If you've ever been to the Jersey Shore, you can feel it. The breeze coming off the shore. The smells of cotton candy and funnel cakes wafting through the air. A Bruce Springsteen song playing over the loudspeakers.

Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden and Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly have a wealth of experience and will finally coach against each other on Monday.

CINCINNATI — The Bengals' defensive coordinator search appears to be coming to an end. "All signs point to Al Golden," league sources told BengalsTalk.com. Golden is one of two finalists for the job. Former Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is the other.

Notre Dame and defensive coordinator Al Golden have a stiff test in front of them on Monday in the national championship game against Ohio State.

The College Football Playoff is down to its final game, as Notre Dame and Ohio State meet in Atlanta, Ga. with the national championship on the line on Monday night. The Fighting Irish aim to end a long title drought by winning their first title since 1988.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-1) and the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-2) square off Monday night for the national championship! Over the course of the 2024 season a case could be made that these were the two best teams in the country and they certainly proved that throughout the season. Now they go toe-to-toe for a title.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) gestures as he scores a touchdown against Oregon defensive back Kobe Savage (5) during the first half in the quarterfinals of the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif.

No. 6 Ohio State (13-2, CFP No. 8 seed) vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (14-1, CFP No. 7 seed), Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST (ESPN) BetMGM Sportsbook College Football Odds: Ohio State by 8 1/2. Video above: College football team adds 'talent fee' to 2025 football tickets Series record: Ohio State leads 6-2.

Both the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish elevated their programs to championship caliber with big moves in the offseason

The two most recent Buckeyes victories came in 2022 and 2023. Ohio State won 21-10 in ’22 and then scored with one second left in South Bend to grab a 17-14 victory last season. The Irish had only 10 players on the field on the winning 1-yard touchdown run, leaving a bitter taste in the team’s mouth.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The betting line for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame football in the National Championship game opened with the Buckeyes favored by about 10 points. It has since dropped by two points, suggesting the matchup in Atlanta on Monday could be closer that initially expected.

The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish hook up on Monday for all the marbles and JD Yonke breaks down his favorite Ohio State vs. Notre Dame same-game parlay for January 20.