Jim Knowles’ Remarks Before the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame CFP Championship Game

“Alright, listen up, fellas. This is it. The moment we’ve all been working for, all year long. Every lift, every sprint, every practice, every film session — it’s led to this. You’re about to take the field for the biggest game of your life, and it’s against a team that has as much tradition, pride, and talent as anyone in college football. This is what you signed up for. This is why you’re here. And I’m going to tell you right now, this is our game to win.

First things first: We don’t take the field as individuals. We don’t take the field as a group of stars — we take the field as one unit. As one defense. There’s 11 of us, and each of us has a job to do. We have to execute, we have to stay disciplined, and we have to be relentless. We’ve built this defense on the foundation of playing smart, fast, and physical. Nothing changes today. The stakes are higher, but our commitment to excellence should never waiver.

Let’s talk about Notre Dame. We know who they are. We know they’re well-coached, tough, and they’ve got a talented quarterback, an explosive running back, and some dynamic receivers. But here’s what I know — they haven’t seen a defense like us. They haven’t seen a team that plays with the intensity and the discipline we bring to the field every single play. I want to see that today. We’ve seen their tape. We know what they like to do, and we know how they’ll try to attack us. But I’m telling you right now, if we do what we do best, they won’t be able to touch us. We control the game when we control the line of scrimmage. We control the game when we stay disciplined in our assignments and tackle with authority.

Notre Dame’s quarterback is talented — no question. But here’s the deal: He can only beat us if we let him. We’re going to get after him. We’re going to make him uncomfortable. We’re going to make him feel every inch of that pressure. Our front seven is going to be in his face all day. He’ll know who we are, and he’ll know he’s in for a long, hard-fought game. This is the kind of game where he’s going to wish he’d never stepped onto the field.

But it’s not just about rushing the quarterback. It’s about stopping the run. They’ve got a great running back, and if we let him get loose, if we let him pick up yards after contact, it’s going to be a long day for us. So here’s what I’m asking: Every single one of you needs to bring your absolute best. When they hand the ball off, we need to meet that running back in the backfield. We need to wrap up and finish every tackle. There’s no room for missed assignments, no room for half-hearted effort. We need to swarm to the ball, and we need to finish every play with the mentality that it’s the most important play of the game. If we stop the run and make them one-dimensional, that’s when we feast. That’s when we get after the quarterback, and that’s when we take control of this game.

Now, let’s talk about our secondary. You guys are the last line of defense. I know you’ve got the ability to cover, to lock down their receivers, and to create turnovers. We’ve seen you do it all season long. But I need to see you execute under pressure today. I need to see you stay disciplined in your coverage, keep your eyes on your man, and play with confidence. If the ball’s in the air, I want it coming down in our hands. That’s the mentality. You don’t wait for the play to come to you; you go out and make the play. Whether it’s an interception, a pass breakup, or simply locking down your guy so he can’t get open — I expect you to deliver.

And speaking of turnovers — today, we make them. We make them a reality. We take the ball away from them. We’ve worked all season on creating those opportunities, and today is no different. Whether it’s a forced fumble, an interception, or a tipped pass — we make plays on the ball. We flip the field and give our offense the chance to score. Every turnover is a momentum shift. Every turnover is a chance to change the course of this game.

But it’s not just about the big plays. It’s about consistency. We can’t afford to have a single moment where we let up. Not one. Not against a team like Notre Dame. Not in a game like this. You can’t take a play off. If you do, they’ll make you pay. So stay locked in. Stay focused. And take the fight to them.

One of the things I love most about this defense is our heart. We play with a chip on our shoulder, we play with a swagger, and we play with an unrelenting will to win. We don’t just want to win; we need to win. We don’t just want to stop them; we have to stop them. We play with purpose, and we play with pride in our Ohio State legacy. That’s what we carry with us every single time we take the field.

Remember this: They’re coming for us. They want this game just as much as we do, and they’ll give everything they have to try to take it from us. But I’m telling you, right now, this is OUR moment. This is OUR game. We’ve earned it. We’ve fought through the highs and the lows, we’ve battled all season long, and now we’re standing at the top. The only thing left to do is finish it.

So, when we take that field today, I want you to look around at your brothers — your teammates. Look into their eyes, and know that we’re in this together. We are a FAMILY. We are a DEFENSE. And we are a TEAM. There’s no way they’re going to beat us. We’re going to play this game with everything we’ve got, with everything we’ve ever worked for.

Let’s go out and make this our day. Let’s go out and show them what Ohio State football is all about. Let’s finish what we started.

Now, let’s get to work. Let’s go win this thing.”