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PINNED 4:04 am, January 21, 2025
Following kicker Jaden Fielding’s field goal to stretch Ohio State lead to 11, the Buckeyes (14-2, 7-2 Big Ten) sideline celebrated in a frenzy, understanding that they were closing in on a national championship title against Notre Dame (14-2).
The party, filled with pink and yellow confetti, commenced 27 seconds later as the Buckeyes secured its first title since 2014, winning 34-23, its ninth championship in program history.
OSU’s second-quarter performance was the backbone of its win. The team dropped 21 straight points, led 21-7 at halftime and scored 10 more points right after the break. They led 31-7 halfway through the third behind running back Quinshon Judkins three touchdowns.
The Fighting Irish gained strength as the game continued, though, scoring 16 points in the second half and making it a one-possession game after Greathouse’s one-handed touchdown grab with less than five minutes remaining.
Notre Dame was one stop away from getting the ball back, forcing the Buckeyes into 3rd and 11, but quarterback Will Howard connected with wideout Jeremiah Smith on a go-ball route to give them a first down and lead to Fielding’s field goal.
Howard was named game MVP, throwing for 231 yards on 17-21 passes for two touchdowns and 57 rushing yards.
The Buckeyes’ road to the top wasn’t easy. They beat No. 7 Tennessee, No. 1 Oregon (which they lost to during the regular season) and No. 3 Texas. The victory punches coach Ryan Day’s ticket into a prestigious room of coaches who have won a championship at Ohio State: Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Woody Hayes and Paul Brown.
3:56 am, January 21, 2025
With Notre Dame making it a one-score game, Ohio State’s 3rd and 11 decision was arguably its most important play of the game yet.
That’s when Howard and Smith answered the bell.
The senior quarterback found the freshman wideout deep down the field for a 57-yard reception, his first of the second half, to put them in the red zone with less than three minutes left. And with the Fighting Irish having just one timeout remaining, the completion potentially sealed their national championship hopes.
JEREMIAH SMITH JUST WON OHIO STATE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 😱
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 21, 2025
3:45 am, January 21, 2025
What. A. Grab.
On 3rd and 9, Leonard threw up a money ball to Greathouse streaking down the left sideline stride-for-stride with OSU cornerback Jordan Hancock. With one hand free, Greathouse made the 30-yard one-handed catch for a touchdown on arguably the matchup’s best throw-catch combination of the game.
The catch gave Greathouse his second touchdown of the game and five catches for 115 yards in the second half.
The Fighting Irish converted on the two-point attempt on a trick play to make it a one-possession game, 31-23.
RILEY LEONARD IN A BUCKET
WHAT A PLAY BY GREATHOUSE#PMSCFPNATTYESPN2 #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/FJnc6sWKnL
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 21, 2025
3:24 am, January 21, 2025
The Fighting Irish’s budding momentum has come to a halt, missing a field goal to keep it a 16-point game.
Following Ohio State’s fumble and two holding penalties, Notre Dame found itself back in the red zone for its second straight drive. Unable to score on the first three downs, coach Marcus Freeman decided to call on kicker Mitch Jeter for a 27-field goal attempt. Jeter missed the kick, though, clanking off the left crossbar to keep it 31-15 with 9:27 left in the game.
According to Big Ten Network’s Dave Revsine, its the 25th time this season that an OSU opponent has had 1st and goal and the ninth time they’ve come away with zero points.
mitch jeter doinks the field goal pic.twitter.com/7xDEZFfnhZ
— ◇ (@H00DH3R0) January 21, 2025
3:18 am, January 21, 2025
Trying to tightrope through Notre Dame’s defense, Ohio State’s Egbuka fumbled while going down to ground, resulting in a Notre Dame recovery.
It’s OSU first fumble since the Penn State game on Nov. 2.
A critical turnover for the Buckeyes, if the Fighting Irish score a touchdown and convert another two-point attempt, it will become a one possession game.
NOTRE DAME FORCES THE FUMBLE ON EMEKA EGBUKA 👀
A big turnover from the Fighting Irish defense 💪 pic.twitter.com/DOhbigd6r1
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 21, 2025
3:01 am, January 21, 2025
The Fighting Irish aren’t going away just yet.
Notre Dame scored its first touchdown since the first quarter on Leonard’s 34-yard pass to Jaden Greathouse, capping off a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. They converted a two-point attempt on Leonard’s pitch to running back Jeremiyah Love up the middle to cut Ohio State’s lead to 16.
ND hadn’t picked up a first down since the first quarter until this drive.
The Buckeyes lead 31-15 with nearly three minutes left in the quarter.
TOUCHDAHN JADEN GREATHOUSE#PMSCFPNATTYESPN2 #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/6o9qlBFvK7
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 21, 2025
2:46 am, January 21, 2025
After Notre Dame’s failed fake punt attempt, the Buckeyes couldn’t take advantage of the short field and continue its touchdown streak, but did add three more points to the board.
Kicker Jayden Fielding nailed a 46-yard field goal to give OSU a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
2:35 am, January 21, 2025
Ohio State, specifically Judkins, wasted no time to find the end zone again after halftime, scoring in less than three minutes in the third quarter.
