COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Monday's national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame is fast approaching. A title drought will end for one of these programs. The Buckeyes could bring fans a national title in the first year of the 12-team playoff format. Ohio State's last title a decade ago was in the first four-team playoff. The Fighting Irish aim for an upset to break a 36-year streak without a championship, having last won it all when poll voters selected the champion. Ohio State’s Will Howard explains what happened to his hand at Cotton Bowl Although Ohio State's 2014 championship team and Notre Dame's 1988 championship team were in vastly different eras, both had legendary coaches and monumental wins over legendary programs. Let's compare the most recent title-winning teams of Ohio State and Notre Dame: Coaches Both these squads had Hall of Fame coaches entering their third seasons with their respective schools. Urban Meyer, who had won two national titles with Florida, was looking for postseason improvements for Ohio State in 2014 after the 2013 season ended with back-to-back postseason losses. Leading on the sideline for the 1988 Fighting Irish was Lou Holtz, who Meyer worked under as a receivers coach in 1996. Holtz was rebuilding Notre Dame after a 5-6 record in his first year in 1986 and an 8-4 record in 1987. To continue the path upward, he added coordinators Jim Strong for offense and Barry Alvarez for defense. Holtz, now 88 and a pregame show analyst, critiqued current Ohio State coach Ryan Day for his team lacking physicality before the 2023 regular season game against the Irish. After Ohio State won 17-14 on a last-second touchdown, Day exclaimed, "I'd like to know where Lou Holtz is right now." Rosters Ohio State's 2014 roster was among the greatest it has ever assembled. Senior quarterback Braxton Miller led a deep quarterback room, but he suffered a season-ending injury in August to put freshman J.T. Barrett in as the starter. Surrounding Barrett on offense were playmakers including Ezekiel Elliott, Curtis Samuel, Devin Smith and Michael Thomas. Leading the offensive line was tackle Taylor Decker, now a starter for the Detroit Lions. Ex-Ohio State coach Urban Meyer inducted into College Football Hall of Fame On defense was Joey Bosa, one of Ohio State's best pass rushers ever, alongside a secondary that included Eli Apple and Vonn Bell. All three are now in the NFL. Notre Dame's 1988 team had over a dozen future NFL draft picks, but the main attraction was quarterback Tony Rice and running backs Raghib Ismail and Ricky Watters. Linebacker Michael Stonebreaker and defensive end Frank Stams led a defense with multiple All-Americans. Together, they formed a talented Notre Dame roster that received the No. 13 ranking in the preseason Associated Press poll, while Ohio State was ranked No. 5 going into week one. COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 18: Quarterback J.T. Barrett of the Ohio State Buckeyes completes a pass in the first quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on October 18, 2014 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 18: Gareef Glashen #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights hangs on to ballcarrier Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes as Quentin Gause #50 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights moves in the in the third quarter on October 18, 2014 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Rutgers 56-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 25: Michael Thomas #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes lines up during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 25, 2014 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)College Football: Notre Dame QB Tony Rice (9) in action, passing vs Penn State at Notre Dame Stadium. South Bend, IN 11/19/1988 CREDIT: Jacqueline Duvoisin (Photo by Jacqueline Duvoisin /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37452 TK1 R2 F12 )Raghib Ismail #25, Wide Receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the football during the NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Purdue University Boilermakers on 24th September 1988 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Notre Dame won the game 52 - 7.Raghib Ismail was also known as The Rocket. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images)College Football: Notre Dame Ricky Watters (12) in action, rushing vs Miami at Notre Dame Stadium. South Bend, IN 10/15/1988 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37256 TK1 R3 F19 )College Football: Notre Dame Michael Stonebreaker (47) in action, defense vs Navy at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Annapolis, MD 10/29/1988 CREDIT: Jerry Wachter (Photo by Jerry Wachter /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37317 TK2 R11 F3 ) Regular season The Buckeyes suffered a shock with a Week 2 loss to Virginia Tech 35-21 in their home opener. Barrett threw three interceptions, and the doubt this team could win a title crept in. Ohio State then rattled off four straight dominant wins where the offense averaged 56 points. Wins over Penn State and Illinois still weren't enough to put Ohio State in the top 10 -- until an upset at No. 7 Michigan State 49-37 when Barrett accounted for five touchdowns. Looking back at Ohio State’s national championship-winning teams Ohio State met Michigan on a 10-game winning streak and won comfortably 42-28. The win was soured when Barrett suffered a leg injury early in the fourth quarter. This meant third-stringer Cardale Jones was pinned to start the Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin with playoff hopes in doubt. What the 1988 Fighting Irish did in the regular season rivals any in college football history. It began with a 19-17 win over No. 9 Michigan to firmly put Notre Dame in the top 10. The team was 5-0 before meeting No. 1 Miami in the "Catholics vs. Convicts" game. The Irish won 31-30 to snap Miami's 36-game regular-season winning streak. Holtz's now No. 1-ranked team faced an even bigger game to end the regular season against No. 2 USC in Los Angeles, beating the Trojans 27-10 to leave them one win away from the championship. 