SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Good luck finding a more intriguing matchup outside of the College Football Playoff than the duel on tap in the desert.
Both No. 8 Notre Dame and No. 7 Ohio State would obviously have preferred to be in the four-team field vying for the national title and have a little more to play for when the new year begins, but the storied programs received a pretty nice consolation gift with a pairing that has both teams motivated to wrap up the year with a victory.
The Irish overcame a spate of injuries and adversity to make the New Year’s Six game, and while the Buckeyes came up a bit short of their goal to defend the championship they won a year ago, they also have plenty to be proud of as 2015 winds down.