Bobby Carpenter breaks down keys for Ohio State to beat Notre Dame in national title game

Former Ohio State star linebacker Bobby Carpenter won a national championship during his playing days with the Buckeyes. Friday morning on Get Up, Carpenter outlined what it will take for Ohio State to beat Notre Dame on Monday and bring another national title back to Columbus.

Carpenter was presented the question, “Ohio State will win, if?” To him, everything starts with protecting the football.

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“If they go out there and they don’t turn the football over,” Carpenter said. “You look at Notre Dame and what they’ve been able to do, they’re plus-17 in the turnover margin this year, it’s led to 150 points. They’re able to get after the quarterback, they get after the running back.”

Notre Dame is No. 5 nationally in turnover margin and leads the nation with 32 turnovers forced on the year. As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes are No. 46 nationally in turnover margin, having forced 19 and lost 15 on the season.

Carpenter also pointed to the need for Ohio State to slow down Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard in the run game. Leonard has rushed for 866 yards on the season and 145 yards across three College Football Playoff games.

“And then it goes to the quarterback, Riley Leonard,” Carpenter said. “He has been an absolute stud, being able to run the football – 15 first downs, that is the most in the College Football Playoff of any player.”

Finally, Carpenter pointed to Ohio State needing to limit Notre Dame’s big plays. The Fighting Irish haven’t made a ton of explosive plays during the postseason, but the ones that they have made have been timely.

“Lastly, you see these Notre Dame big plays. They’ve been able to make them in big games,” Carpenter said. “And whether it was against Georgia, whether it was against Penn State, they found a way to get those chunk yardage plays and be able to stretch the field and have some success. On special, teams, defense and offense they’ve been able to get it done.”

Ultimately, Carpenter expects Ohio State to come out on top. But he does believe Notre Dame will play the Buckeyes tough and the game will be close throughout. The national championship game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday.