Notre Dame ready for Alabama's offense

If the offense of the Alabama Crimson Tide is known for one thing, that would probably be its penchant for running right at opponents until defenses wear down late in the game. They do this, as JJ Stankevitz of CSNChicago.com writes on Friday, with plenty of help from a huge, imposing offensive line.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish know what they're up against, though, and they're ready to face it in the National Championship game on Jan. 7.

Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt, members of the Fighting Irish's defense that allowed a nation's best 10.3 points per game on average, will be lining up against the Crimson Tide's big offensive line.

Here's Nix, from Stankevitz's report, on the challenges that Alabama poses:

"What I see is a big, physical Alabama offensive line. Traditional, hard-nosed, hit-you-in-the-mouth, and that's what we expected, that's what we wanted because win or lose, it'll better the team, it'll be better me, it'll better Tuitt, it'll better everyone because a hard, physical game is what we need."

Stankevitz also mentions that Alabama's offensive line has allowed quarterback A.J. McCarron to be sacked 23 times this season.

The national title game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 7 in Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla., and will be televised on ESPN.