Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard transferred to the Fighting Irish via Duke this offseason, and Ohio State quarterback Will Howard came to the Buckeyes from Kansas State. Without Leonard and Howard,

Neither QB was ranked in the top 600 nationally. Leonard signed with Duke, Howard with Kansas State. Here's the backstory.

Riley Leonard and Will Howard, the soon-to-be starting quarterbacks at Notre Dame and Ohio State, attended the famed Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State over the summer. They were roommates, getting ready for the pressure cooker of big-time college football at two of the biggest brands in the sport.

The quarterbacks at Ohio State and Notre Dame, roommates last year at the Manning Passing Academy, lead their respective teams into Monday’s championship game.

It was one night last June when Will Howard and Riley Leonard stayed up late bonding over talk about their families, faith and what life might have in store for them. “Genuine