Ohio State players entered the national championship with confidence

College football Players and coaches have been vocal about their beliefs on the biggest stages this season, and on Monday, two teams that have led the conversation will meet in the national championship.

Ohio State The favorite going into the championship game, but for many players, it’s not the stats and analytics that drive their confidence on the field, but their belief.

In a series of interviews with Sports Spectrum this offseason, several Buckeyes players have talked about turning to their faith and how doing so has affected their performance on the field.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“I’d say the last two years we’ve been — there’s been a lot of players on the football team who have put their faith back in Jesus Christ. That was a big thing for me the first year,” receiver Emeka Egbuka told the outlet in November.

Egbuka, a graduate student, recalled his transformation in an interview. He was invited to a mass party by his teammates and said it was the first time he felt a real connection to his faith.

“Since then, my life has changed. A complete 180, and I have the same testimony for many players in the team. We have been praying for such a revival in our team, and we decided to do it. Share with everyone what God is doing in our football team.

Egbuka said he chose not to enter the NFL draft last season because he felt a “bigger” calling than football.

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Buckeyes #2, runs the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks on October 12, 2024 at Auzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard’s belief in bringing the team to Ohio State’s national title

“I felt the Lord leading me to Ohio State for one more year. I felt the Lord asking me a question, testing my heart, saying, ‘If you come back here next year, you’ll have this big stage, you’ll have this big following, you’ll have these awards – this name to live up to, and in that moment to do one of two things. You can, you can use it to honor me or to honor yourself. So I saw it as a bit of a challenge and I had to do something.”

In a separate interview, star running back Treveon Henderson told the newspaper in a separate interview that he turned to his faith despite an injury-plagued rookie season.

“He saved my life from going down that path of destruction. He saved me. He put me on this path of eternal life. . . . You see many people walking down that great path of destruction, but I thank Jesus very much. He saved me from that path and set me on the path.”

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Treveon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown on a 75-yard touchdown catch against the Texas Longhorns during the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic college football playoff game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on January 10, 2025. A. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Click here to access the FOX NEWS app

And just last month, tight end G. Scott Jr. said this season was marked by a profound spiritual transformation.

“I mean, there’s been a lot of people who have spoken publicly about giving their lives to Christ, which I really appreciate, because especially in this age and the world we live in now in 2024. There’s a lot of things you can mention or give your life to, there’s a lot of things you can give your life to.”

Just this week, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard Both teams have been praised for being outspoken about their beliefs, and he believes it’s a big reason why the two teams are competing for college football’s biggest prize.

Follow Fox News Digital’s Sports coverage by Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newspaper.