The period following the end of the regular season is incredibly busy for college football coaches, as they navigate the Transfer Portal and high school recruitment. That is only exacerbated for teams like Notre Dame where head coach Marcus Freeman is also taking on the challenge of a deep College Football Playoff run.

Ohio State and Notre Dame bring big brands, with a Midwest mindset, to Monday's national championship game in Atlanta. Not everyone is happy about it.

ATLANTA (AP) — Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was able to keep a team-first approach after having extra defensive attention make him almost invisible in the Buckeyes’ Cotton Bowl win over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Missourians have an added reason to tune into Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship game when (7) Notre Dame takes on (8) Ohio State at 6:30 i

The Buckeyes would be wise to control the running game on offense in their pursuit of college football's ultimate prize

Notre Dame's independent status is the best thing for them and they have no reason to abandon it to join a conference.

Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday in Atlanta. The Buckeyes are seeking their first title since 2014 -- the first year of the expanded four-team CFP -- while Notre Dame is trying to snap a championship drought that dates back to 1988.

Analyzing the key matchups where Notre Dame can capitalize against Ohio State in the CFP National Championship showdown.

Valentina Martinez: The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish are set to face off in the College Football Playoff National Championship. This game is a tale of two defenses, but Ohio State will take home the glory. Ricardo Sandoval: The championship match is as highly profiled as one can be while also being one that no one expected.

ATLANTA -- "Think traditionally, but without traditional thinking." Those were the words of Ross Bjork, the still-new Ohio State athletic director during the Saturday morning media day ahead of Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Here's what Ohio State's Ryan Day and Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman said in their final press conference before the CFP championship.