At Notre Dame, the bar for legendary status is high. This is the school that gave us Rudy, after all, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and Knute Rockne, and “Win One For The Gipper.” You’ve got to work hard to etch your name alongside those legends.

Riley Leonard had a message after Notre Dame jumped out to an early lead over Ohio State in the national championship game.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard struck first Monday night to lead the Irish to a 7-0 lead against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship game. Leonard, the Fairhope, Ala., native, carried the ball nine times for for 34 yards, ending with a 1-yard run with 9:45 left in the half.