Officials for Ohio State-Notre Dame National Title Game Hit With SEC Twist

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to face off in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship next week. A key aspect of the matchup will be the officiating, and it was revealed Monday that the game will feature a refereeing crew with an SEC connection. The Buckeyes rebounded from a regular-season finale loss to Michigan by defeating Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas to secure their spot in the title game. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish earned their place by beating Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State. With the championship on the line, every detail, including the officiating team, will be under scrutiny.

The officiating crew for this game will consist of an SEC all-star team led by Steve Marlowe, who previously officiated Penn State’s CFP victory over Boise State. Sports reporter Brett McMurphy confirmed the assignment on X (formerly Twitter), noting, “SEC officials will work Monday’s College Football Playoff national title game b/w Ohio State & Notre Dame. It’s the same crew that worked the Fiesta Bowl b/w Penn State & Boise State.”

Since neither Ohio State nor Notre Dame is from the SEC, the CFP committee selected this crew to ensure impartiality, as neither team has played with this officiating team this season.

With their experience in high-stakes SEC games, this crew is well-prepared to manage the championship. While no one wants penalties to determine the outcome, the hope is that this officiating team can maintain control over the biggest game of the year. Ohio State and Notre Dame will compete for the title on Monday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. EST.