Quarterback Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame offense have faced a fierce gauntlet of defenses in their path to the College Football Playoff title game. The Fighting Irish battled their way through Penn State (No. 7 in total defense), Georgia (No. 30) and Indiana (No. 2). Now, the nation’s top-ranked defense stands in the way of a return to college football’s mountaintop for the first time since 1988. Notre Dame (14-1) and Ohio State (13-2) meet Monday night in Atlanta for the 12-team format’s first national championship game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/notre-dame-prepares-for-powerful-ohio-state-defense-in-college-football-national-championship-game-cfp-playoff/531-2e1daa3b-9e03-4846-b23e-2698101caac6