two scores on 43 carries during the playoffs.

Leonard has 866 rushing yards on the season.

INJURY REPORT

The Fighting Irish's line may be a bit more fragile without left tackle Anthonie Knapp, who will miss the championship due to a high-ankle sprain sustained during the Penn State game. Tosh Baker is expected to replace Knapp and make his first start of the season.

Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke, who did not play in the second half against Texas because of an upper-body injury, should be good for Monday, according to defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

PREDICTION

The Buckeyes boast arguably the nation's most dominating defensive line. Notre Dame will struggle in the trenches offensively, especially minus Knapp. That will make for tough sledding for four quarters, with the Buckeyes steadily pulling away in the second half while controlling time of possession and field position.

--Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 19

There were no major decisions made when the FBS conference commissioners and university presidents convened in Atlanta on Sunday, one day before the national championship game between No. 7 seed Notre Dame and No. 8 seed Ohio State.

But CFP executive director Rich Clark told reporters that "it's possible" for tweaks to be made to the playoff format before next season, though such changes would need to happen "very soon."

"I would say it's possible, but I don't know if it's going to happen or not," Clark said. "There's probably some things that could happen in short order that might be tweaks to the 2025 season, but we haven't determined that yet."

Changes previously needed unanimous approval, but when a new contract kicks in in 2026, that will no longer be the case and the governance structure will favor the two top football leagues, the SEC and the Big Ten.

This year, the field expanded from four to 12, the five highest-ranked conference champions received automatic bids and the four highest-ranked champs were given seeds Nos. 1-4 and first-round byes. The latter piece drew criticism after No. 3 seed Boise State and No. 4 seed Arizona State, representing the Mountain West and Big 12, went one-and-done.

Potential changes in the future may include updating the seeding process or expanding the field yet again.

Clark told reporters that the decision-makers will consider "everything across the board" going forward.

"We're going to tee them up so that they could really have a thorough look at the playoff looking back after this championship game is done ... and then look back and figure out what is it that we need," he said.

The No. 7 seeded Fighting Irish point to cornerback Leonard Moore, named last week the defensive freshman of the year by the Football Writers Association of America, who will go against the No. 8 Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith. With 71 catches for 1,227 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season, Smith was a surprising snub for the award on the offensive side.

But head coaches Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame and Ryan Day of Ohio State said on Sunday that the success of both teams is due to the veterans in the program.

Day can cite defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau and running back TreVeyon Henderson among the dozen seniors or graduate students who opted not to enter the NFL draft for an opportunity to win a championship.

The benefits are many.

"I think just maturity, physical maturity to be able to withstand the length of the season, mental maturity to be able to wipe the slate clean on a week-to-week basis and start a new game plan," Day said. "And then just the emotional maturity of handling the ups and downs, and certainly we know we've had a few of those this year, and being able to steady the boat and get back to work and learn from those and rally the troops. And I think it's a great example for our young players."

Freeman relies on his veteran group for leadership, a group that includes offensive lineman Pat Coogan, tight end Mitchell Evans, quarterback Riley Leonard, defensive lineman Howard Cross III and All-American safety Xavier Watts.

"I think young people want to be valued, and that's important," Freeman said. "So, I think you've also got to show them stories of examples of guys that have stayed the course and have turned into great football players.

"You look at a guy like Xavier Watts that redshirted and moved to wideout his first year and moved to DB his second year and played very little, and then his first year starting was just okay and his fourth year he wins the Bronko Nagurski award (2023 best defensive player)."

--A nod to history

That the game is on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is significant for Freeman, the first Black and Asian American to be the head coach of a team in the FBS national championship. His father is Black and his mother is Korean.

"What I don't want to do is lump the national championship game with what Dr. King has done for our country," he said. "January 20th, MLK Day, is about celebrating the life of Dr. King and the impact he's made on our country. None of that light should be taken away by this national championship game.

"As far as me being the first Black or Asian head coach to be in this game, again, I am grateful. I am so grateful to help represent a lot of guys, especially our players and coaches that look like me. But I'm going to make sure the attention is turned on the team because I'm not in this position without the team and without the other coaches getting the job done."

--Day dreaming

It's been well documented that some Ohio State fans have been vocal in their contempt for Day after a fourth straight loss to Michigan on Nov. 30. A championship might quiet some, but not all, of his critics. The players have rallied around their coach.

