By Danielle Daniels
1 20 2025
Monday, January 20, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. ET
No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23
Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Georgia
| SCORE BY QUARTERS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 34 | |
| 7 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 23 |
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF 2024-25 BRACKET
Attendance:
77,660
Kickoff Time:
7:48 p.m ET
End of Game:
11:08 p.m ET
Game Duration:
3:20
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 6 Ohio State (14-2) scored 31-unaswered points to pull away from No. 5 Notre Dame (14-2) to earn the program’s ninth national championship Monday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, in the 2024 College Football Playoff. After the Irish scored on the first drive of the game, the Buckeyes scored the next 31 points on their way to the 34-23 win, the seventh-consecutive victory for the Buckeyes over the Fighting Irish. Prior to the title this year, Ohio State won the 2014 title, in the inaugural College Football Playoff national championship. Will Howard quarterbacked the Buckeyes to the win behind 17-of-21 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Quinshon Junkins scored twice on the ground and once through the air. He finished with 11 carries for 100 yards to go with two receptions for 21 yards. Jeremiah Smith had five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. Egbuka added six grabs for 64 yards. Cody Simon led the defense with eight tackles with Sonny Styles adding six stops.
GAME NOTES:
*This marked the first time the Big Ten has taken back-to-back titles since 1942. Last year’s champion was Michigan.
*College football still has never had a Black coach win the national title. Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman would have been the first.
*Howard threw for 231 yards and two scores.
*Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, then added a field goal on its fifth.
*The Buckeyes outgained Notre Dame 445 yards to 308. Howard completed his first 13 passes. Ohio State punted a grand total of once.
*Buckeyes rolled through four games in the new, 12-team playoff by a combined score of 145-85.
*Ohio State was seeded eighth in the tournament.
*6 weeks ago, OSU head coach Ryan Day had heat on him to leave town after a fourth straight loss to Michigan. Now with redemption and a national title, he is a hero. His name is listed with title-winning coaches with Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, Woody Hayes and Paul Brown. Day’s .873 winning percentage is third all-time among coaches with 50-plus games — one spot behind Notre Dame legend Knute Rockne.
INFORMATION COURTESY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COMMUNICATIONS AND OHIO STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
