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Buckeye Ohio State returned to the top spot by winning the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday night, defeating Notre Dame 34-23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Ohio State has now won nine college football championships, tied with USC for fourth Among the NCAA Officially sanctioned tournament.
This is also the first championship since the inaugural College Football Playoff in the 2014 season.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) during the first quarter against the Notre Dame Irish during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20. Celebrating with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch during the game. 2025. (picture)
The Buckeyes have been such a different team since losing to Michigan in contention. After convincing wins over Tennessee (42-17), Oregon State in the Rose Bowl (41-21) and Texas in the Cotton Bowl (28-14), Ohio State capitalized on their The high-intensity offense surged all the way. Notre Dame de Paris in the past Win it all.
But this game was unlike any of Ohio State’s previous playoff wins, as the Fighting Irish really made a statement on the opening drive, which lasted 18 plays and killed more than 9 in the first quarter. minutes.
And it’s all thanks to the efforts of quarterback Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame offensive line.
Leonard rushed nine times for 34 yards and scored after catching a fourth-and-1 at the Ohio State 5-yard line. ESPN even reported that Leonard ran to the sidelines, vomited and fell, then sat on the bench. He also appeared to tell teammates that he landed on the ball during a run, which could have caused an upset stomach.
However, the momentum quickly shifted to Ohio State’s sideline, where Will Howard and his talented staff of weapons not only responded, but took over the game when the ball was in hand.
The ensuing drive went 11 plays and 75 yards, capped off with a perfect play by freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, who looked like he was running behind Howard on a pre-snap move, but landed and ended up with No one in sight.
Not only did Ryan Day’s team tie the game, but the defense took it up a notch, forcing consecutive three-and-outs on Notre Dame’s second and third possessions. The Buckeyes’ offense took advantage of that, scoring two more touchdowns before the end of the first half.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinson Judkins (1) celebrates with tight end Jim Sco Jr. during the College Football Playoff championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20. Special (88) touchdown catch in the second quarter against the Notre Dame football team, 2025. (picture)
Quinshon Judkins, an explosive running back, caught the first of two touchdowns alongside TreVeyon Henderson It was a 9-yard run in which he fought his way across the goal line amid multiple interceptions. Then, with 27 seconds left in the second quarter, he caught a rolling pass from Howard in the end zone to put the Buckeyes ahead 21-7.
If that wasn’t discouraging enough, Judkins scored his third touchdown of the night on his first drive of the second half — a 70-yard run on his second play of the half. The established one-yard rush immediately gave the Buckeyes first-and-goal.
Judkins finished the game with 100 yards rushing on 11 carries and had two catches for 21 yards.
Still, Ohio State had some concerns, as Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for a 34-yard touchdown and a two-point play to make it 31-15 before Notre Dame pulled within two. point.
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The cause for concern was Emeka Egbuka’s fumble after a 24-yard catch. It was Ohio State’s first fumble since Nov. 2 against Penn State.
Notre Dame capitalized on the turnover and moved forward, and Leonard found himself knocking on the door until an incomplete pass to Greathouse ended up at Ohio State’s 9-yard line with 9:27 left in the game. Four goals.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day runs back Quinshon Judkins during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. Celebrating after a touchdown. (AP Photo/Brene Anderson)
Given the score, one might have thought head coach Marcus Freeman wanted to try his luck on another touchdown, but kicker Mickey Jeter and special teams ran down the field. However, this interesting tactic backfired as Jeter’s 27-yard shot hit the left post and he hooked the ball in.
After the defense forced a punt, the game wasn’t quite over yet and Leonard found Greathouse again, this time with a nice throw and an even better catch from 30 yards out. Needing another two-point conversion, Jordan Faison took over on a handoff and it looked like Ohio State sniffed it, but he threw it to Bux Collins for the successful try.
Now it’s a close game, and the Buckeyes have to dig deep with the Fighting Irish, knowing that stops give them a chance to complete the comeback.
On third-and-11, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly threw a brave long pass from Howard to Smith, and though the freshman didn’t catch a single catch in the second half, He still completed the dagger – a 57-yard catch to Smith. At the two-minute warning, the Buckeyes were on the nine-yard line.
The Buckeyes threatened to run out the clock at this point and the Fighting Irish used all their timeouts and celebrations ensued.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) and running back Kunshan Jaa during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025 Kings (1) celebrates a second quarter touchdown against the Notre Dame Irish. (picture)
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According to statistics, Leonard made 20 of 29 shots, advancing 240 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 17 times and achieved a team-high 40 yards. Greathouse also had 11 yards on five catches.
For the Buckeyes, Smith led the way with 89 yards on five catches, while Egbuka had six catches for 64 yards. Howard made 17 of 21 shots for 231 yards in the game. He also rushed 16 times for 57 yards.
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