Fiesta Bowl 2016: Underrated Stars to Watch, Picks in Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

Outside of the College Football Playoff, it doesn't get much better than the matchup of Ohio State and Notre Dame in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. 

They are two of college football's most winning programs (Notre Dame at No. 2, Ohio State at No. 4).

Both feature plenty of NFL talent, as Bleacher Report NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller currently has seven players on these two rosters going in the first round of his latest mock draft. 

Realistically, the two teams are a combined seven points from making up half of the playoff field. 

Despite all the history between the two programs, it's a rare sight to see them actually play one another. Even though the two campuses are separated by less than 300 miles, the two schools have only played five times. 

It's been nearly a decade since the two last met. Once again the Fiesta Bowl played host to the two teams in 2006. This time, A.J. Hawk and Brady Quinn won't be playing, which means we'll get to enjoy the game without gratuitous shots to a certain split jersey every 30 seconds. 

It also means that new stars have stepped into the limelight for both programs. Names like Ezekiel Elliott, J.T. Barrett, Will Fuller and Jaylon Smith have dominated headlines this season. 

But those players aren't the only ones who will have an impact on the game. Here's a look at a player from each team who will play a pivotal role along with a pick for the game. 

Notre Dame: Defensive Tackle Sheldon Day

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Taking a look at each team's strengths and weaknesses, the biggest question surrounding this game is how Notre Dame intends to slow down Ohio State's running game. 

The Buckeyes are at their most terrifying level of play when they are running the ball successfully. Ezekiel Elliott is obviously one of the best running backs in the country (1,672 yards, 19 TDs). He infamously did not get going in the Michigan State game (12 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD), and Ohio State suffered the consequences.

So, how does Notre Dame replicate Michigan State's performance?

It all starts with defensive tackle Sheldon Day. Jaylon Smith gets most of the credit for what the Irish do on defense, but it's Day that makes the front go. 

The 6'2", 285-pound senior will line up in multiple positions along the line and look to be a disruptive force while keeping Smith free to track down runners. 

It hasn't led to great numbers this season, as Day is 43rd in tackles for loss with 14.5 and racked up just four sacks. However, Pro Football Focus, which bases their grades on game film, named him a second-team All-American:

With Day and Smith combining to fill gaps in the middle, the Irish have a fighting chance of keeping Elliott in check on interior runs. 

That's half the battle in containing a Buckeyes offense that can light it up if the running game gets going. 

Ohio State: Tight End Nick Vannett

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

The Ohio State offense has produced some big numbers this season, but a key cog in that offense isn't going to impress you with his production. Tight end Nick Vannett has only caught 18 passes for 148 yards. 

The 6'6", 260-pound senior might not be as involved in the passing offense as some expected heading into the season, but his role as a blocker can't be understated. 

Urban Meyer's offense relies heavily on putting defenses in a bind with their formations. A versatile tight end such as Vannett works as a massive chess piece that can be moved all over the field to put the running game in favorable situations. 

Vannett will line up in the slot, as an in-line blocker as well as in the backfield in a fullback role. As Dane Brugler of CBS Sports notes, Vannett's blocking has been a valuable asset for Ohio State:

Should Day and Smith be able to slow the Buckeyes' interior running game, Vannett's job becomes even more important. The Buckeyes are adept at getting the ball to Elliott and allowing him to attack defenses on the perimeter, and it's oftentimes thanks to Vannett's ability to block on the outside. 

Tight ends coach Tim Hinton specifically praised Vannett's ability to block in space heading into the season, per Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch:

"

Nick had some big catches for us. We’re trying to work on some of the other things he can improve, such as while Jeff was a strong blocker on the inside (since tight ends at times are glorified tackles) and Nick was a little better at that on the outside, we’re trying to make Nick good at both.

"

It wouldn't be surprising to see Vannett get more involved in the passing game, either. Vannett caught five touchdown passes as a junior, but has yet to find the end zone this season. 

Notre Dame has a history of allowing tight ends to make a difference. Stanford and Clemson both found their tight ends for six in the only games the Irish lost this season. Pittsburgh tight end J.P. Holtz was also one of the Panthers' most productive receivers against Notre Dame with three catches for 50 yards. 

Once the Ohio State running game gets going, look for Vannett to sneak out into the flats or just past the linebackers to make a big catch or two to go with his key blocking. 

Prediction

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Of the seven projected first-round selections in this game, five of them will be donning scarlet and gray. Looking into the next round of Miller's mock draft reveals another five Buckeyes. 

To put it simply, this Ohio State team is loaded. 

Unfortunately for them, all of that individual talent hasn't quite jelled the way that it did last season, leaving the team just short of the playoff. 

However, the team's 42-13 win over Michigan is reminiscent of its 59-0 win over Wisconsin last season. It might have taken losing to Michigan State for Meyer to get his team to fire on all cylinders. 

Now that it is, it's not a team you want to see in the postseason. 

Notre Dame has put together a great season. The fact they've only lost to No. 1 Clemson and Pac-12 champion Stanford by a combined four points shows how close they were to perfection.

However, Ohio State isn't the best matchup for them. With the Buckeyes' ability to run the football and Notre Dame's defense giving up 4.5 yards per carry, it's hard to imagine them containing Elliott for four quarters. 

Prediction: Prediction: Ohio State 38, Notre Dame 21

All statistics used courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted.