Notre Dame’s Plan to Upset Ohio State in the National Championship: Joel Klatt’s Advice
Monday night is the college football playoff national championship: Notre Dame against Ohio State. For the Fighting Irish it is opportunity to do something they have not done in many years— win the tournament outright since 1988.
It, however, is not exactly a roll of the dice for Notre Dame. ESPN BET has given Ohio State a 8- point advantage going into the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. However, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klattisions that nothing is impossible and an upset is more than possible. The Irish just lack a good strategy plan – and sheer determination.
Klatt’s Defensive Game Plan
On his podcast, The Joel Klatt Show, the analyst pointed to a legendary football upset as inspiration: the victory of the New England Patriots over the much-favored St. Louis Rams at the Super Bowl XXXVI. The source is not so much that game for Tom Brady but for what the patriots’ defense did to dismantle the Rams formidable offense. In Klatt’s estimation, Notre Dame’s head coach should follow suit: Marcus Freeman.
“When Notre Dame’s defense goes up against Ohio State offense they have to make it ugly,” Klatt said. “As seen earlier in the year 2000, the Patriots did not allow the Rams to get going. They roughed up the Rams’ receivers, slammed the brakes on the field, and dared the refs to make a call. That is something that Notre Dame has to take and do against Ohio State.”
Everything for the Irish is about beating Ohio State where they are strong—something they haven’t been able to stop all year from opposing teams: the pass. Klatt is daring the Buckeyes to go back to their traditional strength, which Ohio State may not be fully inclined to do.
Keep It Low-Scoring
Indeed, Notre Dame’s offense is not designed for hoping that it could outscore the Buckeyes, and Klatt understands that. He’s expecting the Irish to score no more than 17 points hence, the defense has to deny the offense team to score high.
“As for Notre Dame, the way to victory has been defense,” Klatt tried to sum up our issue. “This definitely has to be a physical game and this one has to be a real fight to the finish. If Ohio State finds its pace, then it would be a very long night for Notre Dame.”
A Glimmer of Hope
Notre Dame is the team that goes into the game as the underdog but there is nothing as huge as the numbers suggest. To bet on the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI was like bet on the favorite since they were the premier and near invincible team with an offense known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Oh yeah, the Patriots about destroyed them and Klatt thinks Notre Dame can do the same thing to Ohio State.
The Bottom Line
To achieve this upset, Notre Dame needs to bring out their ugliest game: smart, disciplined, and physical football. Joel Klatt’s advice boils down to one thing: make it ugly. To beat Ohio State the Irish must take the game away from their comfort zone and engage into the brutal showdown.
It will not be America’s favourite moment but if Notre Dame can find the spirit of an underdog and step up to face the challenge, they might just be able to reclaim the trophy that has eluded them for decades.
The stage is set. Now it is time for the Irish to show that they deserve belonging to the elite of Europe.
