Joe Lyberger, a defensive quality control coach for Ohio State, is under investigation for alleged misconduct just weeks after the Buckeyes' national championship victory.

The Irish, fresh off losing a national title game to the Buckeyes, reportedly hired defensive coordinator Chris Ash on Wednesday. The deal is expected to be finalized shortly.

Notre Dame and Ohio State rest somewhere in the middle on roster construction, leaning toward high school recruits.

Through the pain and misery of Notre Dame's championship game loss at the hands of bitter rival Ohio State, some valuable lessons can be learned to help the Irish the next time they are in this position. In this regard, the Buckeyes proved to be a terrific measuring stick.

The winner claims the national championship in the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and longest college football season ever. Ohio State is trying for its sixth title, and first since its 2014 team won the inaugural CFP. Notre Dame is going for its 12th title, and first since 1988.

Ohio State football was all but counted out in late November. Many fans and pundits believed that Ryan Day’s squad was dead in the water and saw him as nothing more than a lame-duck coach after the team’s disastrous loss to their archrival Michigan.