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 all-time among NCAAs officially recognized championships.
This is also the first title since the 2014 season, the first College Football Playoff.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. (PROPOSE)
The Buckeyes have been such a different team since they lost 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 their high-powered offense to power their way through. past Notre Dame to win everything.
But this game wasn’t like previous Ohio State victories this playoff, as the Fighting Irish really made a statement on an opening drive that lasted 18 plays and killed more than nine minutes of the first quarter.
And it was 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 on a fourth-and-1 at the Ohio State five-yard line. ESPN even reported that Leonard ran to the sideline, threw up and stumbled a bit before sitting on the bench. He also appeared to tell teammates that he had landed on the ball during one of the runs, which could have caused an upset stomach.
The momentum quickly shifted to the Ohio State sideline, however, as Will Howard and his group of talented weapons not only responded, but took over when they had the ball in their hands.
The ensuing drive lasted 11 plays and 75 yards, as freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith capped the drive with a perfect play call where he pretended to run after Howard with a pre-snap move, but planted himself in the ground and into the end zone walked with no one in sight.
Not only did Ryan Day’s group tie the game, but the defense also stepped up as they forced back-to-back three-and-outs on Notre Dame’s second and third drives. And the Buckeyes’ offense used that to their advantage with two more touchdown drives before the end of the first half.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) celebrates a touchdown catch with tight end Gee Scott Jr. (88) against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. (PROPOSE)
Quinshon Judkins, the explosive running back who splits time with TreVeyon Henderson, scored both touchdowns, the first of which was a nine-yard run in which he fought through multiple tackles to cross 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, putting the Buckeyes up 21-7.
And 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 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, as well as his two catches for 21 yards.
There was some concern for Ohio State, however, as Notre Dame cut it to a two-score game after Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for a 34-yard touchdown and converted the two-point attempt to make it 31-15 .
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The concern was due to a fumble by Emeka Egbuka after going 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 drive downfield, and Leonard found himself pounding the pavement until an incomplete pass to Greathouse set up the fourth-and-goal from Ohio State’s nine-yard line with 9:27 to play 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 on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Given the score, you’d think head coach Marcus Freeman wanted to try his luck at another touchdown, but kicker Mitch Jeter and the special teams unit ran onto the field. And the interesting play call failed, as Jeter’s 27-yard field goal attempt ran off the left goal post – he turned it into a hook.
The game wasn’t quite over after the defense forced a punt, and Leonard was able to find Greathouse again, this time with 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 had sniffed it out, but he threw it to Beaux Collins for the successful attempt.
With it being a one-score game, the Buckeyes had to dig deep on the Fighting Irish, knowing a stop gave them a chance to complete the comeback.
Backed by third-and-11, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly called a brave deep pass from Howard to Smith, and despite the freshman not getting a single reception in the second half, he secured the dagger – a 57-yard catch to put the Buckeyes up the nine-metre line after the two-minute warning.
The Buckeyes were able to run out the clock at that point while the Fighting Irish used all their timeouts, and the celebration ensued.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates a touchdown with running back Quinshon Judkins (1) against 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. (PROPOSE)
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In the box score, Leonard went 20-for-29 for 240 yards with two touchdowns, while also rushing for a team-high 40 yards on 17 carries with his score on the ground. Greathouse also had 11 yards on five receptions.
For the Buckeyes, Smith led the way with his 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 rushed for 57 yards on 16 carries.
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