Notre Dame and Ohio State fans have had to endure unprecedented travel demands throughout college football’s first 12-team playoff to reach Monday night’s national championship game

Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday in Atlanta. The Buckeyes are seeking their first title since 2014 -- the first year of the expanded four-team CFP -- while Notre Dame is trying to snap a championship drought that dates back to 1988.

In a roller-coaster season, the Irish took a deep dive early before slowly ascending over the last four months. They entered 2024 with postseason aspirations and an intriguing roster, led by Duke transfer Riley Leonard at quarterback, an explosive running back in Jeremiyah Love and a formidable defense. It lasted two weeks.

On Sunday, the eve of the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the decision-makers who have the ultimate authority over the playoff's format will hold their annual business meeting.

Editor’s note: This is a guest column from former writer and columnist Dave Jones, who retired from PennLive last May after 33 years covering Penn State. Jones, who will be recognized with the Football Writers Association of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Jan. 17 in Atlanta, offers his thoughts on the current playoff format.

There's only one game remaining in what has been the longest college football season in history, which started way back on Aug. 24, 2024, when Georgia Tech upset then-No. 10 Florida State 24-21 in Ireland.

Ohio State has a 6-2 series lead against Notre Dame dating back to 1935, but the Buckeyes are on a six-game win streak against the Fighting Irish. Two of those came in a home-and-