Ohio State is hours away from meeting Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game, capping a season that just in the past eight weeks has seesawed between the depths of another loss to Michigan and the potential high of claiming the program first championship since the debut of the four-team format a decade ago.

Velazquez has been at Ohio State long enough to know and respect one simple rule around his teammates: Do not say the word "Michigan."

QB Will Howard said Ohio State's "truth-telling" loss to Michigan in November has continued to fuel the Buckeyes throughout the College Football Playoff.

The Buckeyes entered every playoff game looking for one more chance to play together. Now they prepare for their last dance with a national championship in sight.

Ohio State is chasing its first college football national championship in a decade, while Notre Dame has not won since 1988.

Many thought the Ohio State football team would be in this very position at the beginning of the season, a chance to win the CFP national championship, but there was consternation and speed bumps along the way.