Marcus Freeman sets title game status for OT Anthonie Knapp, RB Jeremiyah Love
Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame are gearing up for their first national championship game appearance since the 2012 season. It pits the Fighting Irish in a showdown against Ohio State, a team Notre Dame lost to in 2023.
A key question mark for that matchup has been the status of starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp and star running back Jeremiyah Love. Love played in the Orange Bowl but was nursing a previously sustained knee injury while Knapp left the game with a leg injury.
On Sunday, Freeman confirmed that Knapp is going to be unable to suit up for the national championship. Though just a true freshman, Knapp has been playing an integral role for the offensive line.
“Yeah, Knapp will miss this game. He had a high ankle sprain and won’t be able to make it back,” said Freeman.
Meanwhile, Love is Notre Dame’s leading rusher, but Freeman gave the RB the all-clear on Sunday. That’s not too surprising after Love carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards and a tough touchdown run against Penn State.
“J-Love is good to go. J-Love will be full go,” Freeman confirmed.
Impact for title game
Ohio State is already an 8.5-point favorite for the matchup per DraftKings, and the status of Knapp is a significant one. Be sure to use our DraftKings promo code Ohio for all your tracking and gaming needs.
While Marcus Freeman’s program has one of the best defenses in the country, Ohio State has been particularly nasty on the defensive side of the ball throughout the College Football Playoff. That includes a deep and talented pass rush up front that will further test Notre Dame without Knapp available.
The Buckeyes are allowing 17.33 points per game in 3 Playoff victories. Ryan Day‘s team has also played from in front regularly, allowing Ohio State to get after the passer at elite levels this postseason.
Ohio State has accumulated 16 sacks and 28 TFL in the 3 CFP victories, spearheaded by the bookend defensive end duo of JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Those stalwarts have combined for 10 sacks and 12.5 TFL in the postseason. Tuimoloau has at least 1.5 sacks in each game while Sawyer delivered the game-clinching scoop-and-score against Texas.
Notre Dame will have to find an answer without Knapp for slowing down the defense if the Fighting Irish are going to pull off the title game upset.