Notre Dame 23 vs 34 Ohio State summary, stats, scores and highlights | CFP National Championship

After watching their mortal enemies, Michigan, win the National Championship last year, and then losing to them in the regular season to put their title chances in real jeopardy, Ryan Day, Will Howard and the Ohio State Buckeyes rebounded to win their 9th National Title in school history.
They won the very first CFP title that was held in 2014 and they win the inaugural 12 team CFP National Championship. What a year it has been to be a Buckeye and Will Howard couldn't be happier he made the move to Columbus.
The Irish looked like they were on the verge of getting another stop on defense, but Will Howard had other ideas. On 3rd and long, Notre Dame brought the blitz and the OSU QB took a shot deep down the field and connected with Jeremiah Smith for the biggest first down of the game. That would seal the deal from Atlanta as Howard ended the night 17/21 for 231 yards and two TDs to lead Ohio State to their 9th National Title and first one since 2014.
The Irish defense would hold strong again and give the ball back to Leonard and the offense. They looked like a different offense than the one that got shot down in their final two drives of the first half. Leonard relied on Greathouse to make the big plays, and that's exactly what he did. He ended the night with 128 yards and 2 TDs on just six catches and ND converted the two point conversion with an end around pass from Jordan Faison to Beax Collins in the back of the end zone to make it a one possession game.
After the fumble recovery, the Irish got all the way inside the 10 yard line but they couldn't get into the end zone and on 4th and Goal from the 12, down 12 with under 10 minutes to go, Marcus Freeman decided to go for the field goal and the guaranteed points, but Mitch Jeter banged it off the post and the Buckeyes kept their 16 point lead.
The Fighting Irish had even more hope when Emeka Egbuka fumbled the ball on the same play that announced Chris Fowler was talking about the Buckeyes fortitude holding on to the ball. That opened the door for the Irish in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
With their backs against the wall, needing a score to avoid a blowout, Riley Leonard and the offense kicked back into gear. Jaden Greathouse made the catch and had a fantastic run to the end zone to give the Irish hope with a few minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. The Irish would get the two point conversion on a shove pass to Jeremiah Love and suddenly there was hope.
Judkins punched it in from a yard out to complete his hat trick of touchdowns in the National Championship game. Will Howard is going to get the headlines, but Judkins is the one that carried this team when they needed points in the red zone. He ended the night with 100 yards on 11 rushes and had another 21 yards receiving.
Ohio State looked like they were going to close the game out on the first drive of the third quarter. It took just five plays to get into the end zone after this 70 yard run from Judkins that put the Buckeyes at the ND 5 just minutes into the second half.
The Ohio State defense stepped up after getting run over in the opening drive of the night. They forced two straight three and outs and right before the half the Buckeyes made it three TDs in their first three drives of the night. This one was caught by Judkins to cap a half that Will Howard went 14/15 for 144 yards and two TDs.
On Ohio State's second drive of the night, it was the run game that did the heavy lifting and got into the end zone for a second straight possession. Quinshon Judkins fought his way to the goal for the first of his two rushing TDs to give the Buckeyes a lead they wouldn't give up.
The Buckeyes came out with a game plan to incorporate the run and the pass and they opened up the game with a balanced drive that was finished with this swing pass to Jeremiah Smith who walked into the end zone untouched to tie the game up as both teams got into the end zone on their first drives of the night.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are National Champions and the first team ever to win the new 12-team College Football Playoff. Will Howard threw for two TDs, Quinshon Judkins caught one of those and ran for another two in the 34-23 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
It was Notre Dame that landed the first blow building an 18 play drive that feature 9 Riley Leonard carries. The final one was punched into the end zone but Leonard went to the bench and threw up after the TD after being run ragged in the 10 minute drive. The offense for Notre Dame would shut off for the rest of the first half.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
OHIO STATE ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF THE FIRST EVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL 12 TEAM PLAYOFF!!!
FIELD GOAL!!!
Fielding drills the 33 yard field goal to seal the deal for the Ohio State Buckeyes!!!!
OSU lead 34-26 with 26 second to go in the 4th quarter!!
Howard to the right side and he hits the deck for a loss of 2 as the clock winds down to 29 seconds.
4th and Goal from the ND 15.
Howard up the middle on the QB sneak and he gets a yard.
3rd and Goal form the ND 13 as OSU take it down to 1:13 before calling a TO.
After a false start on OSU, Judkins gets a yard on the run to the right side.
2nd and Goal from the ND 14. Timeout ND with 1:56 to, that's their last.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM ATLANTA!!!
ND brought the blitz and Howard goes deep down the right side for Smith who reels it in for a 57 yard catch on a beauty of a pass from Howard!!!
1st and 10 from the ND 9!!!
