Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship game as significant underdogs.
Ohio State enters the title matchup as 8-point favorites, according to ESPN BET. The Buckeyes have dominated their playoff run, securing double-digit wins over Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas on their way to the championship.
Despite being labeled as the clear favorites and referred to by many as a “sleeping giant,” Notre Dame’s quarterback delivered a powerful message ahead of the game.
Leonard took to social media, posting an inspirational message about Notre Dame’s belief in their victory: “Holding the pen.”
The post featured a motivational video highlighting the Fighting Irish’s journey to the championship and included a quote from Winston Churchill: “History will be kind to me because I intend to write its pages.” The video ends with Leonard echoing head coach Marcus Freeman’s halftime speech from the Orange Bowl: “History is written by conquerors, and we’re holding the pen.”
Leonard has been instrumental in Notre Dame’s 13-game win streak heading into the championship. During the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, the Irish defeated Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State to earn their spot in the title game.
This season, Leonard has been a dual-threat force, throwing for 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a 66.4% completion rate while rushing for 866 yards and 16 touchdowns on 167 carries.
The national championship is scheduled for Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and will be broadcast on ESPN.
