In previous eras of college football, the two teams in Monday night's championship game -- Ohio State and Notre Dame -- simply wouldn't have made the playoffs.

For most of the history of college football's premier league, a team had to go undefeated in the regular season, or be extremely lucky, to compete for a championship. A bad regular season loss can often ruin those opportunities.

But college football changes every year. The new 12-team playoff format opens the door to a new type of championship.

Ohio State and Notre Dame have been strong all season. But they both suffered a shocking loss in the regular season: The Buckeyes lost to a mediocre Michigan team in a contest against a mediocre Michigan team, while Notre Dame A shocking defeat by Northern Illinois in September.

Under the old system, these "L's" might have doomed both teams' championship hopes. Instead, they're preparing to compete on the sport's biggest stage to capture the first championship of the expanded playoff era.

Here's additional information about this match:

Both teams are among the most successful programs in college football history

In college football, nothing is more iconic than Notre Dame or Ohio State. Both programs are among the top five winningest teams all-time: Ohio State ranks second in total wins and Notre Dame is tied for fourth.

Ohio State has had more recent success, including championships in 2002 and 2014. In the 10 years the postseason has featured four teams, Ohio State has advanced half the time, while Notre Dame has advanced twice. Notre Dame last won the championship in 1988.

Another thing worth noting about modern college football: both teams are from the Midwest. College football is already dominated by Southern teams, which have won all but two of the past 19 championship games.

With Notre Dame win, head coach Marcus Freeman will make history

No Black or Asian American head coach has led a team to a national championship in college football history. Freeman, whose father is black and mother is Korean, is already the first coach exist Championship Game - A victory over Notre Dame would make him the first to win.

College football lags far behind the NFL and even college basketball and the NBA in terms of the achievements of black head coaches — even though about half of the sport's top players are black. Today, 16 of the 134 head coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision are black, a number that has barely changed in a decade.

Regardless of the outcome, this playoff run has turned the 39-year-old head coach into a star.

Keep an eye on Ohio State star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith

The Pearl of Ohio State University $20 million list Rising 19-year-old superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, a 6-foot-3 true freshman, lived up to the hype coming out of high school.

Smith has 1,227 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns this season. His biggest game to date was Ohio State's quarterfinal win over the then-undefeated Oregon Ducks. Smith had seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns, almost all of which came in the dominant first half.

His ability to make big plays has been key to Ohio State's success this season. Some NFL analysts say he will be the No. 1 pick in this year's upcoming NFL draft if he's eligible, but players must play in college for at least three years, so Smith has a chance to dominate college football for a while. .

The game could come down to which team has the most explosive performance — or turnovers

Ohio State has the better offense and is favored over touchdowns. Notre Dame is a strong defensive team — but is it enough?

Ohio State defeated Texas 28-14 in the semifinals, which may have been a bit lopsided based on the final score. But both of Ohio State's touchdowns came on long drives -- a short screen pass that turned into a 75-yard touchdown just before halftime, and an 83-yard fumble in the final minutes of the game. This established the outcome of the game.

Texas held on because its defense neutralized Ohio State's explosive offense. The Longhorns held Smith to just one catch for three yards. But in the end, the Texas offense couldn't convert when it mattered most.

Notre Dame is more of a scrappy team. The Irish focused on the running game, controlling the line of scrimmage and limiting costly turnovers.

Quarterback Riley Leonard's legs have been a difference-maker for the Irish all season. But in the semifinals against Penn State, it was his arm that made the difference in the game's biggest moments -- including a 54-yard touchdown run in the final seconds to tie the game and then a crucial game-winner with 17 seconds left. A pass that helps the team easily shoot the ball within range of the final score of the game. Can he step up for Ireland again?

Monday night's game in Atlanta will begin at 7:30 PM ET and will be televised on ESPN and Fubo.