ATLANTA — Two months after a stunning loss to their most bitter rival seeded doubts about Ohio State’s coach and future, the Buckeyes left no doubt Monday about their place within college football’s hierarchy.
To end the 2024 season, Ohio State sits alone at the top after its 34-23 win against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national championship earned the program’s ninth national title and its first in a decade.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard finished 17-for-21 passing for 231 yards and two scores. His 56-yard completion to star freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith with 2:45 remaining in the fourth quarter and Ohio State clinging to an eight-point lead set up the game-clinching touchdown.
"I just knew in my mind I had to make a play," said Smith, who finished with 88 yards on five catches. "Finally, we got (one-on-one coverage) toward the end of the game, but I just knew I had to make a play when it's man on man."
Running back Quinshon Judkins added 100 yards on the ground with two rushing scores and a receiving touchdown. Against one of the best third-down defenses in the nation, Ohio State converted 9-of-12 third-down opportunities as it scythed through Notre Dame's defense for much of the first three quarters.
Buckeyes players danced under confetti falling from the ceiling of Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the final seconds ran off the clock. To get here, Ohio State (14-2) had to first regroup from its Nov. 30 home loss to Michigan. Heavy underdogs, the Wolverines nonetheless muted Ohio State’s bevy of offensive playmakers in a performance that eliminated Ohio State from the Big Ten championship game and left Buckeyes coach Ryan Day with a blank stare and fans shaken in their confidence that Day was the right man to shoulder the enormous expectations that every Ohio State football coach inherits.
"It wasn’t like at the end of the year we were broken, it wasn’t that way," Day said after he earned his long-sought national title. "We had an awful day. I don’t know how else to describe it. We had an awful day, and we just said we could never do that again, and I think it’s the job of the head coach to take the responsibility when something goes bad like that."
In any other year, a two-loss Ohio State team coming off a bitter regular-season finale would not have made the four-team College Football Playoff field. Yet this season marked the first of an expanded field that grew to 12, and Ohio State, which limped into the field as the eighth seed, took advantage. Over the next three games — blowouts of Tennessee, in the first round, and top-seeded Oregon, in a quarterfinal, followed by a narrow semifinal victory over Texas — the Buckeyes never trailed and did not flinch under pressure by making plays that either took control from the very start against Texas or sealed a win at the very end.
The Buckeyes finally showed vulnerability in Monday’s national championship game against the seventh-seeded Irish (14-2), who marched 75 yards and took nearly 10 minutes off the clock before they scored a touchdown on the opening drive.
That proved to be the high point of Notre Dame’s night. Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first four drives and added a field goal on its fifth to lead 31-7 in only the third quarter. By then, its rushing attack had gained more yards in barely more than two quarters than the Irish had allowed on average per game all season.
Notre Dame made a late attempt at a rally by scoring to trim its deficit to 31-15 late in the third quarter. When its field goal attempt bounced off the left upright and fell harmlessly to the turf minutes later, the celebration continued inside a stadium dominated by a palette of fans dressed in Ohio State’s scarlet and gray. When the Fighting Irish again, with 4:15 left in regulation, a nervous tension overtook the stadium until Smith's completion.
"It was a big play for the freshman," Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka said. "He's amazing, he's going to have an amazing career, here and in the NFL."
It is the first time since 1965-66 that the Big Ten has won at least a share of a national championship in consecutive seasons; Michigan claimed last season’s title. The Wolverines, this season, appeared to push Ohio State to the brink of collapse in late November.
"There were a lot of hard conversations that had to be had," Egbuka said of the weeks after the loss to Michigan.
Those conversations begat celebrations Monday. After celebratory confetti fell on a hastily assembled stage near the end zone and after Buckeyes players hoisted the championship trophy, Day stepped down from the stage and was grabbed by a friend on the field in a hug.
"You look good soaked!" he told Day, who had been drenched in a sideline bath in the final seconds.
Day smiled widely. So much can change in two months.
Ohio State celebrates ninth national title
Final: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23
The Ohio State Buckeyes are national champions!
The Buckeyes dominated this game in the first half, and their hot start proved to be too much for Notre Dame to overcome. The Fighting Irish went down by as many as 24 points before coming as close as eight in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State finally regrouped and put the game out of reach with a field goal in the final minute.
It’s a much-needed win for embattled Buckeyes coach Ryan Day. It’s Ohio State’s first national title since 2014.
Ohio State ices game with field goal
After the 56-yard deep shot to Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes ran down the clock and hit a 33-yard field goal. It’s now a 34-23 Ohio State lead with 26 seconds to go.