"Yeah, we'd love to win this for him," left tackle Donovan Jackson said. "He's the ultimate competitor. He wants to win games more than anyone else in the building. The stuff he and his family has gone through is ridiculous, in our opinion.

"We understand the magnitude of the games we play, but some of the stuff he goes through, I don't quite understand. We're here now trying to win a game, not just for him, but for everybody related to the program in the state of Ohio."

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith added: "To win this national championship with Coach Day would mean a lot. You see everything he's been through this year, people saying he should be fired, this and that. ...

"I wasn't here when he first got the head coaching job, but I know this year for sure we've definitely got to win this for him."

--Fan conversion?

Evans has added reason to be excited about the game.

"Obviously, just playing a Natty itself is a pretty surreal experience," he said. "But playing Ohio State, the state that I'm from, it's kind of like a full-circle moment."

He's from Wadsworth in northeastern Ohio but he wasn't a Buckeye fan despite his surroundings.

"Everywhere you go, you're going to see an Ohio State flag in somebody's front lawn. Go into restaurants, there's memorabilia, whether it's a jersey, shoes, you name it, something in there of Ohio State," Evans said. "So hopefully, I'm trying to turn that tide, put some Notre Dame stuff in people's places.

"Some people text me, say, ‘I'm rooting for you but rooting for Ohio State.' It's one of those type of feelings. Yeah, I'm pretty much deep in Ohio State country where I'm from."

--Third time the charm?

Why Notre Dame will win: Freeman is in his third season as head coach of the Fighting Irish. Frank Leahy (1943), Ara Parseghian (1966), Dan Devine (1977) and Lou Holtz (1988) all won their first national championships in their third season. Also in their third year, Knute Rockne went 9-0 in 1920 and Brian Kelly was 12-1 in 2012 but lost to Alabama in the BCS title game.

Why Ohio State will win: Since losing the first two games vs. Notre Dame in 1935 and 1936, the Buckeyes have won the past six in the series (1995, 1996, 2006, 2016, 2022 and 2023), including the previous two games on a neutral field at the Fiesta Bowl in 2006 and 2016.

What the third-year coach, who turned 39 on Jan. 10, didn't want to do Saturday morning at the media availability was to discuss his future, specifically whether he was interested in the Chicago Bears or any other head coaching job in the NFL as some reports had suggested.

"You know how busy we've been preparing for this opportunity," Freeman said. "Here's the reality, that with team success comes individual recognition. To hear that the Bears have interest, it's humbling. It's the NFL.

"I have put zero thought into coaching in the NFL. All my attention has just been on getting this team prepared for every opportunity we have in front of us. Probably not the answer you're looking for, but that's the answer you're going to get."

With that, Freeman moved onto the next question but he made a salient point: People notice success.

That's why defensive coordinators Al Golden of Notre Dame and Ohio State's Jim Knowles were also queried about their plans.

Golden was asked if he wanted to return to the NFL where he was an assistant for the Detroit Lions (2016-19) and the Cincinnati Bengals (2020-21).

"At the end of the day this is not the time or the place," he said. "This is about the kids. There's always time to reflect on all of that after the season."

Knowles, in his third season with the Buckeyes, has been rumored for the defensive coordinator position at Oklahoma.

"Bad Internet. There you go. Just trying to beat Notre Dame," he said. "Notre Dame; that's all I'm focused on. These things happen, I guess, when you have success, players are making plays. My job is to put them in the best position. These things come up when you do well."

--Got his back

Golden said Saturday he doesn't appreciate the vitriol Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has received after a fourth straight loss to Michigan on Nov. 30.

Day, who was the wide receivers coach at Temple when Golden was the head coach in 2006, has a 69-10 record since replacing Urban Meyer in 2019 but some fans called for his firing in the wake of the Michigan game.

"I couldn't be more happy for anybody because of his work ethic and what he's become," Golden said. "All the critics, at the end of the day what is he? He's a great coach. He's a tremendous father. He's a great husband and he's a leader of men. So, I'm happy for him. I really am."

--Do it again?

Ohio State won the inaugural College Football Playoff title 10 years ago, beating Alabama in the semifinal and Oregon in the championship game on Jan. 12, 2015. The Buckeyes cruised to a 42-20 win over the Ducks.

This season marked the first time the CFP expanded to 12 teams and the Buckeyes once again are in the hunt.