Howard keeps it on the run to the left side and he is dragged down for a loss of a yard. Timeout ND with 2:45 to go.
3rd and 11 from the OSU 34.
Howard with the QB keeper and he is tripped up for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 35. Timeout ND with 2:52 to go, that's their first.
Geathouse reeled in his second TD of the night to give ND a chance, but they need a stop on this possession.
Howard tucks it and runs for the first down after cutting it to the left side and picking up 8 yards!
1st and 10 from the OSU 35.
OSU take over from their 24 with 4:11 on the clock and Judkins gets 3 yards on the right side run.
2nd and 7 from the OSU 27.
TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME!!!!
Leonard goes deep down the left side for Greathouse and he reels it in for the 30 yard TD catch!!! ND goes for two, and Faison takes the end around and throws it to Collins who was wide open in the end zone!!!
OSU lead 31-23 with 4:15 to go in the 4th quarter!!!!
WR screen to the right side for Collins but he is cut down after a gain of 3.
3rd and 9 from the OSU 30.
Leonard is dropped by Tuimoloau for a loss of two as the pocket converged on the QB.
2nd and 12 from the OSU 33.
Leonard finds Evans over the middle and he shakes off a tackle and takes it 33 yard into OSU territory!
1st and 10 from the OSU 31.
Leonard finds Evans with a short throw to the left side for 4 yards.
2nd and 6 from the ND 36.
ND take over from their 21 needing two scores, and Leonard finds Collins for a gain of 12 yards to start the drive.
1st and 10 from the ND 32.
Howard on the pass to the right side for Smith at the line of scrimmage and that pass falls incomplete.
4th and 3 and the Buckeyes will punt with 6:25 to go.
Judkins gtes it on the pitch to the left side and he is taken down after a gain of 4.
3rd and 3 from the OSU 39.
Judkins up the middle and he gets 3 yards on the run up the middle.
2nd and 7 from the OSU 35.
Howard tucks it and runs to the left side and he takes it 11 yards for the first down!
1st and 10 from the OSU 32.
OSU get the ball back from their 20 and Judkins gets a yard on the first down run up the middle.
2nd and 9 from the OSU 21.
MISSED FIELD GOAL!!!
ND bring the FG unit out and Jeter bangs the field goal from 27 yard off the upright, and that is devastating for ND!!!
OSU take over with under 10:00 to go in the 4th quarter!!!
Leonard's pass to Greathouse over the middle is batted away and that is going to bring up a huge fourth down.
4th and Goal from the 7.
Leonard's pass to Evans on the floater to the pylon is over thrown.
3rd and Goal from the 7.
Leonard on the QB keeper up the middle but he is brought down after a gain of 1.
2nd and Goal from the 7.
Pass to the end zone for Harrison on the left side, and that pass was batted away but a holding call on OSU is going to give ND a first down.
1st and Goal from the 8.
Out route to the right side for Greathouse and he picks up 6 yards on first down.
2nd and 4 from the OSU 16.
Big first down from ND as Leonard found Greathouse on the slant to the left side for a gain of 11 yards.
1st and 10 form the OSU 22.
Out route from Evans on the right side and he picks up 7 yards to make it fourth and manageable.
4th and 5 from the OSU 33.
Leonard on the keeper and he is wrapped up after a short gain of 2.
3rd and 12 from the OSU 40.
Screen pass set up for Harrison and he is dragged down for a loss of 4 yards!
2nd and 14 from the OSU 42.
Leonard to the left side on the roll out and he thew it away with no one open. A flag flies for holding on the Buckeyes in the secondary.
1st and 10 from the OSU 38.
Leonard floats it over the middle for Greathouse and he makes the catch for 30 yards and all of the sudden the tides might be starting to turn.
1st and 10 from the OSU 48.
Leonard rolls to the right side and didn't have anything open down field so he threw it out of bounds.
3rd and 9 from the ND 22.
Faison gets the run to the left side and he picks up a yard on the end around.
2nd and 9 from the ND 22.
FUMBLE!!!!
Howard pitched it to Egbuka on the end around and he took it for a big gain of 24 but had the ball knocked out of his hands at the end of the run and ND recover it on the first play of the fourth quarter!!!
1st and 10 from the ND 21!!!
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER FROM ATLANTA!!!
Howard's pass to Henderson out of the backfield was incomplete but a flag flies for roughing the passer on ND.
1st and 10 from the ND 47.
Henderson to the right side and he is taken down after a gain of two on first down.
2nd and 8 from the OSU 38.
Howard on the QB sneak up the middle and he moves the chains with a 2 yard run.
1st and 10 from the OSU 36.
Howard on the run up the middle and he is stopped short of the marker after a gain of 1.
3rd and 1 from the OSU 34.