It was a spirited comeback by Notre Dame, but this one is all but over.
Ohio State just made the biggest play of the game
Facing a 3rd-and-9 from their own 36, the Buckeyes were in danger of giving the ball back to the Fighting Irish with a chance to tie the game. Instead, Will Howard made his best throw of the night, throwing a 56-yard bomb to Jeremiah Smith.
Now, Ohio State is in the red zone with a chance to make this a two-score game with under two minutes to go.
Touchdown, Notre Dame!
This is getting interesting!
Riley Leonard threw a beautiful pass to Jaden Greathouse down the left sideline for a 30-yard touchdown. And then the Fighting Irish ran a wide receiver reverse-turned-pass to convert the two-point attempt.
It’s now a one-score game! What a comeback from the Fighting Irish.
The Buckeyes’ lead has been trimmed to 31-23.
Ohio State punts following missed field goal
The Buckeyes punt only five plays after the Fighting Irish missed a field goal. The drive did take another three minutes off the clock, though, which is pretty important right now.
Notre Dame has the ball, still trailing 31-15. There’s only 6:25 left in the fourth quarter.
The stadium soundtrack doesn't lie
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" blared through the stadium speakers with 9:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, an appropriate choice of soundtrack after Notre Dame's missed field goal keeps it down 31-15. (And with Jon Bon Jovi himself watching from a stadium suite.) The Irish are indeed holding onto the final threads of hope in a potential rally after their best opportunity for points of this half results in nothing.
Notre Dame kicks field goal down two scores, gets rewarded as such
The Fighting Irish had a 4th-and-goal from the 9-yard line, and instead of going for a touchdown while trailing 31-15, they opted for a 27-yard field goal.
Mitch Jeter’s kick was subsequently rejected hard by the left upright, doinking to the turf.
The Buckeyes now have the ball and still lead 31-15.
Can Notre Dame see this comeback through?
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
The best team in the country at forcing turnovers this season, with 32, Notre Dame finally made Ohio State blink early in the fourth quarter by stripping receiver Emeka Egbuka of the ball during what was otherwise a 24-yard Ohio State gain and recovering the fumble.
If you're looking for Notre Dame optimism, quarterback Riley Leonard's last two completions (for 34 yards, and 30) have been his longest of the game as the sputtering Irish may have found life.
Fumble! Notre Dame recovers!
Seconds after Chris Fowler said Ohio State doesn’t fumble...the Buckeyes fumbled the ball! Emeka Egbuka lost the ball at the end of a 24-yard run, and the Fighting Irish recovered the ball.
Is the comeback on?
End of third: Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 15
The Fighting Irish finally fought back in the third quarter, scoring their first touchdown since their opening drive.
Ohio State still has a commanding lead, however. And the Buckeyes will have a 2nd-and-8 from the Notre Dame 45 when the fourth quarter begins.
Touchdown, Notre Dame!
Finally!
After being held scoreless since their first drive of the game, the Fighting Irish got back in the end zone. Notre Dame drove 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse. It was a solid drive that featured the Fighting Irish’s first third-down conversion since the opening possession. (It was aided by a pass interference penalty as well.)
The Irish also converted a two-point conversion, making this a two-score game.
The Buckeyes now lead 31-15.
The Fighting Irish finally get a stop!
For the first time all game, the Buckeyes’ offense failed to score a touchdown. Backed up by a holding penalty, Will Howard overthrew an open receiver in the end zone on 3rd-and-16.
Ohio State still added to its lead, though. Set up with a short field after a failed fake punt, the Buckeyes salvaged the drive with a field goal.
Ohio State leads 31-7.
Notre Dame gamble doesn’t pay off
The Fighting Irish, trying to inject some life into this game, attempted a fake punt on 4th-and-2 from their own 33. The pass by backup quarterback Steven Angeli was incomplete, however, and now the Buckeyes are set up deep in Notre Dame territory.
Notre Dame's title hopes have bent. Are they about to break?
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff's national championship game behind an unyielding defense, the Irish allowing 133 yards rushing on average per game.
Plot twist: Only four drives into this game, Ohio State has already racked up 162 yards on the ground, on a per-carry average of 7.4 yards, while taking a 28-7 lead. Quinshon Judkins leads with 88 yards on six carries, including a 70-yarder on a third-quarter drive that led to its latest score. A small car could have fit in the hole opened by Ohio State's offensive line on the big run, and Notre Dame has shown no ability to stop that kind of line play.
Touchdown, Ohio State!
And the second half picks up where the first left off.
The Buckeyes are back in the end zone. They’ve had four possessions, and each one has ended in a touchdown.