06 September 2014: running back Marshawn Williams (42) of the Virginia Tech Hokies being tackled by linebacker Darron Lee (43) of the Ohio State Buckeyes and linebacker Joshua Perry (37) of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 25: Curtis Samuel #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes during the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 25, 2014 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 8: J.T. Barrett #16 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on November 8, 2014 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)29 November 2014: Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Nick Vannett (81) looks to get around Michigan Wolverines defensive back Blake Countess (2) after a reception during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH (Photo by Khris Hale/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)College Football: Notre Dame Pat Terrell (15) in action, forcing incomplete pass vs Miami Leonard Conley (28) at Notre Dame Stadium. South Bend, IN 10/1988 CREDIT: John Biever (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37255 TK2 R1 F22 )College Football: Notre Dame Wes Pritchett (34) in action vs Miami at Notre Dame Stadium. South Bend, IN 10/15/1988 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37256 TK2 R5 F26 )College Football: Notre Dame Stan Smagala (29) victorious in endzone after returning interception for touchdown to take 20-7 lead vs USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles, CA 11/26/1988 CREDIT: V.J. Lovero (Photo by V.J. Lovero /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37485 TK1 R9 F15 )College Football: USC Rodney Peete (16) in action, making pass under pressure vs Notre Dame at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles, CA 11/26/1988 CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37483 TK1 R3 F37 ) Postseason No one knew what to expect going into the Big Ten championship in regards to both Ohio State's play and how the playoff committee would pick the first four-team bracket. Jones entered the game in Indianapolis with big questions, and he answered all of them in a 59-0 win over Wisconsin. The Buckeyes entered the game ranked fifth in the playoff poll but jumped into fourth for the final playoff spot, sending them to the Sugar Bowl against No. 1 Alabama. Atlanta working to keep College Playoff championship game safe The Crimson Tide were heavily favored with a roster that had tons of NFL talent, including Derrick Henry, Amari Cooper and Jonathan Allen. But Ohio State won 42-35, capped by an 85-yard touchdown run from Elliott. The running back then scored four touchdowns in the national title win over No. 2 Oregon 42-20 in Arlington, Texas. Times were simpler in 1988 as Notre Dame needed one Fiesta Bowl win over No. 3 West Virginia to be the consensus champion. They beat the Mountaineers 34-21 to end the season with wins over teams ranked No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 for the program's 11th national championship. NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Devin Smith #9 of the Ohio State Buckeyes completes a reception against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Cardale Jones #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 12: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with the trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks 42 to 20 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 12: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball in the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 12: Quarterback Cardale Jones #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)College Football: Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame Ricky Watters (12) in action, rushing on 2nd down and goal vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium. Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989 CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37618 TK1 R7 F22 )College Football: Fiesta Bowl: View of Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz victoirous, being hoisted up by players and coaches after winning game vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium. Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989 CREDIT: John Biever (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37619 )College Football: Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame Tony Rice (9) in action vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium.Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989CREDIT: Richard Mackson (Photo by Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)(Set Number: X37617 )College Football: Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame Rodney Culver (5) in action, rushing into endzone for touchdown to take 16-0 lead vs West Virginia at Sun Devil Stadium. Tempe, AZ 1/2/1989 CREDIT: John Biever (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X37619 TK2 R12 F23 )