Notre Dame and Ohio State each played 13-game seasons last year. Playing 16-game seasons this year could obviously be considered problematic — it's a lot more wear and tear on bodies — but it's also a wonderful problem to have, since it comes with a chance at a national championship.

On January 20, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will seek their first national championship since 1988, when Lou Holtz roamed the sidelines and the Irish were seen as more of a powerhouse on the national stage than they have been recently.

The first college football national championship of the 12-team playoff era is set, with two teams within hours of Cincinnati set to face off.