The only difference is Ohio State’s latest drive was a quick one. This time the offense needed only five plays to score. Quinshon Judkins had a 70-yard run to set the Buckeyes up inside the 10, then he finished the job with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Ohio State leads 28-7.
Analysis: Title in sight for Ohio State unless Notre Dame's defense awakens
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Ohio State's offense has scored a touchdown on all three of its possessions and doesn't appear as though it will hurt itself. It has nine "big" plays of either 10-plus yards rushing or 15-yards passing, to zero for Notre Dame.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day is 58-4 when leading at the half, and this 21-7 Buckeyes lead feels much bigger than two touchdowns given how steadily Ohio State answered Notre Dame's opening score, then seized control with two more touchdown drives. Notre Dame will need complementary football to win a comeback, and it starts with its defense getting off the field. Ohio State has faced an average third-down of 4.8 yards and converted all six third-down tries.
Halftime: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 7
The Buckeyes are in full control of this game so far.
Ohio State has scored on every one of its possessions so far.
Notre Dame scored on its first drive, then posted two straight three-and-outs before kneeling on its final possession of the half.
Touchdown, Ohio State!
The Buckeyes are dominating this game.
They just drove down the field for their third straight touchdown, this time going 80 yards in 12 plays. Quinshon Judkins just scored his second touchdown of the game, this time via a six-yard catch.
Every Ohio State drive so far has been at least 10 plays long, at least 75 yards long, and at least four minutes long.
Will Howard’s completion streak is finally done
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard began tonight’s game completing his first 13 passes. He finally threw an incomplete pass on the Buckeyes’ third drive, on a throw that was very nearly picked off.
He did set a record with the 13 completions, however.
Where has that methodical Irish offense gone?
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Notre Dame ate 9 minutes, 45 seconds of clock on its first drive behind a steady push from the offensive line. Its two drives since have lasted 3:11 combined. Its title hopes hinge on putting together another punishing touchdown drive, or else risk losing contact with Ohio State.
Another punt for Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish are reeling right now. They’re punting for the second drive in a row, and for the second time in a row, it was also a three-and-out.
The Buckeyes have a 14-7 lead and the ball on their own 20.
Touchdown, Ohio State!
Another possession, another long drive for Ohio State.
This time the Buckeyes go 76 yards in 10 plays, once again nearly taking six minutes off the clock in the process. Quinshon Judkins got the touchdown with a nine-yard run.
Notre Dame needs to find some answers on defense. Ohio State’s dominating right now, particularly at the line of scrimmage.
Ohio State hurting vaunted Notre Dame defense
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Notre Dame allowed opponents to convert just 29% of its third-down attempts this season, the fifth-best mark in the 134-team Football Bowl Subdivision. Ohio State, however, has found no issue — a perfect 4-for-4 thus far while taking a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Those conversions have allowed Ohio State to average 7.4 yards per play, nearly three yards higher than Notre Dame's season average.
Ohio State finding ways to utilize super freshman Smith
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Since November, Ohio State has alternated between running its offense through All-America freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and not being able to use him at all. In a November loss to Michigan, Smith was targeted for passes just two times. Then, in the playoff's first round against Tennessee and quarterfinal against Oregon, he caught 13 passes for a combined 290 yards and four touchdowns.
The pendulum swung the other way against Texas in the semifinal, when the Longhorns found a way to shut down Smith through double coverage, limiting him to just one catch for three yards. So far against Notre Dame, Smith has already exceeded that total, with two catches, including a touchdown off this tricky play design called by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Getting Smith the ball has portended good things for the Buckeyes. Can they keep it up tonight?
Notre Dame goes three-and-out on second drive
Two penalties — a false start and a holding — forced a Notre Dame punt on the offense’s second drive. The Fighting Irish weren’t able to convert a 3rd-and-23.
The Buckeyes have the ball back in a 7-7 game. They’ll start on their own 24.
Touchdown, Ohio State!
Ohio State had to watch Notre Dame march down the field so the Buckeyes did the same thing when they got a chance.
Ohio State drove 75 yards in 11 plays, taking nearly six minutes off the clock before getting into the end zone. Jeremiah Smith caught an eight-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
We’re knotted at 7-7. Both offenses have held serve so far.
Relentless pace will leave fewer opportunities
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
It took only 26 minutes of real time to finish the opening, 15-minute quarter of the national title game. That is blazing fast, and is notable because if Notre Dame can grind away clock as it did on its nearly 10-minute first drive, it will reduce how many opportunities each team has to score, ratcheting up the stakes on each one. Ohio State must get points here.
