Who is the College Football Playoff championship national anthem performer?

Here’s the special guest lineup for Monday’s national championship game.

It’s almost time for Monday’s College Football Playoff championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The game broadcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Before the game, Grammy award-winning artist Coco Jones will perform the national anthem.

“America the Beautiful” will be performed by the Spelman College Glee Club.

Fittingly on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, his daughter Dr. Bernice A. King will participate int he coin toss.

The halftime show will feature a performance by each school’s marching band.

Where will the 2026 College Football Playoff final be held?

Here’s how the College Football Playoff bowls will rotate next season.

In the new 12-team College Football Playoff, the marquee bowls and championship game location will rotate each year across the different rounds of the tournament.

Here’s how the format will work next season:

2025-26 CFP Quarterfinals

The Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas), Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida), Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California), and Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana) will host the quarterfinals.

2025-26 CFP Semifinals

The Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona) and Peach Bowl (Atlanta, Georgia) will host the semifinals.

2026 CFP National Championship game

The 2026 final will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

 

Where is the College Football Playoff championship game?

Here’s where the CFP final will be held on Monday.

The world will be watching the Ohio State Buckeyes play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Monday night in the College Football Playoff national championship game in Atlanta.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium broke ground in May of 2014 and later opened in August of 2017. Since then, it has held the 2018 College Football Playoff title game and Super Bowl LII in 2019.

College Football Playoff championship location

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Capacity: 71,000

CFP final current ticket price: $1,682

Why is the CFP championship game in Atlanta?

Here’s why the College Football Playoff chose Atlanta to host the 2025 title game.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night for the most anticipated game of the season against Ohio State.

But why is the game in Atlanta?

The CFP management committee announced the decision to hold the 2025 title game in Atlanta all the way back in 2022. The stadium, which opened in 2017, also hosted the 2018 title game.

Here’s what executive director of the CFP, Bill Hancock, had to say at the time:

“When the playoff was created, the goal was to move the national championship game to ten different communities in the first ten years of the playoff. After visiting ten different communities during our first ten years of existence, we accomplished our goal of sharing this celebration of college football with the entire country.

Bringing the game back to Atlanta was a simple decision when we looked at everything. One of our greatest title games took place in Atlanta in 2018, and the city could not have been a better host. A state-of-the-art stadium, a walkable downtown with venues to host all the activities surrounding national championship weekend and great people made Atlanta an obvious choice to be the first city to host a second title game.”

Notre Dame’s record since Brian Kelly left for LSU

Here’s how Notre Dame has fared since Brian Kelly left for LSU.

When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame, he explained that part of the reason was that he wanted to be in an “environment” where he had the “resources” to win a national championship.

On Monday night in Atlanta, Notre Dame will be playing for a national title while Kelly is sitting at home.

Kelly’s tenure at LSU hasn’t been a bust, but he has yet to compete in a playoff game with the Tigers – something he did multiple times at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s record since Brian Kelly left

Marcus Freeman took over at Notre Dame in December of 2021, just before the Fighting Irish played in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State. Notre Dame lost that game, but since then Freeman has been undefeated in bowl games entering the 2025 national championship final.

In total, Notre Dame has gone 33-9 under Freeman, with wins in the Gator Bowl, Sun Bowl, and three College Football Playoff games. Over that same period, LSU has gone 29-11 under Kelly, and has never reached the CFP.

Ryan Day salary: How much money does the Ohio State coach make this season?

Here’s how much Ohio State football coach Ryan Day was paid in 2024.

Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes will take the field on Monday night against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game.

There plenty of bonus financial incentive on the line for Day should the Buckeyes win it all.

Ryan Day’s 2024 salary:

Ryan Day received $10,021,250 in total pay from Ohio State in 2024 excluding bonuses.

Day has a max bonus of $1,550,000 in 2024. Day earned $350k in bonuses for reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals, and an additional $150k for beating Texas and advance to the final.

Should the Buckeyes win the national championship, Day would be owed another $500k bonus.

2024-25 Ohio State Buckeyes football roster for national championship game

See the Buckeyes’ full roster for the 2024-25 season

The Ohio State Buckeyes will play for a national championship on Monday night.

After rampaging through three rounds of the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes will meet the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Here’s the Buckeyes’ full roster for the 2024-25 season.

All players are ordered by number, via the Buckeyes’ official site:

No. 0: Graduate LB Cody Simon

6-foot-2, 235 pounds. From Jersey City, New Jersey.

