Cincinnati Bengals fans will have an important purpose for watching tonight's College Football Playoff National Championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Yes, many fans have allegiances to either program and will already be watching with intensity this evening,

Monday will be the ninth time that Ohio State and Notre Dame have met in program history. The Buckeyes won the last meeting 17-14 in 2023 on a last-second touchdown in South Bend, Indiana. Golden will have the challenging task of stopping an Ohio State offense that ranks 12th in points (35.8) nationally.

SOUTH BEND — Adon Shuler, second-year safety for Notre Dame football and proud North Jersey guy, has a nickname for defensive coordinator Al Golden ... in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Call it the Worlds Colliding Bowl. Not only was Golden ...

Choose your Al Golden storyline for Thursday's Orange Bowl ... Dame defensive coordinator — will help guide the Fighting Irish (13-1) into the College Football Playoff national semifinals on Thursday night, when they take on the Nittany Lions (13-2).

How the Notre Dame defensive coordinator is trying his best put away his Penn State feelings for one important College Football Playoff night.

The Cincinnati Bengals seem like a team with eyes for Al Golden as the next defensive coordinator, at least once he wraps up his season with Notre Dame on Monday night in the title game. Golden, though, has previously shot down the idea of joining the Bengals due to his focus on Notre Dame’s College Football playoff push.

The Irish have been so well coached that NFL teams have taken notice. In recent weeks, reports have indicated that Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden are receiving interest from the professional ranks.

Colts Neck Al Golden, once a star tight end for Penn State, will coach against his alma mater with Notre Dame in the CFP Orange Bowl.

Here's a look back at Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden's ties to Penn State ahead of Thursday's Orange Bowl:

No. 7 Notre Dame has the longest active winning streak in college football, having not lost since way back in Week 2 to Northern Illinois. The Irish have beaten Indiana, Georgia and Penn State to get to this point.

Next up for Notre Dame is Ohio State with the entire sport watching. Here are three keys and a prediction of Monday night.