End of first: Notre Dame 7, Ohio State 0
The first quarter is done and we haven’t even had two full possessions yet.
After a marathon drive by Notre Dame to start, Ohio State is following up with one of its own. The Buckeyes are in the midst of a nine-play, 62-yard drive as we head to the second quarter.
Ohio State will have a 1st-and-10 on the Fighting Irish 13 when play resumes. Both offenses have the defenses on their heels so far.
Ohio State finally forced to play from behind
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
The Buckeyes had not trailed for even a single second in any of its three playoff victories to reach the national championship game, but that streak ends after Notre Dame's touchdown opens the game.
Entering tonight, Ohio State had allowed opponents to drive inside the 20-yard line 36 times this season, and allowed just 15 touchdowns — the second-lowest touchdown percentage inside the red zone in the country. But Notre Dame, thus far, is already 1-for-1.
Notre Dame strikes first
That was the perfect start for Notre Dame. Strung together a bunch of first downs, ate a ton of clock & went for it (and got it) on fourth down twice.
Touchdown, Notre Dame!
You could not script a better opening drive for Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish went 75 yards in 18 plays, taking nearly 10 minutes off the clock. Quarterback Riley Leonard — who converted multiple fourth-down attempts on the possession — capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Notre Dame leads 7-0. It’s the first time Ohio State has trailed during the playoffs.
Notre Dame relying on quarterback's legs
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Irish quarterback Riley Leonard entered tonight's title game with 866 rushing yards this season and 16 touchdowns on the ground — both single-season bests for Leonard. And Notre Dame has effectively kept Ohio State guessing by utilizing both Leonard's passing and rushing on this first drive, including asking Leonard to convert on a third down, and later a fourth down. Already, Leonard has four carries for 17 yards.
We’re off!
The College Football Playoff championship game is underway!
Notre Dame has the ball first and the first play from scrimmage was a run that lost one yard.
Moments from kickoff
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" is blaring through the speakers inside this completely full stadium as the captains meet at midfield alongside Dr. Bernice A. King, who is an honorary captain on the day the nation honors her father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ohio State won the toss and will defer to the second half, which means Notre Dame will take the opening kickoff.
All-American freshmen could face off
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
As just a freshman, Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore has helped the Irish produce one of the country's stingiest defenses against the pass.
And, as just a freshman, receiver Jeremiah Smith has helped Ohio State deploy one of the country's deepest corps of pass-catchers.
Each shares something in common, being named All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America after superlative debut seasons in college football. (Moore was named the defensive freshman of the year by the FWAA, as well.) The drama Monday will come if those two face one another in coverage.
How the crowd is made up
Rough estimate is Ohio State fans outnumber Notre Dame fans 55-45 or 60-40. It’s fairly even.
What it's like inside the stadium
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Temperatures dipped significantly in Atlanta overnight into the teens, but that did not keep fans from filling Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Bands are on the field from the respective universities with 20 minutes remaining before kickoff, and the stands are virtually full.
The tunnels and concourses of the stadium remain bone-chilling cold, particularly where the wind rushes through doors and entrances. But on the field, there's no noticeable dip in temperature.
Is hand healthy for Ohio State QB?
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Will Howard injured his non-throwing hand during a semifinal victory against Texas, as cameras captured a golf ball-sized bruise swelling mid-game. Howard said he will be fine to play.
“The hand is good,” he said. “It’s just a weird bruise thing on my hand. It didn’t hurt at all. It just looked terrible. I didn’t even realize until after the TV realized that my hand was pretty blown up.”
Ohio State yet to trail
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
To reach the College Football Playoff national championship game, the Buckeyes won three games, all by double digits, all while never trailing for a single second. After jumping out to a 21-0 lead against Tennessee in the first round, and a 34-0 lead over Oregon in the quarterfinal, the Buckeyes allowed Texas to tie their semifinal twice, for a total of 22 minutes, but never relinquished the lead fully.
In its own three playoff victories, Notre Dame has led for 90 minutes, 30 seconds, been tied for 63:05 and trailed for 26:25.
The rare 15-win club? Notre Dame can join it.
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
The expansion of the College Football Playoff this season from four teams to 12 has extended the season to a 16th game for both Notre Dame (14-1) and Ohio State (13-2). If the Fighting Irish win tonight, they will join Clemson (2018), LSU (2019), Georgia (2022) and Michigan (2023) as the only teams in modern college football history with 15 victories.
The key word there is "modern" — because three schools reached 16 wins in the 19th century. Yale (1889, and 1894) and Chicago (1899) are the only schools to win 16 in a single season. The last team to do it, Chicago, did it while playing a schedule that included four high schools.