No. 1: Junior CB Davison Igbinosun

6-foot-2, 193 pounds. From Union, New Jersey.

No. 1: Junior RB Quinshon Judkins

6-foot-0, 219 pounds. From Pike Road, Alabama.

No. 2: Sophomore S Caleb Downs

6-foot-0, 205 pounds. From Hoschton, Georgia.

No. 2: Graduate WR Emeka Egbuka

6-foot-1, 205 pounds. From Steilacoom, Washington.

No. 2: Graduate LB Kourt Williams II

6-foot-1, 228 pounds. From Harbor City, California.

No. 3: Sophomore QB Lincoln Kienholz

6-foot-3, 207 pounds. From Pierre, South Dakota.

No. 3: Senior CB Lorenzo Styles Jr.

6-foot-1, 195 pounds. From Pickerington, Ohio.

No. 4: Freshman WR Jeremiah Smith

6-foot-3, 215 pounds. From Miami Gardens, Florida.

No. 5: Freshman WR Mylan Graham

6-foot-1, 185 pounds. From New Haven, Indiana.

No. 5: Freshman CB Aaron Scott Jr.

6-foot-0, 185 pounds. From Springfield, Ohio.

No. 6: Junior LB Sonny Styles

6-foot-4, 235 pounds. From Pickerington, Ohio.

No. 7: Senior CB Jordan Hancock

6-foot-1, 195 pounds. From Suwanee, Georgia.

No. 8: Senior S Lathan Ransom

6-foot-1, 210 pounds. From Tucson, Arizona.

No. 9: Senior WR Jayden Ballard

6-foot-2, 195 pounds. From Massilon, Ohio.

No. 9: Sophomore S Malik Hartford

6-foot-3, 194 pounds. From West Chester, Ohio.

No. 10: Senior CB Denzel Burke

6-foot-1, 193 pounds. From Phoenix, Arizona.

No. 10: Freshman QB Julian Sayin

6-foot-1, 203 pounds. From Carlsbad, California.

No. 11: Junior C.J. Hicks

6-foot-3, 233 pounds. From Dayton, Ohio.

No. 11: Sophomore WR Brandon Inniss

6-foot-0, 203 pounds. From Hollywood, Florida.

No. 12: Freshman QB Air Noland

6-foot-2, 192 pounds. From College Park, Georgia.

No. 12: Freshman CB Bryce West

5-foot-11, 196 pounds. From Cleveland, Ohio.

No. 13: Freshman CB Miles Lockhart

5-foot-9, 193 pounds. From Chandler, Arizona.

No. 13: Sophomore WR Bryson Rodgers

6-foot-2, 185 pounds. From Zephyrhills, Florida.

No. 14: Junior WR Kojo Antwi

6-foot-0, 194 pounds. From Suwanee, Georgia.

No. 15: Sophomore TE Jelani Thurman

6-foot-6, 258 pounds. From Fairburn, Georgia.

No. 16: Junior QB Mason Maggs

6-foot-2, 224 pounds. From Dublin, Ohio.

No. 16: Junior DB Keenan Nelson Jr.

6-foot-1, 185 pounds. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

No. 17: Senior LB Mitchell Melton

6-foot-4, 261 pounds. From Silver Spring, Maryland.

No. 17: Sophomore WR Carnell Tate

6-foot-3, 191 pounds. From Chicago, Illinois.

No. 18: Graduate QB Will Howard

6-foot-4, 235 pounds. From Downington, Pennsylvania.

No. 18: Freshman S Jaylen McClain

6-foot-0, 192 pounds. From Rahway, New Jersey.

No. 19: Freshman P Nick McLarty

6-foot-7, 255 pounds. From Melbourne, Australia.

No. 19: Senior QB Chad Ray

6-foot-2, 215 pounds. From Dublin, Ohio.

No. 20: Freshman RB James Peoples

5-foot-10, 203 pounds. From San Antonio, Texas.

No. 20: Sophomore LB Arvell Reese

6-foot-4, 238 pounds. From Cleveland, Ohio.

No. 21: Sophomore S Jayden Bonsu

6-foot-2, 207 pounds. From Hillside, New Jersey.

No. 22: Sophomore CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt

6-foot-0, 204 pounds. From Waxahachie, Texas.

