Notre Dame Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes meet in college football action national championship Only one team could be the winner on Monday night.

This will mark the end of the first expanded College Football Playoff. Neither team was favored in the tournament and each team had to fight hard to reach the championship game. It’s sure to be a battle at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but some of each team’s top talent expressed at least one thing in common that brings them together: their faith.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard celebrates with fans in the stands after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs at the Kaiser Superdome in New Orleans. (Amber Sears – Image)

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, Ohio State quarterback Will HowardRunning back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka both spoke about their faith in God in the days leading up to the game.

“I do think things happen for a reason, not just us but Ohio State. I think we’re the two major teams that have been the most vocal about what we believe in,” he told reporters last week. Sports Michiana. “I don’t know if this is some kind of divine teaching, you know, who put us here.

“I really believe Jesus has been taking care of us all (all) this season and putting these two teams on the pedestal for a reason.”

After his team’s upset win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Howard spoke about his faith in God.

“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this opportunity to be on the Rose Bowl stage,” Howard told ESPN. “My younger self would be in awe now.”

Egbuka spoke to Sports Spectrum during the season How does faith affect His performance on the field.

“I would say over the past few years, we’ve kind of had that – a lot of guys on the football team who have restored their faith in Jesus Christ. That was a big thing my freshman year,” the star said Hands told the outlet in November.

Ohio State Buckeyes’ Emeka Egbuka after a second quarter touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio celebrate. (Jason Murray/Getty Images)

Egbuka, a graduate student, recalled his turning point in an interview. He was invited to Mass by his teammates and said it was the first time he felt a true connection to his faith.

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“My life has changed since then. A complete 180 and I have similar testimonials for many of the players on the team. We have been praying for a renaissance like this for our team and we decided to share it with you all What God has done in our football team.”

Egbuka said he chose not to enter the NFL draft last season because he felt a calling “bigger” than football.

henderson told exit In another interview, despite his stellar rookie season, success, and lack of a deal, he turned to his faith after the injury.

“He saved my life from going down that path of destruction. He saved me. He put me on this path of eternal life… You see so many people go down that path of destruction path, but I’m so grateful to Jesus that He rescued me from that path and put me on His path.”

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman resumed pregame masses after taking over in 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman reinstated pregame masses when he took over for Brian Kelly in 2021. He was baptized by the Catholic Church in 2022 and received First Holy Communion in September 2022.

Freeman credits Notre Dame with Encourage student groups Boost their confidence.

“It’s not just in Catholicism. It’s the reality that you have faith and belief in something greater than yourself,” he said.

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On Monday night, each team says a prayer before locking in the final 60 minutes of the season.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj, Chantz Martin and Peter Burke contributed to this report.