A house divided ahead of Ohio State-Notre Dame title game
POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) - Ohio State Buckeye fans can be found all over the country. If you travel to another city or state, you're likely to run into a Buckeye at some point.
Notre Dame fans are very similar. There are many Notre Dame supporters right here in central Ohio.
Some homes even contain both.
In a "normal" college football season, Notre Dame fans and Buckeye fans can live peacefully. After all, the teams have only played seven times in the 135 year history of both programs.
Monday's National Championship game will be the eighth matchup of the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish, and the third in the last three years.
Quentin and Abbey Ison are one of those households that is home to both an Irish fan and a Buckeye fan.
“My passion for Ohio State football's never going to wane. Me older and older, I get I think it gets more intense," Quentin said.
"I've even become more invested in Notre Dame football, which I didn't really know was possible,” Abbey said. “We both love college football so much that it does build such a passion between us, even if we don't obviously agree on our favorite teams."
"Very early on in our relationship, like, we were able to talk about similar topics,” Abbey said. “Like I said, even though our teams differed, we both just love the sport so much.”
It's been an up-and-down season for both Isons. Notre Dame suffered its only loss in their second game, a home loss to unranked and 28-point underdog Northern Illinois.
"It has been like a true roller coaster. You go up that first hill against Texas A&M and then you go straight down to the bottom. When you lose to NIU that very next game," said Abbey.
Notre Dame started the year by upsetting a ranked Texas A&M team on the road. The Buckeyes didn't suffer such a surprising early season loss as Notre Dame. They lost their sixth game of the season by just one point against #3 Oregon. But the rollercoaster reached a new low in late November.
"The whole build-up, the whole year, the storyline was just beat Michigan, you know, and you come up short again and maybe you feel like you should have won that game, and then they plant the flag and all that, all the terrible stuff ensues after that,” Quentin said. “It's obviously not easy to lose your rival like those four straight years. But if they can get it done, it heals some of those wounds. I won't say all, but to heal some of those wounds.”
The couple has gone to many games together. They were at Yankee Stadium for the Notre Dame vs. Army matchup. They were at Ohio Stadium for the Buckeyes dismantling of Tennessee to start the College Football Playoffs.
Quentin said he doesn't mind rooting for Notre Dame for his wife.
"Yeah, outright I do. I don't have a problem with Notre Dame, I never did,” he said. “My mom's raised Catholic, so I think there's a small shred of her that respects the program.”
Abbey does not feel the same about the Buckeyes.
"Absolutely not,” she said. “It does not cause any point of contention in our marriage. But that is one thing I'm pretty staunch on is I am -- I don't want to say anti-Ohio State, but I don't cheer for them.”
Though they have gone to many games together, Monday's National Championship will not be one of them.
"I am heading down there with my dad,” Abbey said. “He has always been a ride-or-die for Notre Dame games, so Big Al and Abbey, you're going to one last game.”
They'll be with a group of Notre Dame fans they've grown to know over the years.
As for Quentin, "I'll be watching it here,” he said. “I got plenty of whiskey in the basement. I'll probably order a pizza. If we win, maybe I'll head out to the local bar that I frequent and hang out with some friends to celebrate.”
The couple will celebrate their first wedding anniversary in February. One of them will be able to call their team a National Champion. The other will not.
"Things are going strong, we hope continue to go strong after this game," Abbey said.
As for the game, they both have their own predictions.
"27-17 Ohio State is what I'm going to say," Quentin said.
“I think 24-21 Notre Dame,” Abbey said.