Buckeyes They are back on top, as Ohio State beat Notre Dame, 34-23, to win the Football National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday night.
Ohio State has now won nine college football titles, tying it with USC for fourth all-time Among the N.C.A.A Officially recognized tournaments.
This is also the first title since the 2014 season, which was the inaugural College Football Playoff.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the National Football League Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. (to imagine)
The Buckeyes have been a different team since losing to Michigan in their rivalry game. After convincing defeats of Tennessee (42-17), Oregon in the Rose Bowl (41-21), and Texas in the Cotton Bowl (28-14), Ohio State used its high-octane offense to get its way. Past Notre Dame To win everything.
But this game was nothing like Ohio State's previous wins during this playoff, as the Fighting Irish made a statement in an 18-game opening drive that killed off 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.
Leonard ran nine times for 34 yards and scored after getting a fourth-and-1 on Ohio State's five-yard line. ESPN even reported that Leonard ran to the sideline, vomited, and stumbled a bit before sitting on the bench. He also appeared to be telling teammates that he fell on the ball on one of the kicks, which could cause an upset stomach.
However, the waves of momentum quickly shifted to the Ohio State sideline, where Will Howard and his group of talented weapons not only responded, but took possession when they had the ball in their hands.
The ensuing drive took 11 plays and 75 yards, as freshman Jeremiah Smith capped the drive with a perfect play call that had him acting like he was running after Howard on a pre-snap drive but planted in the ground and walked into the end zone with no one in sight.
Not only did Ryan Day's set tie the game, but the defense turned the game up as they forced back-to-back triples on Notre Dame's second and third drives. The Buckeyes' offense used that to their advantage with two more shots before halftime.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quenchon Judkins (1) celebrates his catch with tight end J. Scott Jr. (88) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. (to imagine)
Quinshon Judkins, the explosive running back who splits time with TreVeyon Henderson, scored both touchdowns, the first of which was a nine-yard run as he fought through multiple tackles to cross the line. Then, he was wide open in the end zone on a rolling layup from Howard with 27 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Buckeyes a 21-7 lead.
And if that wasn't mitigating 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 first half right away. Get the Buckeyes first and goal.
Judkins finished the game with 100 yards on just 11 carries as well as two catches for 21 yards.
There was some concern for Ohio State, when Notre Dame cut the game short by two scores after Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for a 34-yard touchdown and converted the two-point attempt to make it 31-15.
College football star Ashton Genty talks about the possibility of Deion Sanders coaching the Cowboys
The concern was Emeka Egbuka's fumble 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 down the field, and Leonard found himself knocking on the doorstep until an incomplete pass to Greathouse made it 4th and goal from Ohio State's nine-yard line with 9:27 left to play in the game.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day celebrates after a touchdown run by running back Quincheon 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, one would think coach Marcus Freeman wanted to try his luck at another touchdown, but kicker Mitch Jeter and the special teams unit ran down the field. The intriguing play call backfired, as Jeter's shot attempt from 27 yards went off the left post – and he shot it.
The game wasn't quite over after the defense forced a punt, and Leonard was able to find Greathouse again, this time on a beautifully thrown ball and an even better catch from 30 yards out. Needing another two-point conversion, Jordan Faison made a handoff and Ohio State appeared to sniff it out, but he threw it to Bo Collins for the successful attempt.
It was now a one-score game, and the Buckeyes had to dig deep with the Fighting Irish knowing the stop gave them a chance to complete the comeback.
Fueled by third-and-11, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly called for a bold 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 ball in the net. Buckeyes on the nine-yard line on the two-minute warning.
The Buckeyes could have run out the clock at that point with the Fighting Irish using all of their timeouts, and a celebration ensued.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates a touchdown with running back Quenchon Judkins (1) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second quarter during the National Football League Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. (to imagine)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In the box score, Leonard was 20-for-29 for 240 yards with two touchdowns, while also rushing for a team-high 40 yards on 17 carries for his score on the ground. Greathouse had 11 receiving yards on five receptions as well.
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 also rushed for 57 yards on 16 carries.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
