"They have an explosive offense" - College football legend Lou Holtz makes eye-catching prediction for national championship

Retired coach Lou Holtz was the last Notre Dame coach to win a national championship with the Fighting Irish in 1988. Coach Marcus Freeman now has the chance to join him on hallowed ground when he leads his team against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship game on Jan. 20, after beating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.

In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch on Sunday, Holtz acknowledged the Buckeyes' potent offense but still backed the Fighting Irish to prevail.

“When you look at it, Ohio State is the best team,” Lou Holtz said. “They have an explosive offense and their defensive coordinator (Jim Knowles) has done a tremendous job. They’re something like a nine-point favorite. However, in a one-game, winner-take-all, anything can happen.

“I like Notre Dame’s culture. They’re very physical, but they have to keep it close by forcing Ohio State’s offense off the field. … That puts pressure on Ohio State, which is used to winning and winning big. Ohio State is the better team, but I think Notre Dame finds a way to prevail. It’s going to take a big effort.”

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When the Lou Holtz and Ryan Day beef started

Before the Ohio State Buckeyes traveled to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish In 2023, Lou Holtz appeared on the "Pat McAfee Show" and questioned the toughness of coach Ryan Day's team.

“You look at Coach Day — and I coached at Ohio State under Woody Hayes,” Holtz said. “We won the national championship when I was there. I’m proud of that. However, (Day) has lost to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and Michigan twice. And everybody that beats him does so because they are more physical than Ohio State. And I think Notre Dame will take that same approach.”

After Ohio State prevailed 14-10, Ryan Day was animated when he addressed Holtz's comments during his postgame news conference.

“I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is right now,” Day said. “What he said about our team, I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here. We’re proud to be from Ohio. It’s always been Ohio against the world, and it’ll continue to be Ohio against the world. But I’ll tell you what: I love those kids. We’ve got a tough team.”

A year after the outbursts between Lou Holtz and Ryan Day, the national championship game will pit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the Ohio State Buckeyes with the chance for one of the two coaches to claim the bragging rights.