Brady Quinn believes stopping Ohio State run will be biggest challenge for Notre Dame defense

Brady Quinn knows Notre Dame will have its hands full against Ohio State‘s overloaded talent-rich roster in next Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

It’s why the former Fighting Irish quarterback-turned-FOX Sports analyst knows Notre Dame needs to pick its battles. And for Quinn, that starts with stopping the Buckeyes’ ground game.

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“I think the hardest thing for Notre Dame in this game is going to be stopping the run,” Quinn said on Monday’s Always College Football podcast with Greg McElroy. “Because I go back and watched the tape of Penn State, and they had them, they were running the football at will at times against Notre Dame. And once you start doing that, it becomes a double-edged sword because you kind of force yourself into putting your cornerbacks on islands in order to sell out to stop the run.”

The Buckeyes ground game is powered by a pair of 900-yard rushers in senior TreVeyon Henderson (967 rushing yards) and junior Quinshon Judkins (960 rushing yards), a former Ole Miss transfer, who have combined for 1,927 yards and 22 touchdowns through 15 games this season. The Ohio State backfield tandem have been electric in the Playoff so far, combining on 371 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Henderson also added a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown reception in the Cotton Bowl national semifinal against Texas last week.

“You see how dynamic TreVeyon Henderson is, and you know how good Quinshon Judkins is, … and, by the way, Will Howard is going to play probably as much or more a part of the rushing attack,” Quinn continued. “So, to me, that’s more of the concern. It’s not so much the dynamic playmakers at Ohio State, because I was there last year and … I think by in large the secondary has done a really good job against some of the better receiving corps.

“To me, it’s about stopping the run first. Because if they don’t, and you allow Ohio State and Chip Kelly in particular as the play-caller to kind of pick whatever he wants from that rolodex on his play sheet, then you’re going to be in trouble.”

Paul Finebaum reacts to Notre Dame facing Ohio State in National Championship

Paul Finebaum may have an affinity with the SEC, but he’s excited for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Notre Dame and Ohio State on Jan. 20.

The Buckeyes have been earmarked for the contest from the beginning of the season, while the Fighting Irish had to scratch and claw their way to the finale after falling to Northern Illinois in Week 2. Nevertheless, all the chips will be pushed into the center of the table for both teams next week, and Finebaum can’t wait to see who comes out with the win.

“There’s a slight paradigm shift in college football,” Finebaum stated, regarding Notre Dame and Ohio State making it to the finale, via McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “I think it’s because of all the things that we talk about — the portal, and how easy it is for schools to go out and get players on a moment’s notice. I don’t think you can ever read too much into a snapshot. I understand the narrative. But I think the fact that we have a Big Ten team in there again is certainly very positive for them.

“I do think that Notre Dame managing to come all the way back is one of the most remarkable stories that I have seen in college football, because on the second weekend of the year, when they lost to NIU, I think you had to think this team had no chance of making it to the Playoff, and certainly the final game.”

Steve Samra contributed to this report.