Almost exactly a decade after OSU's last national championship in football, the Buckeyes face Notre Dame in Monday night's title game.

Why it matters: Ohio State has won eight championships in its history (eighth among NCAA schools), but only two in the last 55 years.

• Notre Dame has 13, but none since 1988.

Catch up quick: The 7:30pm game in Atlanta caps off a tumultuous season.

• The Buckeyes started the year among the title favorites, but tripped up against Oregon early and suffered a devastating loss to Michigan to close out the regular season.
• But they made the expanded playoff anyway, proceeding to blow out Tennessee at home and Oregon in a Rose Bowl rematch before securing their trip to Atlanta in a dramatic 28-14 win over Texas last week.

🍀 Notre Dame, meanwhile, arrives with a 14-1 record. The Fighting Irish are unbeaten over the past four months after an upset loss to Northern Illinois.

• The Irish convincingly beat Indiana and Georgia in the early playoff rounds and squeaked past Penn State en route to the championship game.

The intrigue: Irish coach Marcus Freeman was born in Huber Heights near Dayton, played three years at linebacker for Ohio State and was a graduate assistant here in 2010 under Jim Tressel.

The big picture: The Buckeyes' playoff performance has saved head coach Ryan Day's job and quieted even his loudest critics.

• Fans and media alike were ready to move on from Day after he dropped to just 1-4 against rival Michigan, despite a 69-10 overall coaching record that is the third-best winning percentage of all time at Ohio State (trailing just Urban Meyer and Carroll Widdoes).
• ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit, a former Buckeye player, now seems vindicated for calling out the fanbase's "lunatic fringe."

🔎 X's and O's: In the title game, the brightest stars are on the Buckeyes' side.

• Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has been the breakout star of the college football season.
• On defense, sophomore Caleb Downs has been the best safety in college football, while senior defensive end Jack Sawyer is coming off his game-clinching play to beat Texas.

Yes, but: Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard struggles in the air, but is capable of making plays on the ground. Xavier Watts and Howard Cross lead a defense that won't be easy to crack.

Fun fact: The Buckeyes' most recent championship was the very first college football playoff.

• Now, they're the betting favorites to win the debut 12-team version.

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We're confident this guessing game will go better than last time, when not a single reader guessed that Ohio State football would be upset in their big rivalry game.

• (We love your loyalty.)

Try again: We're giving away free Axios swag to whoever sends us the closest guess to Monday's final score.

• Reply to this newsletter and cross your fingers! We'll name the winner in Tuesday's edition.

🏥 More than 60,000 Ohioans will lose health insurance if the Republican plan to impose work, drug testing and education requirements for Medicaid coverage is approved by the Trump administration. (Ohio Capital Journal)

🗳️ The Westerville school district will try to pass a permanent tax levy again in May following its failed attempt at a combined levy-bond issue in November. (Dispatch)

• Marysville, also unsuccessful that month, recently announced plans for another levy attempt too. (WBNS-TV)

🍔 Columbus Burger King locations will be the first in the nation to offer the chain's "Ultimate Game-Day Lineup" menu in celebration of the Buckeyes' run to the national championship. (614 Magazine)

🏈 Former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. (WCMH-TV)

⚾️ Broadcaster and "Major League" star Bob Uecker died at 90, the Milwaukee Brewers announced yesterday. (Axios Cleveland)

"It's a game-changer — one of the largest economic development projects and job creation opportunities in the state's history. We always talk about 'The Columbus Way.' I think we do public-private partnerships better in Columbus than anywhere else in the country."

Context: Ginther was asked yesterday about what the newly announced massive military vehicle and weapons factory from Anduril Industries means for the city.

• Watch the full chat here.

⛸️ Go ice skating at Franklin Park Conservatory, one of several activities during its new Winter Ice Festival this weekend.

• 5-9pm Friday-Saturday ($16-27, includes festival admission) and 11am-4pm Sunday-Monday ($16-24, includes conservatory admission). Kids under 3 free!
• Pro tip: Skates are provided, but you can also bring your own.

🙌 Win big at an all-ages Bingo night at Family Room Coffee & Bake Shop in Westerville.

• 6-8pm tonight, 545 S. Otterbein Ave. Free!
• Pro tip: Bingo held the first and third Friday of every month.

🕺 Get your groove on at a dance party tonight:

• Electric Feels, featuring indie rock and electronic dance: 9pm at the Newport, 1722 N. High St. $20.
• Y2K.com, a throwback to the early 2000s: 9pm at Skully's, 1151 N. High St. $10-15.

🎤 Meet comedian Craig Robinson — aka Darryl from "The Office" — at the Funny Bone.

• 6pm Sunday. $54.

🎵 See local rock band Beartooth headline the Schottenstein Center.

• 6:30pm Saturday. $40+.

🏐 Cheer on the Fury against Indianapolis as they seek their first home win of the season at Nationwide Arena.

• 7pm Saturday. $25-155.

🗓️ Reminder: Local Martin Luther King Jr. Day events are happening Sunday and Monday.