The Big Ten could puff out its chest over having two of its teams in the College Football Playoff semifinals, and the conference will have another point of pride if Ohio State beats Notre Dame for the championship Monday night. A Buckeyes win would give the Big Ten back-to-back national champions for the first time since 1942, when the league was called the Western Conference.
Paul Brown-coached Ohio State went 9-1 that year and was the third straight national champion from the conference. Voters crowned Minnesota in 1940 and '41. Michigan last year gave the Big Ten its first national championship in football since Ohio State won it in 2014.
Setting the stage for the championship game by the numbers:. Amount of time Ohio State has trailed in its three playoff games. Consecutive Notre Dame-Ohio State games, including Monday's, where both teams have been ranked in the top 10. Weight, in pounds, of the 26.5-inch-tall CFP championship trophy, which is made of 24-karat gold, bronze and stainless steel.
Ohio State's nation-leading number of NFL first-round draft picks. Notre Dame is fourth with 71. Approximate number of television cameras ESPN will use during the championship game, per the network. Notre Dame's nation-leading number of consensus All-Americans. Ohio State is second with 93.