No. 23: Sophomore WR Nolan Baudo

5-foot-10, 180 pounds. From Chicago, Illinois.

No. 23: Freshman LB Garrett Stover

6-foot-1, 220 pounds. From Sunbury, Ohio.

No. 24: Sophomore CB Jermaine Mathews Jr.

5-foot-11, 189 pounds. From Cincinnati, Ohio.

No. 24: Freshman RB Sam Williams-Dixon

5-foot-11, 203 pounds. From Pickerington, Ohio.

No. 26: Junior RB Chase Brecht

6-foot-0, 205 pounds. From Powell, Ohio.

No. 28: Junior RB TC Caffey

5-foot-10, 215 pounds. From Hubbard, Ohio.

No. 28: Freshman S Leroy Roker III

6-foot-1, 175 pounds. From Fort Myers, Florida.

No. 29: Sophomore DB Glorien Gough

5-foot-11, 175 pounds. From Palos Verdes Estates, California.

No. 30: Freshman RB Rashid SeSay

5-foot-11, 190 pounds. From Zanesville, Ohio.

No. 32: Senior RB TreVeyon Henderson

5-foot-10, 208 pounds. From Hopewell, Virginia.

No. 32: Junior S Brenten “Inky” Jones

6-foot-2, 205 pounds. From Steubenville, Ohio.

No. 33: Junior QB Devin Brown

6-foot-3, 212 pounds. From Gilbert, Arizona.

No. 33: Senior DE Jack Sawyer

6-foot-5, 260 pounds. From Pickerington, Ohio

No. 34: Freshman CB Bukari Miles Jr.

6-foot-2, 190 pounds. From West Chester, Ohio.

No. 34: Sophomore WR Brennan Schramm

6-foot-0, 191 pounds. From Medina, Ohio.

No. 35: Freshman LB Payton Pierce

6-foot-2, 223 pounds. From Lucas, Texas.

No. 35: Junior P Anthony Venneri

6-foot-0, 225 pounds. From Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

No. 36: Junior LB Gabe Powers

6-foot-4, 242 pounds. From Marysville, Ohio.

No. 37: Freshman LB Zach Hayes

6-foot-3, 220 pounds. From LaGrange Park, Illinois.

No. 38: Junior K Jayden Fielding

6-foot-0, 175 pounds. From League City, Texas.

No. 38: Freshman LB Eli Riggs

6-foot-4, 230 pounds. From Cincinnati, Ohio.

No. 39: Senior P Hadi Jawad

5-foot-11, 185 pounds. From Dearborn, Michigan.

No. 39: Graduate LB Joey Velazquez

5-foot-11, 226 pounds. From Columbus, Ohio.

No. 41: Freshman LS Morrow Evans

6-foot-1, 205 pounds. From Bellaire, Texas.

No. 42: Sophomore P Joe McGuire

6-foot-2, 212 pounds. From Melbourne, Australia.

No. 43: Senior LS John Ferlmann

6-foot-3, 228 pounds. From Phoenix, Arizona.

No. 43: Junior CB Diante Griffin

5-foot-9, 185 pounds. From Lima, Ohio.

No. 44: Senior DE JT Tuimoloau

6-foot-5, 269 pounds. From Edgewood, Washington.

No. 46: Senior TE Jace Middleton

6-foor-4, 235 pounds. From Lewis Center, Ohio.

No. 46: Sophomore S Ryan Rudzinski

6-foot-4, 213 pounds. From Columbus, Ohio.

No. 48: Senior LS Max Lomonico

6-foot-3, 212 pounds. From Pickerington, Ohio.

No. 49: Senior TE Patrick Gurd

6-foot-4, 249 pounds. From New Albany, Ohio.

No. 50: Sophomore LB Alec DelSignore

6-foot-1, 225 pounds. From Youngstown, Ohio.

No. 51: Sophomore OL Luke Montgomery

6-foot-5, 308 pounds. From Findlay, Ohio.

No. 52: Sophomore DE Joshua Mickens

6-foot-3, 233 pounds. From Indianapolis, Indiana.

No. 53: Sophomore DL Will Smith Jr.

6-foot-4, 288 pounds. From Dublin, Ohio.

No. 54: Senior OL Toby Wilson

6-foot-2, 298 pounds. From Lewis Center, Ohio.

No. 55: Freshman DE Dominic Kirks

6-foot-4, 255 pounds. From Painesville, Ohio

No. 56: Graduate OL Seth McLaughlin

6-foot-4, 305 pounds. From Buford, Georgia.

