Under the bright lights of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 to win their ninth national title and their first since 2014. 

The historic win closes out a 14-2 season in which the Buckeyes suffered a defeat at the hands of their most bitter rivals and last year’s National Champion, the Michigan Wolverines. This marked the first time the Big Ten Conference has won back-to-back titles since 1942. Unlike last year’s playoff format which only consisted of four teams playing two semifinal games before the national title, the Buckeyes handled their opponents during a four-game stretch in which they outscored opponents by a combined score of 145-85. 

In any other year, a two-loss team wouldn’t have had a chance to make the four team playoff, but thanks to this year’s expanded format, Ohio State limped into the contest as the eighth seed and capitalized on their opportunity, never trailing in any of their first three playoff games including a home game against the Tennesee Volunteers where they won handily 42-17. The only moment they faced an early deficit was against Notre Dame on the first drive of the game when the Fighting Irish marched 75 yards down the field during a drive which took a total of nine minutes.

Standout freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who struggled against Texas in the semifinal game with only one reception for three yards, sealed the game on a 56-yd catch to prevent a Notre Dame comeback attempt. “I just knew in my mind I had to make a play,” said Smith, who finished with 88 yards on five catches. “Finally, we got (one-on-one coverage) toward the end of the game, but I just knew I had to make a play when it’s man on man.” 

The Fighting Irish trailed 31-7 at one point but rallied with two touchdowns and two two-point conversions, cutting the deficit to eight late in the contest.

“It was a good game,”  junior Chisim Emeana said. “I wasn’t rooting for a team to win specifically and it wasn’t close at the beginning, but Notre Dame came back to make it respectable.”

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, a transfer from Kansas State, was instrumental throughout the postseason. In the championship game, he threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, completing his first 13 passes. After the game, Howard reflected on the team’s focus and determination: “It’s all about blocking out all the noise, keeping focus, and finding a way to finish the job.”