OSU get the ball back from their 25 and Howard finds Egbuka for a gain of 7 yards on the left side.
2nd and 3 from the OSU 32.
The Irish needed a play like this and Greathouse delivered like he did against Penn State. A beautiful catch and run and a two point conversion gives ND some hope, but the need a stop on this defensive possession.
TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME!!!
Leonard finds Greathouse on the slant and he spins out of a tackle and fights his way for a 34 yard TD run!!! The Irish go for two, and Leonard hits Love on the shovel pass for the successful two point conversion.
It's 31-15 with 3:03 to go in the 3rd quarter!!!
Leonard looks for Thomas down the right sideline but that pass was overthrown and sailed out of bounds.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 34.
Leonard on the QB keeper and he picks up 5 yards on the run to the right side.
1st and 10 from the OSU 34.
Leonard with the un up the middle and he gets 3 yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 1 from the OSU 39.
Leonard finds Raridon on the right side for a gain of 6 yards before he stepped out of bounds.
2nd and 4 from the OSU 42.
Leonard was wrapped up in the backfield but got rid of the ball to Mitchell and a flag flies for PI on OSU which will extend the drive.
1st and 10 from the OSU 48.
Leonard felt the pressure immediately and was swallowed up by Styles for a loss of 11 yards!
3rd and 19 from the ND 37.
Price up the middle and he gets 2 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 8 from the ND 48.
Leonard rolls and finds Collins on the right side for a gain of 10 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the ND 46.
Leonard finds Mitchell on the right side for a WR screen that goes for 6 yards.
1st and 10 from the ND 36.
Here comes ND down by a ton, needing a TD. They take over from their 25 and Leonard takes it for 5 yards on the first down run up the middle.
2nd and 5 from the ND 30.
FIELD GOAL!!!!
Fielding drills the 46 yard field goal after the failed fake punt by Notre Dame.
OSU lead 31-7 with under 8:00 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Howard had Tate wide open in the end zone down the left side but that pass was over thrown by a couple yards.
4th and 16 from the ND 28.
Henderson to the right side and he is taken down after a gain of 1.
3rd and 16 from the ND 28.
Howard rolled right and looked back to Egbuka for a five yard gain in the middle of the field but a holding call will bring that play back.
2nd and 17 from the ND 29.
Henderson tried to bounce the first down run to the right side but he was tripped up after a 3 yard gain.
2nd and 7 from the ND 19.
Howard on the QB keeper to the right side and he dives forward for a gain of 7 yards.
1st and 10 from the ND 22.
Henderson to the right side and he picks up 4 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 6 from th ND 29.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
The Irish line up to punt but faked it and Angeli's pass to the right side for Faison is incomplete on the diving effort.
1st and 10 from the ND 33.
Pass to the left side for Faison who is take down a yard shy of the marker.
4th and 1 from the ND 34.
Love to the left side and he picks up 2 yards.
3rd and 8 from the ND 27.
ND get the ball from their 25 an Leonard's pass to Greathouse falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the ND 25.
Judkins has three TDs in the National Championship game, and right before this he broke one for 70 yards. Ohio State is 4/4 on their first 4 possessions.
TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES!!!
Judkins punches it in from the 1 yard line for his third TD of the National Championship game!!!
OSU lead 28-7 with 12:46 to go in the third quarter and this is getting close to a blowout.
Howard on the QB keeper to the right side and he gets another two yards.
3rd and Goal from the 1.
Judkins gets the handoff and he is stopped after two yards.
2nd and Goal from the 3.
Timeout OSU a minute into this third quarter!
Judkins breaks off a big run to the right side and he is tracked down from behind at the 5 after a gain of 70 yards!!!
1st and Goal from the 5!!!
OSU get the ball to start the half and Howard goes to the air for Smith over the middle but that pass is broken up by Moore.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 25.
WE ARE BACK IN ATLANTA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!!
Judkins scored his second TD of the night, this one through the air right before the halftime break after Will Howard found him wide open in the middle of the end zone. Howard is 14/15 for 144 yards and has 2 TDs to put his team in command heading into the second half.
The Buckeyes defense held ND to three and out and drove right down the field setting up this Quinshon Judkins TD run from 8 yards out. Judkins has 16 yards on three yards, Howard has 26 yards on 6 carries and Henderson racked up 37 yards on 7 rushes.
The Buckeyes answered back with a balanced drive that was finished off by Smith's wide open walk in touchdown. Will Howard went 13/13 to start this game and Ohio State has allowed 6/6 third down conversions.