"I think our university did a great job of making history and I don't think it's any coincidence that they were the first team to win that one and I don't think it'll be a coincidence if we handle business on Monday," wide receiver Emeka Egbuka said. "If you look in the eyes of my teammates, we're all laser focused and we are here for one goal, to win the game on Monday.

"We have an amazing opportunity with this being the first 12-team playoff, and just showing how a team can battle back from adversity that maybe they faced earlier in the year."

--Battlelines drawn

Ohio State standout receiver Jeremiah Smith expects a big game Monday since being limited to a catch for 3 yards by Texas in the semifinal after a combined 13 catches, 290 yards and four touchdowns in playoff wins over Tennessee and Oregon.

"You watch the film, they doubled, tripled me, dropping into flats, as well, but just being a decoy out there helped us win the game for sure," he said. "I mean, it's pretty frustrating, but I've got to do what's best for the team. I can't be selfish. We've got other guys on the team that can do what I can do."

Notre Dame famously loves man coverage and cornerback Christian Gray said the defensive backs will be ready for Smith.

"We'll play him like every other guy. Really just be violent and just be physical," Gray said. "Whoever we go against, we're not going to change it for them."

Smith issued a warning.

"None of us (Ohio State receivers) think we can be covered," he said. "I mean, we actually talked about this yesterday, as well. If that's what they do, that's what they do. We're just going to go out there, play our game and show the reason not to play man-on-man.

"I'm just ready for the challenge and just getting ready to go out there Monday and put on a show."

Gray didn't take the bait.

"I could just say he's got his opinion, you know," he said. "He just said what he just said. I didn't really see his comment on it, but whatever he says is his own opinion."

Per ESPN's report, the deal tacks on another year to Sarkisian's existing contract and ensures he will be among college football's highest-paid coaches.

The Action Network was first to report on the contract agreement and also reported that the Longhorns coach declined to interview for an NFL job.

Sarkisian, 50, guided Texas to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where the Longhorns fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.

In their first season in the SEC, the Longhorns lost the conference title game to Georgia then won two CFP playoff games before they were eliminated.

In four seasons at Texas, Sarkisian is 38-17, including a Big 12 title win in 2023. Including stops at Washington (2009-13) and USC (2014-15), he is 84-52 as a head coach.

Sarkisian served as Alabama's offensive coordinator under Nick Saban in 2016 and has NFL coaching experience on the staffs of the then-Oakland Raiders (2004) and the Atlanta Falcons (2017-18).

Clark said FBS commissioners will discuss the idea of potentially playing quarterfinal games at campus sites when the CFP Board of Managers gathers Sunday for its first official meeting since this season's 12-team playoff began.

"We'll talk about it for sure," Clark said. "The campus games were amazing. That atmosphere, and what went on there, and certainly a lot of people are very interested. But the quarterfinals and the semifinals were amazing, too."

The expanded playoff format debuted this season with four first-round games on campus sites.

Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State each hosted a game and drew praise from fans, media members and coaches for the festive and electric atmosphere each contest delivered.

Those games gave way to the more traditional settings for the playoff, with the quarterfinals and semifinals taking place at New Year's Six bowl sites. The Fiesta, Rose, Peach and Sugar Bowls hosted the quarterfinals, while the semifinals were played at the Orange and Cotton Bowls.

The New Year's Six bowl sites exclusively hosted playoff games from 2014-23, and they remain under contract to host playoff games through the 2025-26 season.

However, Clark did not indicate whether another contract for 2026 and beyond is in the works, according to a report by Front Office Sports.

As for now, Clark is unsure how far the conversation about swapping New Year's Six bowls for campus sites will go on Sunday.

"I don't know what the appetite is amongst the commissioners, necessarily," he said.

Ryan, 62, spent 24 of his 35 years of coaching in the NFL. He most recently served as a senior defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-24.

"Rob Ryan is one of the most accomplished defensive coaches in NFL history," USC head coach Lincoln Riley said. "With over two decades of NFL experience, he will immediately bolster our staff as we continue our climb here at USC. He has coached some of the NFL's top players, including numerous Hall of Famers and All-Pro selections. We're thrilled to welcome Coach Ryan and his family to our program."

The son of Buddy Ryan and twin brother of Rex, Rob Ryan last coached in college in 1999 while serving as the defensive coordinator with Oklahoma State.