Ohio State leads all-time series
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
This is the ninth meeting between these schools. Ohio State is 6-2, and won the last meeting in 2023, beating the Irish, 17-14, on the road.
Notre Dame preparing for another top defense
Ohio State’s defense is ranked No. 1 overall and No. 3 against the run. The Buckeyes have outscored playoff opponents Tennessee, Oregon and Texas 111-52, and have limited them to 62.3 yards a game rushing (1.9 yards a carry).
It was the Buckeyes’ defense that delivered the dagger in the 28-14 semifinal victory against Texas — Jack Sawyer’s 83-yard scoop-and-score as the Longhorns were poised to strike late in the fourth quarter.
Leonard and Notre Dame rely on the run to open up the Fighting Irish offense, and they’ll face a daunting challenge in the Buckeyes, who opened as 9.5-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
“I love the underdog status,” Leonard said. “I love it, I love it. I love it. There’s nothing that motivates me more than to see certain things said or certain spreads out there, which I don’t really look at, but it was brought to my attention today what it is. So I love it.”
Leonard expects a bruising Ohio State attack.
“I could imagine them playing a lot like Penn State,” Leonard said. “Penn State was a really hard playing team … very physical up front in the way they attack the quarterback.”
Watch who wins turnover battle
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Only until relatively recently has college football's national champion been crowned via a formal national championship game; for decades, voters in various polls held the weight of naming a champion. But of the past 35 games recognized by the College Football Playoff as the title game, the most telling statistical advantage to hold is committing fewer turnovers. The team with the fewest turnovers is 27-5 in those title games (in three years, the teams were even).
How could that play out tonight in Atlanta? Notre Dame led the 134-team Football Bowl Subdivision in turnovers gained (32), and ranked fifth in turnover margin (plus-1.1 per game). Ohio State, meanwhile ranked 47th in turnover margin.
The 12-team College Football Playoff was a success
With just one game to go to close out the 2024-25 college football season, we’ve seen enough to call it: The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff has been an undeniable success.
There are minor issues that need to be addressed or tweaked, but the overall format change has been a net positive for the sport. More teams were in Playoff contention throughout the final month of the season than ever before, which meant more meaningful games played each Saturday down the stretch. College football still got its usual, spirited debate about which teams should get the final spots in the bracket. And there were 11 CFP games instead of three at the end of the season — with four of those games played in electric campus environments.
Interest in the sport has been strong all season long, with 11 regular-season games topping 9 million viewers. First-round CFP games averaged 10.6 million viewers, the quarters averaged 16.9, and the semifinals (played on Thursday and Friday nights) averaged 19.2. With Monday night’s national championship matchup featuring two of the bluest of blue bloods in Notre Dame and Ohio State, the title-game audience is also expected to be massive.
Strength vs. strength
Reporting from Atlanta, Ga.
Ohio State’s offense can overwhelm. But Notre Dame’s defense can stifle.
The Irish own the top-ranked defense in passing efficiency, turnovers gained and defensive touchdowns. They also own the country’s second-ranked scoring defense (14.3 points allowed per game) and passing defense (165.3 yards per game allowed). It’s that last category that could determine the outcome of Monday night.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard throws to perhaps the nation’s deepest corps of pass-catchers and has averaged 308.3 passing yards in three playoff victories. Howard is completing 73% of his passes during the playoff, with Emeka Egbuka (15 catches), Jeremiah Smith (14 catches) and TreVeyon Henderson (10th catches) his most frequent targets.
Ryan Day looking to 'finish the job' against Notre Dame
Ryan Day chats about Ohio State’s path to the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Buckeyes’ keys to victory against Notre Dame and why his team is ready to make more school history.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman used to star at Ohio State
Not that long ago, Marcus Freeman bled scarlet and gray.
A linebacker for Ohio State from 2004-08, Freeman appeared in 51 games with 37 starts. He helped the Buckeyes reach the national title game twice and was part of four straight Big Ten championships. When he declared for the NFL Draft in 2009, he ranked 19th in program history with 268 tackles (140 solo).
So when Freeman steps on the sideline ahead of the national championship game Monday night, the Notre Dame coach might feel a bit conflicted. After all, he’s trying to win the biggest trophy in college athletics — and stop his beloved alma mater from doing the same.
Freeman, asked this week about facing the Buckeyes, quickly shot down the notion that his heart lies anywhere but South Bend.
“This has nothing to do with the past and where I went to school,” he said. “This is about this opportunity that lies right ahead of us.”