No. 57: Senior LB Jalen Pace

6-foot-0, 232 pounds. From St. Louis, Missouri.

No. 58: Senior DT Ty Hamilton

6-foot-3, 295 pounds. From Pickerington, Ohio.

No. 58: Freshman OL Gabe VanSickle

6-foot-5, 285 pounds. From Coopersville, Michigan.

No. 59: Freshman DL Ahmed Tounkara

6-foot-1, 260 pounds. From Dublin, Ohio.

No. 60: Senior DL Cade Casto

6-foot-1, 268 pounds. From Strongsville, Ohio.

No. 62: Sophomore OL Joshua Padilla

6-foot-4, 295 pounds. From Huber Heights, Ohio.

No. 62: Senior DL Bryce Prater

From West Lafayette, Ohio.

No. 63: Junior OL Julian Goines-Jackson

6-foot-1, 315 pounds. From Zanesville, Ohio.

No. 64: Freshman OL Simon Lorentz

6-foot-3, 280 pounds. From Dover, Ohio.

No. 65: Senior OL Zen Michalski

6-foot-6, 319 pounds. From Floyds Knobs, Indiana.

No. 66: Freshman LB Nate Riegle

6-foot-3, 210 pounds. From Findlay, Ohio.

No. 67: Sophomore Austin Siereveld

6-foot-5, 320 pounds. From Liberty Township, Ohio

No. 68: Junior OL George Fitzpatrick

6-foot-6, 313 pounds. From Englewood, Colorado

No. 69: Freshman OL Ian Moore

6-foot-6, 309 pounds. From New Palestine, Indiana.

No. 70: Senior OL Josh Fryar

6-foot-5, 320 pounds. From Beech Grove, Indiana.

No. 71: Senior OL Josh Simmons

6-foot-5, 310 pounds. From San Diego, California.

No. 72: Freshman OL Deontae Armstrong

6-foot-6, 298 pounds. From Elyria, Ohio.

No. 73: Freshman OL Devontae Armstrong

6-foot-5, 303 pounds. From Elyria, Ohio.

No. 74: Senior OL Donovan Jackson

6-foot-4, 320 pounds. From Cypress, Texas.

No. 75: Junior OL Carson Hinzman

6-foot-5, 300 pounds. From Spring Valley, Wisconsin.

No. 76: Sophomore OL Miles Walker

6-foot-5, 317 pounds. From Greenwich, Connecticut.

No. 77: Junior OL Tegra Tshabola

6-foot-6, 327 pounds. From West Chester, Ohio.

No. 80: Junior WR Shawn Lodge

6-foot-0, 170 pounds. From Akron, Ohio.

No. 81: Freshman WR Damarion Witten

6-foot-4, 215 pounds. From Cleveland, Ohio.

No. 82: Junior WR David Adolph

6-foot-5, 209 pounds. From Dublin, Ohio.

No. 83: Senior WR Joop Mitchell

6-foot-1, 180 pounds. From Wyoming, Ohio.

No. 84: Freshman WR Dorian Williams

6-foot-2, 200 pounds. From Cincinnati, Ohio

No. 85: Junior TE Bennett Christian

6-foot-6, 260 pounds. From Acworth, Georgia.

No. 86: Freshman TE Maxence LeBlanc

6-foot-4, 227 pounds. From St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada

No. 87: Senior WR Reis Stocksdale

5-foot-10, 188 pounds. From Morrow, Ohio.

No. 88: Graduate TE Gee Scott Jr.

6-foot-3, 243 pounds. From Seattle, Washington.

No. 89: Senior TE Zak Herbstreit

6-foot-2, 240 pounds. From Nashville, Tennessee.

No. 89: Senior TE Will Kacmarek

6-foot-6, 260 pounds. From St. Louis, Missouri

No. 90: Freshman DL Eric Mensah

6-foot-3, 290 pounds. From Stafford, Virginia.

No. 91: Senior DT Tyleik Williams

6-foot-3, 327 pounds. From Manassas, Virginia.

No. 92: Junior DE Caden Curry

6-foor-3, 260 pounds. From Greenwood, Indiana.

No. 93: Junior DT Hero Kanu

6-foot-5, 305 pounds. From Geltendorf, Germany.

No. 94: Sophomore DL Jason Moore

6-foot-6, 305 pounds. From Fort Washington, Maryland.

