Defense wins championships. We’ve all heard this before and it applies in this matchup featuring two of the best defenses in the country. Notre Dame has had their challenges in the playoffs in recent years but that was always in the semifinals of the four-team format and Chip Kelly was the head coach.

The first round of the College Football Playoff was a dud. It doesn't matter if you think they put the wrong teams in or if you blame the format of the tournament and the way it's seeded, there's no arguing the first four games all stunk.