The catalyst for the quick drive was Judkins, who broke away for a 70 yard run on the second play of the possession and took the Buckeyes to the five-yard line — the longest run in CFP title game history. Three plays later, he secured the hat trick with a one-yard rush up the middle.
Judkins has 88 yards on six carries, and his three touchdowns ties his career-record.
QUINSHON JUDKINS STRIDING ALL OVER ATLANTA #PMSCFPNATTYESPN2 pic.twitter.com/nkigS5OOW5
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 21, 2025
2:12 am, January 21, 2025
After Notre Dame’s 10-minute opening drive, Ohio State has dominated, rolling to a 21-7 lead by the break.
The Buckeyes have gotten everything they’ve wanted and more, with two of their three touchdowns going to wide-open players. Howard completed his first 13 passes and finished the half 14-for-15, while the offense totaled 169 yards in the second quarter to ND’s 18 yards. The Fighting Irish were on offense for less than four minutes in the quarter.
Ohio State will receive the ball after halftime, and a defensive stop will be imperative for Notre Dame to turn things around and stop the bleeding.
Coincidentally, the last team to allow a touchdown on each of its opponent’s first three drives in a national championship was Notre Dame in 2013.
The last team to score a TD on each of its first three drives in a national championship game? 🤔
Alabama in 2013 against … Notre Dame 😳 pic.twitter.com/j6a0REAEAC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2025
1:53 am, January 21, 2025
The second quarter continues to be all Ohio State.
The Buckeyes scored their third touchdown of the quarter as a scrambling Howard found Judkins wide-open in the middle of the end zone for a six-yard reception. OSU’s largest drive of the day, Judkins’s receiving touchdown, capped off a 12-play, 80-yard drive.
After the score, the camera panned to NBA star forward and Ohio State fan Lebron James, who was clapping and hyping up the crowd.
The Fighting Irish have less than 30 seconds left to respond before halftime.
SO NICE, HE HAD TO DO IT TWICE 😮💨
Quinshon Judkins’ second TD of the game gives the Buckeyes a 14-point lead 😤 pic.twitter.com/0KuYcrft6o
— ESPN (@espn) January 21, 2025
1:37 am, January 21, 2025
Ohio State adds seven more to the scoreboard.
Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins split multiple defenders while extending his arm across the plain for a nine-yard rushing touchdown.
Alongside giving OSU a 14-7 lead, it was 10-play, 76-yard scoring drive. Howard remains perfect, completing five throws for 44 yards, and is now 9-for-9 over the first two possessions. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka recorded his 202th reception on the drive, the most by any player in program history.
Grown man run by Quinshon Judkins😤
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 21, 2025
1:18 am, January 21, 2025
The Buckeyes have answered the bell, scoring on an eight-yard passing touchdown by quarterback Will Howard to freshman star wideout Jeremiah Smith. Smith waltzed into the end zone untouched on Notre Dame’s blown coverage.
It capped off an 11-play, 75-yard drive for Ohio State to tie it up at seven apiece.
Welcome to the Natty, Jeremiah Smith👑
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 21, 2025
12:58 am, January 21, 2025
The Fighting Irish strike first.
A run-heavy first possession, Notre Dame set the tone with a rushing touchdown by quarterback Riley Leonard. The one-yard run capped off an 18-play, 75-yard drive that neared 10 minutes.
Talk about an emphatic way to start a title game.
Notre Dame kept the drive going with success on third and fourth down, converting on both fourth down attempts and were 2-for-4 on third — Leonard ran on five of these plays. Although Leonard completed just three passes for 31 yards, he rushed for 34 yards on nine carries.
The touchdown marks the first time this postseason that Ohio State hasn’t led.
RILEY LEONARD TOUCHDAHN
WHAT A DRIVE BY NOTRE DAME#PMSCFPNATTYESPN2 #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/1Ushz92W5U
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 21, 2025
12:48 am, January 21, 2025
Ohio State has won the coin toss and will defer to the second half. They will kick off to Notre Dame to start the contest.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, Dr. Bernice A. King, King’s youngest daughter, joined the players and referees on the field for the coin toss.
Dr. Bernice A. King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., is on the field for the CFP National Championship on MLK Day ❤️ pic.twitter.com/QtWhRLJYu0
— ESPN (@espn) January 21, 2025
12:33 am, January 21, 2025
The moment college football fans have all been waiting for is almost here.
No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 6 Ohio State are minutes away from taking the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a national championship hanging in the balance — and each program has a lot on the line.
Two of the most historic programs in college football history, the Buckeyes seek their first title since the inaugural CFP in 2014, while the Fighting Irish hunt for their first since 1988. The two teams enter the matchup with the top two point-preventing defenses in the nation.
And in celebration of the first-ever 12-team CFP, the winners will receive hardware no past champions have ever gotten.
BIG GAMES CALL FOR A BIG RING 💍
ESPN and @CFBPlayoff joined together to create BIG rings for the champions and to celebrate the first-ever 12-team CFP 🤩 pic.twitter.com/sS4NbgOeTf
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 19, 2025
