On Monday night, Marcus Freeman will lead the Notre Dame Fighting Irish into a national championship battle against his alma mater: Ohio State.

Why it matters: According to Freeman, the opponent doesn't matter.

• "This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school," Freeman, who was an Ohio State linebacker from 2004-2008, said Sunday. "This is about this opportunity that lies right ahead of us."

The big picture: The highly anticipated matchup will see two of the winningest programs in all of college football go head-to-head in Atlanta.

• Notre Dame (14-1) last won a national championship since 1988, while Ohio (13-2) last won in 2015.

By the numbers: Notre Dame is the only Indiana college football team to call themselves national champs, claiming 11 titles in program history.

• OSU is a juggernaut in its own right, winning it all eight times.

Yes, but: NCAA records credit the Irish with 13 title wins.

• Notre Dame was one of five teams named national champion by selectors in 1919 alongside Illinois, Harvard, Centre and Texas A&M.
• They shared the honor with Alabama, Arkansas and Michigan in 1964.
• The university does not claim the 1919 and 1964 championships.

What they're saying: Freeman has frequently been asked what it feels like to be facing off with his former team, and what it means to him to be a half Black, half Korean man coaching in a national championship game on a day dedicated to a civil rights icon.

• Much like he does when discussing his playing past, Freeman believes the focus of the holiday should be anywhere but on him.
• "Martin Luther King Day is about celebrating that man and the impact he made on the country," he said.

State of play: Oddsmakers are taking the Buckeyes as the favorite by 8.5 points.

What's next: Kickoff is 7:30pm Monday on ESPN.

Go deeper

Yesterday, we teamed up (against?) with our friends at Axios Chicago to settle once and for all the debate over who gets to claim Notre Dame.

Why it matters: We won!

By the numbers: It was closer than we would have liked, but Indianapolis received 355 votes to Chicago's 352 votes when we closed the poll around 5pm.

The bottom line: We're glad to have come out on top, but we'll share the team on Monday. Let's go Irish!

Gov. Mike Braun wants to shrink state government over the next two years.

Driving the news: Braun's biennial budget proposal, released yesterday, calls for new tax cuts and reductions in state spending while maintaining support for public schools and Medicaid.

• He's asking state agencies to cut spending by 5% over the next two years and has identified $700 million in reductions.

By the numbers: The state is expected to spend about $45 billion over the next two years.

• Braun's budget covers Medicaid expenses, which are expected to grow by roughly $1.7 billion over that time.
• His proposal increases funding for K-12 public schools by 2% each year for an increase of nearly $540 million and spends $360 million to eliminate the waitlist for child care subsidies for low-income families.

A caveat: The budget doesn't include Braun's property tax cut proposal, which is expected to cost schools more than $500 million in the first year and more than $600 million in the second.

Braun's budget also makes good on campaign promises for additional tax cuts on retirement income and tipped wages.

• He's proposing several tax holidays (periods when select goods or services are exempted from sales taxes) for back-to-school shopping, youth sports, outdoor recreation and possibly more — something Indiana doesn't currently offer.

The other side: Democrats praised Braun's proposal to eliminate the waitlist for child care subsidies but asked him to rethink cutting public health spending.

• In the last budget, Republicans added $150 million annually to public health spending in an effort to incentivize county health departments to add services.
• Braun would cut it to $100 million annually.

What's next

🏀 The Indiana Fever will get a dedicated training facility downtown, connected via skybridges to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The $78 million project will be built on the site of the former jail that's currently being demolished at Delaware and Maryland Streets. (IBJ)

🚰 A study predicts water usage will increase moderately over the next decades, but some environmental groups worry it's underestimating the needs of new industries. (IndyStar)

🎒 One Indiana lawmaker wants to give public schools the ability to deny enrollment to undocumented children. (FOX59)

⛹️‍♂️ The Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin sat out last night, serving a one game suspension without pay by the NBA after getting into it with an official in Tuesday's game. (Associated Press)

🏫 Bethel Park Elementary, a charter school, is fighting to stay open but another charter wants to buy its building. (Chalkbeat Indiana)

As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, Indianapolis is preparing to celebrate his life and legacy with free admission to some of the city's most popular museums and events.

• Here are a few ways you can honor King in the Circle City without spending a dime.

🤔 Reflect on MLK's impact during the 43nd Annual MLK Day of Celebration at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, 12pm Monday. RSVP here.

🐯 Hang with the animals with a free day at the Indianapolis Zoo from 9am-4pm Monday.

🚂 Get hands on at the Eiteljorg Museum with free activities that run from 10am-5pm Monday.

🏀 See hoops history at the NCAA Hall of Champions. Free admission on Monday will grant you access to a 1930s retro gym, a mascot exhibit and sports simulators.

🎨 Create an MLK-inspired masterpiece during the Newfields' MLK Day: Mission Possible event, 11am-4pm Sunday.

Check out the rest of our picks for the weekend