Ohio State Wins NCAAF National Championship
In what ended up being a perfect end to an eventful college football season, the Ohio State Buckeyes secured their ninth national championship by defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 on January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The game began with Notre Dame’s quarterback, Riley Leonard, leading an 18-play drive, which resulted in a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. However, Ohio State responded decisively in the second quarter.
Quarterback Will Howard led the Buckeyes in scoring 21 unanswered points, giving the Buckeyes a 21-7 advantage at halftime.
Ohio State extended their lead in the third quarter, with Running Back Quinshon Judkins breaking free for a 70-yard run that set up another touchdown. A subsequent field goal pushed the score to 31-7.
Notre Dame would not go away so easily though. A late third-quarter and fourth-quarter surge narrowed the gap to 31-23. However, a 56-yard pass-and-catch from Will Howard to Jeremiah Smith, and a field goal by Ohio State’s kicker Jayden Fielding, sealed the victory.
Will Howard’s performance was instrumental in the win, completing 17 of 21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, earning him the offensive MVP title. Linebacker Cody Simon was named defensive MVP, contributing eight tackles.
This win solidified Ohio State’s first national title since 2014, and the first under head coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes’ journey to the championship was historic, as they became the first team to win the national title after losing two regular-season games.
The game averaged 22.1 million viewers, a 12.1% decline from the previous year, making it the fifth least-watched title game in 27 years.
The game also marked the first year under the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format, a change that provided Ohio State with a second chance to compete in the playoff after a regular-season loss to Michigan.
