"Might be worse than Quinn Ewers": Shannon Sharpe delivers blunt verdict on Riley Leonard while weighing in on ND v Ohio State clash

Two quarterbacks remain in the College Football Playoff, and Shannon Sharpe isn't all that confident in one of them—Notre Dame's Riley Leonard. Leonard didn't have a terrible game Thursday, helping lead the Fighting Irish past Penn State in the Orange Bowl semifinal, a game they won on a field goal with seconds left.

Leonard went 15 of 23 through the air for 223 yards and a touchdown but also tossed a pair of interceptions. Sharpe doesn't think the Duke transfer will fare any better in the national title game against a red-hot Ohio State team than Texas' Quinn Ewers did, even if the Buckeyes appeared ordinary in the 28-14 win compared to their first two playoff wins.

"The first two weeks, Ohio State looked unbeatable," Sharpe said Saturday on 'Nightcap.' "Tonight, they looked beatable now. There were some opportunities. Here's the thing. Riley Leonard might be worse than Ewers. ... That's saying something because the thing that Ohio State can do, they can get after your quarterback with four."

Sharpe's show co-host, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, doesn't see any standout characteristics with any of the passers that played in this past round, Riley Leonard included.

"Most of the collegiate quarterbacks are average," Johnson said. "The two that we just saw play last night are average, as well.

"There's really nothing special about these individuals, so when their time comes, when it's time to get drafted, I'm hoping the situation is beneficial for them, where their supporting cast is already in place where they don't have to elevate their play to make those around them better."

Is it fair to compare Riley Leonard and Quinn Ewers?

Quinn Ewers and Texas fell short against the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. But before that, it was reported that he's likely going to enter April's NFL draft or the NCAA transfer portal. The fact that highly touted Arch Manning has been breathing down his neck probably contributed to that decision.

Sharpe doesn't think those around the Longhorns will lose any sleep over Ewers' departure, even though he's a former five-star recruit who helped lift Texas back to the national stage. The Longhorns simply didn't do enough to reach the national championship in either of their past two semifinal appearances.

"I think all UT alums will personally pay for any mode of transportation to get Quinn Ewers out of Austin," Sharpe said. "You want Lyft? You want a train? You want a taxi? You want an airplane? They will gladly pay to get him up out of Austin."

Riley Leonard is still playing, and the Fighting Irish are underdogs in the national championship showdown against Ohio State. Notre Dame hasn't lost since being upset at home against Northern Illinois early in the season. Leonard will have to play a good game to cap off a historic season for the program.