Riley Leonard and Will Howard, the soon-to-be starting quarterbacks at Notre Dame and Ohio State, attended the famed Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State over the summer. They were roommates, getting ready for the pressure cooker of big-time college football at two of the biggest brands in the sport.

He’s been somebody who’s led by example,” the Irish QB said of his grandfather. “A lot of the lessons I’ve learned have come from him."

The one common denominator between the Irish teams that lost to Ohio State in the past two seasons was quarterback play. It wasn't Leonard then. but it's Leonard now.

Nevertheless, Leonard didn’t have to think very long about where he wanted to go. He’d grown up a fan of Notre Dame — his great-grandfather, James Curran, played for the Fighting Irish in the 1940s — and committed in mid-December.

Both quarterbacks knew their final season of college football could still be a special one even after their teams endured difficult setbacks.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Ohio State Buckeyes are getting prepared for the biggest game of their season on Monday night in the national championship down in Atlanta. For just about every player on the field, it will be the biggest game of their young careers.

Riley Leonard’s heroics in the CFP semifinal took place at Hard Rock Stadium, the home field of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagaovailoa.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt shares his thoughts on Riley Leonard ahead of the College Football National Championship between Notre Dame and Ohio State.