He replaces Matt Entz, who was the Trojans' assistant head coach for defense and linebackers last season. Entz was hired as Fresno State's head coach last month.

Wisconsin said revealing the requested documents, even with information redacted, would "jeopardize the competitive position of the university" and is "detrimental to the public interest," per Sportico.

The digital content company made a records request to view all "written agreements" between athletes and the university since the start of 2024.

"In the ultra-competitive landscape of Division I intercollegiate athletics, your request would force disclosure of information that allows the university to be competitive in the Big Ten Conference and at the national level," said the emailed statement from Wisconsin's public records custodian, per Sportico.

"The public has an interest in a strong and self-sustaining university system. The success of teams within the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics ensures the viability of all athletic programs, supports both the reputation and financial standing of the university as a whole, and is an economic driver for the city of Madison and state of Wisconsin."

Wisconsin cited in part student privacy laws when denying the request, saying, "the information sought is relevant to current and future negotiations with student athletes and recruits."

The university argued that releasing the information would put them at an "especially stark" disadvantage when trying to compete for athletes with other Big Ten schools, including private schools like Northwestern and USC as well as schools like Penn State which have "less stringent" requirements regarding open records, making them more attractive to potential athletes.

Although many states exclude NIL agreements from being subject to open records law, Wisconsin has not yet adopted any NIL legislation. A proposed state assembly bill failed to pass in 2024.

Sportico did not specifically request the records of defensive back Xavier Lucas, who made an unprecedented move by enrolling at Miami earlier this week without ever entering the transfer portal -- and despite having recently signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Wisconsin.

Wisconsin reportedly refused to put Lucas' name in the portal despite an NCAA rule requiring schools to enter a player into the portal within two business days of their request.

By not signing with Miami, Lucas seems to have avoided violating any NCAA rules for now, but if he intends to play for the Hurricanes, Wisconsin is expected to block the move in court.

Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas enrolled at Miami earlier this week but did so without ever entering the transfer portal -- and despite having recently signed a revenue-sharing agreement with Wisconsin.

Lucas announced he was entering the transfer portal in a since-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) on Dec. 19. But Wisconsin refused to put his name in the portal despite an NCAA rule requiring schools to enter a player into the portal within two business days of their request.

Adding to the situation, the true freshman and Wisconsin entered into a two-year revenue-sharing agreement during the season. That deal gave the university non-exclusive rights to player's name, image and likeness -- preventing another school from using the player's NIL rights for the length of the agreement, according to Yahoo Sports.

Unable to talk to other schools because he was not in the portal, Lucas withdrew from classes at Wisconsin and enrolled as a student at Miami, but without formally signing with the Hurricanes.

Darren Heitner, an attorney representing Lucas, told Yahoo that his client requested a transfer after learning his father is suffering from a "serious, life-threatening illness," But, according to Heitner, Wisconsin refused to comply with Lucas' request and instead tried to convince him to remain with Wisconsin.

Lucas is from Pompano Beach, Fla., and played at nearby American Heritage High School.

By not signing with Miami, Lucas seems to have avoided violating any NCAA rules for now.

"NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately," an NCAA spokesperson told Yahoo! in response to Lucas' decision.

But if Lucas intends on playing for the Hurricanes, it is expected that Wisconsin will try to block the move in court.

What's more, a settlement reached in 2024 establishing many of the rules for revenue sharing has yet to be approved. Lucas' move could impact those proceedings, as well.

Lucas made 12 tackles and had one interception in 11 games with the Badgers this season.

The pair roomed at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La., last summer and will be leading their respective teams in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday.

They talked at the camp about their transfers -- Howard from Kansas State and Leonard from Duke -- without projecting too far into the future.

"We probably wouldn't have imagined that a couple of months later, here we are playing for the national championship for two new schools," Howard said. "He's a great guy, somebody I have a lot of respect for."

Leonard pointed out that he and Howard "weren't really the big names" at the camp.

"We were just two dudes hustling, trying to compete and make a name of ourselves," he said. "It's really cool to have those late-night conversations with him about life and whatever and see where we are now."

They initially met at the camp in 2023 and now will be forever linked in the first title game since the field was expanded to 12 teams.

Howard completed 292 of his 402 passes (72.6 percent) for 3,779 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. Leonard went 247 of 372 (66.4 percent) with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions but has the edge in rushing.

