Neither QB was ranked in the top 600 nationally. Leonard signed with Duke, Howard with Kansas State. Here's the backstory.

Both quarterbacks knew their final season of college football could still be a special one even after their teams endured difficult setbacks.

It was one night last June when Will Howard and Riley Leonard stayed up late bonding over talk about their families, faith and what life might have in store for them.“Genuine conversation,” Leonard said Saturday.

There are several parallels in the Notre Dame and Ohio State matchup in the National Championship. Both teams have a third year defensive coordinator, both teams have proven first year offensive coordinators,

Ohio State's Will Howard and Notre Dame's Riley Leonard will meet in the national title game, months after they were roommates at a prestigious camp.

At the time, they were two quarterbacks preparing for the biggest season of their lives. Riley Leonard and Will Howard, the soon-to-be starting quarterbacks at Notre Dame and Ohio State, attended the famed Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State over the summer.