The early betting favorite to win next year’s national championship is Ohio State. The question nobody can really answer at this time is what sort of game will the Buckeyes or anyone else return to when they kick it off again seven months from now.

The Ohio State University Buckeyes are national champions after defeating Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday night. It was the first college football championship game played under the new 12-team format implemented this season.

A traditional superpower reasserts itself in the era of the 12-team playoff, conference realignment, the transfer portal, and paying athletes.