Leonard has carried the ball 167 times for 866 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Howard has had 89 rushes for 169 yards and seven touchdowns. Howard did convert a critical fourth-and-2 run for 18 yards to keep the go-ahead drive alive against Texas in the CFP semifinal on Jan. 10.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day has a lot of respect for the Notre Dame QB.

"I think Riley Leonard is a tremendous leader and a tremendous player and a winner," Day said.

--Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman doesn't shy away from ties to Ohio State, but he doesn't dwell on them either.

Freeman was a linebacker for the Buckeyes from 2004-08 for head coach Jim Tressel. He played for four Big Ten championships teams and was on the losing side in national championship games vs. Florida in 2006 and LSU in 2007. He also spent a graduate assistant year there in 2010.

He made it clear this is not the time for reminiscing as he prepares for the game.

"This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school," Freeman said.

Freeman was a college teammate of Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis, who was also a graduate assistant for Notre Dame in 2022.

"He was in my wedding and I was in his wedding," Freeman said. "We've got a lot of great moments and probably some that I won't share on this press conference, but he's a great friend."

--The favored Buckeyes are a win away from redemption after an inexplicable 13-10 loss to three-touchdown underdog Michigan in the regular-season finale on Nov. 30.

A fourth straight loss to the bitter rivals had fans calling for Day's firing, and critics suggested the Buckeyes would be one-and-done in the postseason in the aftermath of the debacle.

But blowout wins over Tennessee (42-17) and Oregon (41-21) and a 28-14 win over Texas in the semifinal put the Buckeyes a victory away from completing their redemption.

"We've come all this way, but it means really nothing if we don't finish it the right way and win this last one," Howard said.

The Fighting Irish would rather not be a footnote to history.

"They've got a ton of athletes everywhere," Notre Dame linebacker Joshua Burnham said. "They've got a good offensive line. They've battled through some injuries. But so have we. It's just going to be a game that comes down to grit and who wants it."

The Sun Belt Conference issued the school a $100,000 fine for not participating in the Dec. 28 contest, which Marshall said was due to a loss of more than 25 players to the transfer portal.

The exodus was in part due to the departure of head coach Charles Huff, who took the head coaching job at Southern Miss after the Thundering Herd won the Sun Belt title with a 31-3 win over Louisiana.

In a statement released Friday, the conference expressed some understanding of Marshall's decision but ultimately called the move "detrimental" to the Sun Belt and others affected by the decision.

"While the conference acknowledges the medical model and best practice guidance adhered to by Marshall, as well as their fundamental concern for the health and safety of the remaining eligible student-athletes to compete in a safe and viable manner," the statement said, "the nature and timing of this decision was detrimental to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership, to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN."

The Independence Bowl went on with Louisiana Tech replacing Marshall based on the NCAA's APR score. Army knocked off the Bulldogs 27-6 to complete a 12-2 season.

Marshall ended its season with a 10-3 record.

According to CBS Sports, new head coach Bill Belichick is operating in his role in every expected capacity but hasn't signed the contract he agreed to when athletic director Bubba Cunningham named him Tar Heels coach.

UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi claimed in an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the published story is part of a personal vendetta, and reiterated Belichick is at North Carolina to stay.

"The (story) that keeps going on is being generated by someone who doesn't like our program, doesn't like me or Coach Belichick, and refuses to allow it to go. (Bill) Parcells used to say all the time, quit kicking the horse that's already dead. They keep kicking something that doesn't exist," Lombardi told the McAfee on Thursday. "It's clicks for their website, which is wonderful and then they take shots at us as individuals. Somebody has to stand up for our program.

"Everyone says, 'Well, why isn't Bill speaking out?' Bill doesn't speak out. That's what I'm supposed to do as the general manager is to let people know what's going on with our program. He's not going anywhere. ... Coach Belichick is where he wants to be. ... He's in Washington D.C., in spite of all the stories trying to say that he's not working, his contract, and all that. He's on the road recruiting. He'll be in Baltimore tomorrow. We're trying to get some players to become Tar Heels."

The contract, which includes a buyout of $10 million if Belichick were to terminate his employment by June 1, 2025, was considered a hurdle for the seven total NFL teams who had head-coaching vacancies. Of course, Belichick was not considered a candidate to return to the New England Patriots, the only position that has been filled since the season ended.