No. 95: Senior K Casey Magyar

5-foot-11, 185 pounds. From Dublin, Ohio.

No. 95: Senior DT Tywone Malone Jr.

6-foot-4, 301 pounds. From Jamesburg, New Jersey.

No. 96: Freshman DE Eddrick Houston

6-foot-3, 270 pounds. From Atlanta, Georgia.

No. 96: Senior LS Collin Johnson

6-foot-1, 215 pounds. From New Albany, Ohio.

No. 97: Junior DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

6-foot-6, 258 pounds. From Hollywood, Florida.

No. 98: Sophomore DL Kayden McDonald

6-foot-3, 326 pounds. From Suwanee, Georgia.

No. 99: Senior K Austin Snyder

5-foot-7, 194 pounds. From Groveport, Ohio.

 

Brian Kelly’s record at Notre Dame (and his record at LSU since leaving)

Here’s a look back at Brian Kelly’s tenure as Notre Dame head coach.

Marcus Freeman will lead the Notre Dame Fighting Irish into battle on Monday night in the CFP final against Ohio State.

In three full seasons at the helm at Notre Dame, Freeman has delivered victories in the Gator Bowl and the Sun Bowl, and beat Indiana, Georgia and Penn State en route to the 2025 national championship game.

Freeman took over at Notre Dame in December of 2021, after then-head coach Brian Kelly left the program for LSU.

Brian Kelly’s record at Notre Dame

In total, Brian Kelly went 92-39 at Notre Dame over 10 seasons. That record includes vacated wins from the 2012 and 2013 seasons due to a violation of academic misconduct. The 2012 season ended with a loss in the national championship game.

According to the current record books, Kelly led the Fighting Irish to six 10-win seasons and a 4-4 record in bowl games (he was 5-5 in bowls overall if results had not been vacated). His best season-ending national ranking was No. 3 in the lost 2012 season.

Brian Kelly’s record at LSU

Since leaving Notre Dame, Kelly has gone 29-11 at LSU (including a 17-7 record in the SEC), and 3-0 in bowl games. Kelly has never appeared in the College Football Playoff yet with the Tigers.

NFL draft profile and projection for wide receiver Emeka Egbuka

Check out our NFL draft profile on wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

The College Football Playoff will feature plenty of top NFL talents, whether they are eligible or not. This is the talent level you expect to see in a game of caliber.

One of the top returning receivers from last season, Emeka Egbuka, did not disappoint in the 2024 season. Along with Carnell Tate and standout freshman Jeremiah Smith, Egbuka helped get the Buckeyes to the CFP national championship game despite not winning the Big Ten title. They knocked out the Oregon Ducks in the quarterfinals in dominating fashion to prove they are still the team to beat in the conference.

In his fourth season with the Buckeyes, Egbuka matched his career-high 10 touchdowns. He will have an opportunity to be the next Ohio State wideout to make an impact in the NFL.

Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver

Draft Projection: Round 1

Egbuka was viewed as WR2 for most of his Ohio State career playing next to players like Marvin Harrison Jr. This past season he came into the year as the leader of the team, and he lived up to the expectations. Now he can walk away a national champion provided they can take down the Irish, who haven’t lost a game since Week 2 of the season.

NFL draft profile and projection for quarterback Will Howard

Check out our NFL draft profile on quarterback Will Howard.

The College Football Playoff will feature plenty of top NFL talent, whether it is eligible or not. This is the talent level you expect to see in a game of caliber.

Will Howard was an accomplished quarterback before he arrived in Columbus for the 2024 college football season. The only thing that had eluded him was a trip to the College Football Playoff and an opportunity to become a national champion. He didn’t fit the mold of a typical Ohio State quarterback or at least that was the perception. Howard changed the narrative and is 60 minutes away from ending his collegiate career by riding into the sunset as a champion.

After four seasons with the Kansas State Wildcats and one with Ohio State, Howard is on his way to the next level with no eligibility left.

Will Howard, Quarterback

Draft Projection: Round 4

Howard showed what he could do at the next level for the past five seasons. The dual threat has the size to withstand the punishment as a runner and passer. The former Kansas State quarterback showed he can score on the ground with his legs and attack defenses downfield with his strong arm. Though not always the most accurate passer, he could certainly develop that area of his game. Howard displays the physical tools to be a good starting quarterback in the NFL.