college football Players and coaches have spoken openly and on major platforms this season about their faith, and on Monday, two teams that have led that conversation will meet in the national championship.
Ohio State is the favorite heading into the title game, but for many players it is their faith, not statistics or analytics, that drives their confidence on the field.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (18) passes against Texas during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
In a series of interviews with Sports Spectrum this season, several Buckeyes players talked about turning to their faith and how doing so has impacted their performance on the field.
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“I would say over the last two years we have been a certain number of players on the football team who have restored their faith in Jesus Christ. And that was a big thing for me my freshman year,” the star said. catcher Emeka Egbuka told the outlet in November.
Egbuka, a graduate student, recalled in his interview the turning point for him. His teammates invited him to attend a mass and he said it was the first time he felt a true connection to his faith.
“Since then, my life has changed. A complete 180, and I have a similar testimony for many players on the team. We have been praying for a type of revival like this on our team, and decided to share with everyone what God has been doing in our football team.
Egbuka said he opted out of the NFL Draft last season because he felt a calling that was “bigger” than football.
Emeka Egbuka, number 2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes, runs the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
NOTRE DAME’S RILEY LEONARD THANKS OPEN FAITH FOR BRINGING TEAM AND OHIO STATE TOGETHER TO WIN NATIONAL TITLE
“I felt like the Lord was leading me back to Ohio State for another year. I felt like the Lord was asking me a question, testing my heart: ‘If you come back for this next year, you’ll have this huge platform. You’re going to have tons of followers, you’re going to have these accolades: this name has to live up to it, and you can do one of two things with that moment. You can use it to glorify me or to glorify yourself’ so I saw it as kind of. challenge and something what I had to do.”
Star running back TreVeyon Henderson told the outlet in a separate interview that despite his standout rookie season, which included success and NIL deals, he had turned to his faith after an injury.
“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 so many people that go down that great path of destruction, but I am very grateful that Jesus, He He rescued me from that path and put me on His path.”
Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown on a 75-yard touchdown catch and run against the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. on January 10, 2025. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
And just last month, tight end Gee Scott Jr. said this season has been marked by a massive spiritual shift.
“I would just say that there has been a massive herd of people who are making the public declaration to give their lives to Christ, which I highly commend, because, especially in this day and age and in 2024, the world that we live in now, there are so many things that you could allude to or give your life to, there are so many things you can give your life to.
Just this week, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard He praised both teams for speaking so openly about their faith, and believes it’s a big reason why they are the two teams fighting for college football’s biggest prize.
