College football will make history on Monday as this national championship game marks the first time a new trophy will be presented after the BCS dismantled and the playoff system was put into play. According to the NCAA, the winner of the national championship game between Ohio State and Oregon will be the "truest champion in the history of major college football." Now, these decisions have come with controversy, just ask TCU and Baylor about the word truest, but regardless the Buckeyes and Ducks are ushering in a new era of football Monday night as they face off in Dallas.
Oregon comes locked and loaded with Heisman trophy winner and potential No. 1 overall draft pick Marcus Mariota looking to make one final statement in college football. The quarterback has been outstanding this season and his final goal is to get Oregon their long awaited first championship. The Ducks have won nine games in a row including a near beatdown of Florida State in the Rose Bowl. Mariota has 4,121 yards and 40 touchdowns this season along with 731 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Those numbers blew past any other quarterback in the league and could carry the team to a win.
The issue for Oregon is who will be catching passes. The team's top wide receiver Darren Carrington is out following a positive drug test. He ranked second on the team with 704 receiving yards while putting up 292 yards and three touchdowns in the Rose Bowl. They will also be without Devon Allen who was lost in the Rose Bowl to a knee injury.
The Ohio State Buckeyes came into the playoffs ranked fourth and upset Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to get to the championship game. Head coach Urban Meyer has Cardale Jones to thank for that as he prepares to make his third start of the season following a season-ending injury to JT Barrett. The quarterback threw for 243 yards and touchdown against Alabama while also rushing for 43 yards. Ezekiel Elliott could be his x-factor after the running back put up 230 yards and two touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl win.
While both teams get to be a part of history, only one team gets to hoist the new trophy. The Buckeyes and Ducks both earned their way to the championship and are just one more win away from being a new type of champion.
