The Buckeyes are back on top, as Ohio State defeated Notre Dame, 34-23, to win the College Football Playoff national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday night.
Ohio State has now won nine college football titles, tying them with USC for fourth among officially recognized championships by the NCAA.
It is also the first title since the 2014 season, which was college football’s first postseason.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Stadium Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta, January 20. 2025. (IMAGINE)
The Buckeyes are such a different team since losing to Michigan in their rivalry game. And after convincingly beating Tennessee (42-17), Oregon in the Rose Bowl (41-21) and Texas in the Cotton Bowl (28-14), Ohio State used its high-scoring offense high octane to force his way past Notre Dame and win it all.
But this game wasn’t like Ohio State’s previous victories in these postseasons, as the Fighting Irish really made a statement on an opening drive that lasted 18 plays and killed more than nine minutes of the game. first quarter.
And it’s all thanks to the hard work of quarterback Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame offensive line.
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Leonard ran nine times for 34 yards and scored after picking up a fourth-and-1 at the Ohio State five-yard line. ESPN even reported that Leonard ran to the sideline, vomited and stumbled a bit before sitting down on the bench. He also appeared to tell his teammates that he had landed on the ball during one of the runs, which could have caused an upset stomach.
However, the momentum quickly shifted to the Ohio State sideline, as Will Howard and his group of talented weapons not only responded, but took over when they had the ball between their hands.
The ensuing drive went 11 plays and 75 yards, as freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith capped the drive with a perfect play call that saw him act like he was running behind Howard during a pre-snap move, but planting in the ground and walking into the end zone with no one in sight.
Ryan Day’s group not only tied the game, but the defense turned it up a notch by forcing three-and-outs in a row on Notre Dame’s second and third drives. And the Buckeyes offense used that to its advantage with two more touchdowns before the end of the first half.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) celebrates a touchdown catch with Gee Scott Jr. (88) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. (IMAGINE)
Quinshon Judkins, the explosive running back who splits time with TreVeyon Henderson, scored both of those touchdowns, the first being a nine-yard run in which he fought through multiple tackles to get over the line. Then he was wide open in the end zone on a rolling throw from Howard with 27 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Buckeyes a 21-7 lead.
And as if that wasn’t deflating enough, Judkins scored his third touchdown of the night on the first drive of the second half – a one-yard run that was set up by his 70-yard run on of the second play of the half to immediately get the Buckeyes first and goal.
Judkins finished the game with 100 rushing yards on just 11 carries along with his two catches for 21 yards.
There was some concern for Ohio State, however, when Notre Dame reduced it to a two-point game after Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for a 34-yard touchdown and converted the two-point try to bring the lead score at 31-15.
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The problem was due to a fumble by Emeka Egbuka after running 24 yards on a catch-and-run. It was Ohio State’s first fumble since their game against Penn State on November 2.
Notre Dame used that turnover to move down the field, and Leonard found himself knocking on the door until an incomplete pass to Greathouse got him on fourth-and-goal at the nine-yard line. ‘Ohio State with 9:27 left in the game.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day celebrates after a touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Given the score, you’d think head coach Marcus Freeman wanted to take a chance on another touchdown, but kicker Mitch Jeter and the special teams unit rushed the field. And the interesting play call backfired, as Jeter’s 27-yard field goal attempt sailed off the left goal post — he snagged it.
The game wasn’t entirely over after the defense forced a punt, and Leonard was able to find Greathouse once again, this time on a beautifully thrown ball and an even better catch from 30 yards out. Needing another two-point conversion, Jordan Faison took a handoff and it looked like Ohio State sniffed it out, but he threw it to Beaux Collins for the successful try.
Now in a one-score game, the Buckeyes had to dig deep with the Fighting Irish knowing a stop gave them a chance to complete the comeback.
Backed by third-and-11, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly completed a courageous deep pass from Howard to Smith, and although the freshman didn’t have a single reception in the second half, he got the dagger – a 57-yard catch to put the Buckeyes on the nine-yard line after the two-minute warning.
The Buckeyes could then run out of time, with the Fighting Irish using up all their timeouts, and celebration ensued.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates a touchdown with running back Quinshon Judkins (1) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. (IMAGINE)
In box scoring, Leonard was 20 of 29 for 240 yards with two touchdowns, while rushing for a game-high 40 yards on 17 carries with his rushing score. Greathouse also had 11 yards on five receptions.
For the Buckeyes, Smith led the way with 89 yards on five receptions, while Egbuka had six catches for 64 yards. Howard finished the game 17 of 21 for 231 yards, and he also totaled 57 yards on 16 carries.
