College Football Players’ Faith a Leading Factor Behind Confidence on the Field as Ohio State and Notre Dame Face Off in National Championship
Ohio State, the favorite to win the national title, has players who have spoken openly about their faith and how it has impacted their performance on the field. A number of Buckeyes players have credited their faith with giving them confidence, saying it is a key factor behind their success.
Star receiver Emeka Egbuka, a graduate student, spoke about how he turned to his faith and how it has changed his life. He was invited to attend a mass by his fellow teammates and felt a true connection to his faith for the first time. “Ever since then, my life has been changed. A complete 180, and I have a similar testimony to a lot of players on the team,” he said.
Star running back TreVeyon Henderson credited his faith with saving him from a path of destruction after he suffered an injury, leading to a standout rookie season and numerous NIL deals. “He saved my life from going down that road of destruction. He saved me. He put me on this path of everlasting life…I’m so thankful that Jesus, He rescued me from that path and put me on His path,” he said.
Tight end Gee Scott Jr. noted that this season has been marked by massive spiritual change, with many players making the public declaration of yielding their lives to Christ. He commends this, saying it is especially important in today’s world where people can easily surrender their lives to other things.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard praised both teams for speaking openly about their faith, saying it is a big reason why they are the two teams battling for the national championship. He believes it has brought the teams together and given them a sense of purpose.