![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Ohio State University (OSU) fans, Notre Dame University supporters and College Football (CFB) viewers gather with family and friends to tune into the National Championship game between OSU and the Fighting Irish on Monday. The two teams last met in the 2023 regular season in a 17-14 OSU victory.
CFB fan Charlotte Ludlow (11) described the competitive atmosphere leading up to the National Championship.
“These College Football Playoffs have been really interesting so far,” Charlotte said. “Seeing these two pretty different teams go up against each other really brings so many people together. In these past playoff games, you could see all the fans parading at the games doing their own chants and cheers.”
The eighth-seed Ohio State Buckeyes finished the regular season with a 10-2 record with losses to Oregon and a rebuilding archrival Michigan team, but then bulldozed their way through the first three stages of the tournament off of dominant performances from their high-powered offense.
OSU fan Rishaan Thoppay (11) emphasized how the team redeemed their loss against the top-ranked Oregon in their quarterfinal victory.
“Their most memorable victory all season was when they showed out against Oregon a couple weeks ago,” Rishaan said. “We were up 34-0 right before halftime and just destroying them the entire time. Part of that was because we have Jeremiah Smith, a great wide receiver.”
According to Ohio State’s athletic director Ross Bjork, OSU players collectively received an unprecedented 20 million dollars from the school’s name, image and likeness deals in the 2024-25 season, contributing to the Buckeyes’ retention and acquisition of strong players. Rishaan noted both the benefits of OSU’s spending and its shortcomings.
“Ohio State’s biggest strength is its wide receiver corps led by Jeremiah Smith, a freshman,” Rishaan said. “We were able to build it with the best recruiting class this year and one of the best coaches in football which is why I think Ohio State is going to win. However, our defense is very old, so if Notre Dame attacks our run defense and uses a lot of outside runs, we could fold.”
Notre Dame has built a strong defense to counter explosive offense lineups like OSU. History teacher and longtime Notre Dame fan Byron Stevens commented on possible strategies Notre Dame could implement to stifle Ohio State’s offense.
“Jeremiah Smith is definitely a generational talent receiver,” Stevens said. “But Xavier Watts has been one of the best safeties in all of football and the rest of the secondary has also stepped up since backup Christian Gray has made key interceptions in the two playoff games against Georgia and Penn State. We also have an amazing core of linebackers that can cycle in and out to stop the run.”
Throughout the season, Notre Dame’s defense has been their driving factor. Excelling in forcing turnovers, the lineup ranks fifth in the CFB in interceptions and third in fumble recoveries. Jeremiyah Love has spearheaded the Irish run game all season, rushing for 1122 yards and an efficient 7.1 yards per carry.
As the BetMGM sportsbook puts the Irish’s odds at +280, the general consensus among sports bettors is that Notre Dame is the underdog. However, Stevens outlined how Notre Dame’s multifaceted run game could make some surprising big plays.
“Although quarterback Riley Leonard is not a great traditional quarterback, his running ability makes it difficult for teams to scheme against,” Stevens said. “We’ve got the most determined running back in college football right now with Jeremiyah Love. Jadarian Price, the number two, and Aneyas Williams have both stepped up too. When OSU has to focus on stopping the run, that’s when Leonard can make some big passes.”
A nationwide spectacle, the National Championship caps off four months of intense and deeply entrenched rivalries and brings families and communities together. Charlotte remarked on how her family’s tradition of watching big football games has deepened relationships.
“Football helps people bond,” Charlotte said. “I’m able to talk with my brother about the games, and we can understand each other in a different way that’s not just being siblings. Because people don’t have the excitement of watching or playing sports every day, rooting for teams in football games is a bit like making a community itself.”
