The stage is set for the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, with the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gearing up for a highly anticipated showdown next Monday in Atlanta.
Speaking of Atlanta, it has been revealed that the title game will be officiated by an SEC crew led by referee Steve Marlowe.
Both teams navigated challenging paths to secure their spots in the championship game.
Ohio State rebounded from a nightmare loss to the rival Michigan Wolverines in the regular season finale. Since then, they have defeated the Tennessee Volunteers, Oregon Ducks, and Texas Longhorns in the playoff bracket.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame triumphed over the Indiana Hoosiers, Georgia Bulldogs, and Penn State Nittany Lions, earning their well-deserved place in the final.
The announcement of the officiating crew has drawn attention, as it could play a crucial role in the outcome.
“SEC officials will work Monday’s College Football Playoff national title game b/w Ohio State & Notre Dame. It’s the same crew that worked the Fiesta Bowl b/w Penn State & Boise State,” Brett McMurphy of Action Network posted on X.
The College Football Playoff committee opted for an SEC crew to ensure neutrality, as neither Ohio State nor Notre Dame belong to the conference.
Also, neither of the two teams have dealt with this particular officiating crew at any point this season.
Having said that, fans from both teams are a little concerned that this particular crew may have a negative influence on the game.
Regardless, this SEC crew brings significant experience from officiating high-stakes games within their own conference, which is expected to be an asset in managing the pressure of the championship atmosphere.
For Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, maintaining focus amidst the heightened stakes is key.
“One of the things we’re trying to do this week is eliminate all the distractions,” Day said. “What’s happened in the past doesn’t matter. What’s happening moving forward doesn’t matter. All that matters is winning this game right now, and then we can kind of figure out what that is.”
Meanwhile, Marcus Freeman and his team are taking a similar approach, knowing full-well the golden opportunity they have to make history.
What are your thoughts on the SEC officiating crew that’s been assigned to the game?
Does either fanbase have a reason to worry???
