The National Championship Game is set for Monday night, where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The clash revives a fiery rivalry that gained significant attention during their 2023 matchup in South Bend, a thriller won by Ohio State in dramatic fashion.
However, the drama surrounding that game extended far beyond the field, as tensions flared between Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and legendary former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz.
The source of the friction? Comments made by Holtz ahead of the game, questioning Ohio State’s toughness – a narrative that had emerged after consecutive losses to Michigan.
Holtz’s remarks struck a major nerve with Day, who fired back in a postgame interview, defending his team’s grit and taking aim at the outspoken coach.
“I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is now,” Day told NBC after the game. “What he said about our team, what he said about our team, I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here.
“We’re proud to be from Ohio. And it’s always been Ohio against the world. It’ll continue to be Ohio against the world!”
Holtz, undeterred, doubled down after the game, insisting Notre Dame was the more physical and superior team despite the loss.
“I don’t feel bad about saying it because I believe it,” Holtz later told OutKick’s Dan Dakich. “Notre Dame was the better football team. If I was coaching, I would’ve told my players, ‘Prove him [Day] wrong and prove me right.’”
Now, as the teams prepare to face off in the biggest game of the season, the bad blood between Day and Holtz is back in the spotlight.
Holtz has once again stirred the pot with fresh remarks about his involvement in the upcoming game.
“If Notre Dame doesn’t win, it’s because we want to preserve Ryan Day’s job,” Holtz said. “I was originally going to be at the game in spirit, but now I’ll be dragging my body along as well.”
Holtz has also gone on record predicting a massive Notre Dame win on Monday.
He clearly believes that Ohio State still lacks the necessary toughness to win when the lights are brightest.
“Ohio State has the talent, but Notre Dame has the heart, the culture, and the defense to win this game … Stay patient, run the football, and trust the process … Notre Dame wins a close one—by 3 … Remember, we’re Notre Dame and they ain’t!” Holtz posted on X.
It should be noted that Ohio State will enter the game as heavy favorites. However, as we all know, games aren’t played on paper and they’re not played in sportsbooks.
While the Buckeyes might be the more talented team, talent only takes you so far. That’s exactly the point that Holtz is trying to make.
What are your thoughts on Holtz’s comments?
Do you agree with him that Notre Dame will shock the world and beat the Buckeyes on Monday night???
