The Ohio State Buckeyes captured the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship with a 34-23 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
The victory marked the Buckeyes’ first title since 2014 and their third 14-win season in university history.
Led by quarterback Will Howard, the Buckeyes overcame an early deficit with a barrage of offensive efficiency and staunch defense. Howard, the offensive player of the game displayed his dual-threat ability, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 57 yards. Howard accounted for 18 of the Buckeyes’ 21 first downs.
Notre Dame struck first with quarterback Riley Leonard’s one-yard touchdown run, capping an 18-play, 75-yard drive that drained nearly 10 minutes off the clock.
Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day was not surprised by the Fighting Irish’s strong start.
“We knew they’d come out strong, but we trusted our preparation,” Day said. “It was about staying composed and executing our game plan.”
The Fighting Irish offense faltered on its subsequent two possessions due to penalties and a muffed snap, allowing Ohio State to capitalize.
The Buckeyes roared back with a 21-point second quarter. Howard connected with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith for an eight-yard touchdown to tie the game before running back Quinshon Judkins powered in a nine-yard rushing score.
Judkins, who finished with 100 rushing yards on 11 carries, added another touchdown reception just before halftime, giving Ohio State a 21-7 lead.

The Irish, led by Leonard, clawed back into the game in the second half. Leonard threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, who posted a career-high 128 receiving yards. Greathouse’s 34-yard score late in the third quarter and a 30-yard grab in the fourth trimmed the deficit to 31-23.
After the CFP National Championship, Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman tipped his cap to his players.
“Riley [Leonard] and Jaden [Greatehouse] have developed an incredible connection,” Freeman said. “Jaden’s growth has been phenomenal, but we just couldn’t overcome some self-inflicted mistakes tonight.”
Notre Dame’s struggles on third down and their inability to stop the Buckeyes on key downs proved costly. The Buckeyes converted 9-of-12 third downs, including a crucial third-and-long late in the championship contest.
Howard’s deep strike to Smith iced the game, leaving the Irish defense gasping for answers.
“That was a championship play,” Freeman admitted. “In those moments, you have to find a way, and we didn’t.”
Ohio State’s balanced offense churned out 445 yards, including 214 on the ground. While Judkins stole the spotlight in the rushing department, Emeka Egbuka added six receptions for 64 yards, complementing Smith’s five-catch, 88-yard performance.
Defensively, the Buckeyes smothered Leonard’s running ability after the opening drive, holding Notre Dame to 53 rushing yards. Linebacker Cody Simon anchored the defense with eight tackles and a tackle for loss, earning CFP National Championship Defensive Player of the Game honors.
“Our defense stepped up in a big way,” Day said. “To hold a dynamic offense like [Notre Dame] to 23 points speaks volumes about their effort and preparation.”
Both teams finish the season at 14-2, with Ohio State extending the Big Ten’s dominance in the CFP.

Notre Dame, making its first championship appearance since 2013, fell short despite a historic campaign that included 14 wins for the first time in university history.
The Buckeyes return to Columbus, Ohio as national champions, cementing their place among college football’s elite.
“This group was counted out early, but they never stopped believing,” Day said. “To see them come together and achieve this goal is why we do what we do.”
Meanwhile, the Irish will look to build on their successes as they chase their first title since 1988.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on TikTok @3Noral. For more sports, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.