Six other NFL teams could request an interview with Belichick, who was viewed as a candidate for the opening in Dallas created earlier this week when contract talks fell apart between owner Jerry Jones and coach Mike McCarthy.

CBS Sports reported Belichick and UNC's vice chancellor for finance and operations Nate Knuffman signed a term sheet on Dec. 11. The four-page document states it is not a binding agreement.

It's not uncommon for college coaches to work without officially completing the process of signing a binding agreement, especially at state schools. Michigan's Sherrone Moore, who replaced national championship coach Jim Harbaugh a year ago, was a month away from the first game of the 2024 season before he officially signed a contract.

That involves the No. 7 seed Fighting Irish (14-1) trying to shut down Ohio State star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, which Texas did in the semifinals.

The Longhorns limited Smith to one catch for 3 yards after he racked up 13 receptions for 290 yards and four touchdowns in the Buckeyes' first two playoff wins over Tennessee and Oregon.

Texas put as many as three defenders around Smith to keep him in check, but eighth-seeded Ohio State (13-2) prevailed 28-14 at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 at Arlington, Texas.

Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly gave no indication that Smith was rattled by his unusually quiet game. Instead, it seems like he's is focused on helping Ohio State win its first national title in 10 years.

"He's always a forward-looking guy; what's next, what's the next challenge and what do we get to do?" Kelly said.

Smith's 1,227 receiving yards this season are the seventh-most in the nation, but Notre Dame has a star freshman of its own that could help make life difficult again for the touted receiver on Monday night.

Cornerback Leonard Moore, who was named the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America, has tallied 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions this season for the Fighting Irish.

Moore logged only one tackle in Notre Dame's 27-24 semifinal win over Penn State on Jan. 9 but had two passes defensed in a 23-10 quarterfinal victory over Georgia one week earlier.

The Fighting Irish pride themselves on playing man coverage, and Moore made it clear that will remain the case on Monday.

"A lot of teams have gone to a zone mindset when playing them," he said. "I think Penn State played a decent amount of man because that's their identity. Going into this game, we're not going to change who we are. We're going to play man coverage like we do every week."

Smith's slow night against Texas allowed Ohio State's other weapons to contribute. Carnell Tate had seven catches for 87 yards and running back TreVeyon Henderson went for 75 yards and a score off a screen pass.

"They came out and bracketed (Smith) and everyone else had to win and do their job. That's exactly what we did," Tate said. "When (Smith) does his job, it opens it up for us. When we do our job, it opens it up for (Smith)."

Tate is regarded as the Buckeyes' third-best receiver behind Smith (14 touchdowns on 71 receptions) and Emeka Ebuka (75 receptions, 947 yards, 10 touchdowns).

"You're not going to be able to stop their receivers totally," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. "They're a talented bunch. So, we'll come up with a plan and be able to adapt and adjust based off what's going on in the game."

Freeman's squad will also have to deal with Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, who has completed 73.9 percent of his passes (65 of 88) for 919 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions in the Buckeyes' three playoff games.

The Fighting Irish secured their three-point win at the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Mitch Jeter's 41-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining. That the field goal came after a Notre Dame interception was not surprising.

The Fighting Irish have plucked 19 picks this season, the fifth-most in Division I. They also rank second in pass defense (165.3 yards per game) and scoring defense (14.3 points allowed per game).

The team above them in the latter two categories? Ohio State.

The Buckeyes allow just 251.1 total yards and 12.2 points per game and present the ultimate test to a Notre Dame offense led by quarterback Riley Leonard.

The Duke transfer hasn't had an explosive playoff like Howard, completing 67.1 percent of his throws (53 of 79) for 514 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, but Leonard can extend plays with his legs. He has added 145 rushing yards and two scores on 43 carries during the playoffs.

Leonard's 866 rushing yards on the season are second behind running back Jeremiyah Love (1,122), who has logged just 65 yards on the ground over Notre Dame's last two games.

The Fighting Irish's line may be a bit more fragile without left tackle Anthonie Knapp, who will miss the championship due to a high ankle sprain sustained during the Penn State game. Tosh Baker is expected to replace Knapp and make his first start of the season.

Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke, who did not play in the second half against Texas because of an upper-body injury, should be good for Monday, according to defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Notre Dame has not played for a title since losing the 2013 BCS National Championship to Alabama. Its last title was in 1988.

The Buckeyes are back in the CFP championship game for the first time since losing to Alabama in 2021.