Outside of the College Football Playoff, it doesn’t get much better than the matchup of Ohio State and Notre Dame in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl.
They are two of college football’s most winning programs (Notre Dame at No. 2, Ohio State at No. 4).
Both feature plenty of NFL talent, as Bleacher Report NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller currently has seven players on these two rosters going in the first round of his latest mock draft.
Realistically, the two teams are a combined seven points from making up half of the playoff field.
Despite all the history between the two programs, it’s a rare sight to see them actually play one another. Even though the two campuses are separated by less than 300 miles, the two schools have only played five times.
It’s been nearly a decade since the two last met. Once again the Fiesta Bowl played host to the two teams in 2006. This time, A.J. Hawk and Brady Quinn won’t be playing, which means we’ll get to enjoy the game without gratuitous shots to a certain split jersey every 30 seconds.
It also means that new stars have stepped into the limelight for both programs. Names like Ezekiel Elliott, J.T. Barrett, Will Fuller and Jaylon Smith have dominated headlines this season.
But those players aren’t the only ones who will have an impact on the game. Here’s a look at a player from each team who will play a pivotal role along with a pick for the game.
Notre Dame: Defensive Tackle Sheldon…
Continue Reading: Fiesta Bowl 2016: Underrated Stars to Watch, Picks in Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
