There are no doubts left about Notre Dame's authenticity. Thanks to an inexplicable early season loss to Northern Illinois, and the fact that their independent status precludes them from competing for a conference title,

Since Notre Dame's season finale win in Los Angeles against USC on November 30, star running back Jeremiyah Love hasn't been quite right. He still dazzled with a 98-yard touchdown run in the first round of the College Football Playoff game against Indiana, while also battling a cold, but it was clear to see he was still not feeling quite right.

As a result, Ohio’s best sportsbooks now favor the Buckeyes to win the national championship. Oddsmakers were high on Ohio State after the regular season, giving OSU the third-best odds to win the title. No CFP team has been more impressive than the Buckeyes, and sportsbooks responded accordingly.