The Irish came out and slugged it down field with an 18 play drive that saw a multiple 3rd and 4th down conversions picked up by Riley Leonard who polished off the drive with a 1 yard TD run. He ran 9 times on the first drive, and threw up on the sidelines after scoring the TD. That possession seemed to take it out of the Irish. They went three and out on their next two drives. Leonard is 5/9 for 46 yards and has 39 yards on the ground, but Jeremiyah Love has just 1 yard on three carries.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK!!
ND get the ball back from their 25 and complete a short pass to the left side but that's going to be the end of the first half.
TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE!!!
Howard looked like he was going to step up and tuck it but at the last second he picks out Judkins who was wide open in the middle of the end zone!!!
OSU lead 21-7 with 27 to go!!!
Timeout OSU with 30 on the clock!
Henderson to the right side for a gain of 6 on first down.
2nd and 4 from the ND 6.
Howard felt the rush, found a hole and tucked it for 11 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the ND 12.
Howard going down the left sideline for Henderson and the coverage was great from Watts who batted it away.
2nd and 10 from the ND 23.
Out route from Smith on the right side and Howard hits him for a gain of 15 yards. He's 13/13 to start the National Championship!
1st and 10 from the ND 23.
Howard tried to break out of the pocket but was tripped up by Burnham for a loss of 3.
2nd and 13 from the ND 38. Timeout ND with 1:25 to go.
Howard with plenty of time in the pocket and he throws a strike for Tate for 20 yards on the deep in.
1st and 10 from the ND 35.
ND went three and out after scoring the first TD of the night, and Judkins put the Buckeyes up with a 9 yard run to take a 14-7 lead after TDs on back to back drives.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING HERE FROM ATLANTA!!!
Henderson on the run to the right side and he gets four yards as we hit the Two Minute Warning.
3rd and 7 from the OSU 45.
Howard is sacked by Burnham for a loss of a yard on first down.
2nd and 11 from the OSU 41.
Howards stands in the pocket and takes a hit but he hits Inniss on the out route to the left side for a catch and run for a gain of 19 yards.
1st and 10 from the OSU 42.
Henderson gets the pitch on the option to the right side, but he is pushed out of bounds after a gain of 1.
3rd and 7 from the OSU 23.
OSU get the ball from their 20 and Howard finds Smith with the WR screen on the right side but he is taken down after a gain of 2.
2nd and 8 from the OSU 22.
The snap out of the shotgun hit off the man in motion and ND jump on the loose ball, but will have to punt.
4th and 9 from the ND 26 with under 5:00 to go.
Leonard got pressured late and his pass to Mitchell skips off the turf after the defense got to him.
3rd and 5 from the ND 30.
ND get the ball back from their 25, trailing for the first time and Leonard takes the first down snap up the middle for 5 yards.
2nd and 5 from the ND 30.
TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES!!!
Judkins gets the handoff and takes it to the left side, stiff arms a defender and barrels into the end zone for an 9 yard TD!!!
OSU lead 14-7 with 6:15 to go in the half.
Howard on the QB keeper to the left side and he picks up 3 yards and a first down.
1st and Goal from the 9.
Howard to Egbuka on the crossing route to the rigth side and he reels it in for a six yard gain.
3rd and 2 from the ND 12.
Judkins up the middle on the first down run and he is stopped after a two yard gain.
2nd and 8 from the ND 18.
Timeout Ohio State with 8:20 to go in the 2nd quarter!
Howard looks back to Egbuka on the right side and he lowers the shoulder for a gain of 12 yard pick up and a first down.
1st and 10 from the ND 20.
Howard tucks it and runs up the left side for a gain of 11 yards to extend the drive.
1st and 10 from the ND 32.
Howard to Egbuka and that short pass play to the left side goes for just 3 yards.
3rd and 3 from the ND 43.
Henderson to the right side on the first down run and he is stopped after a gain of 3.
2nd and 7 from the ND 45.
Howard finds Tate on the fade route to the right side for 15 yards.
1st and 10 from the ND 48.
OSU start their drive from their 24 and Egbuka on the end around takes it for 13 yards.
1st and 10 from the 37.
The Irish get held to a three and out after a 10 minute TD drive to start the game. Leonard found Evans on the left side but he only gets 8 yards and the punt unit comes on.
4th and 15 from the ND 20 with 12:21 to go in the half.
Price up the middle for a short gain of 2 and here comes 3rd and forever.
3rd and 23 from the ND 12.
After a false start backs the Irish up 5 yards, Leonard dances around the backfield escaping the rush and he fires it down the left sideline for a gain of 13 for Collins, but that is coming back after a holding call on ND.
2nd and 25 from the ND 10.
Leonard looking over the middle for Collins but that throw was too high and falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the ND 25.
The Buckeyes respond with a balanced attack on the ground and through the air and they punch it into the endzone with this 8 yard TD catch and run from Smith.
ND get the ball back from their 25 yard line. Let's see if they can build up another long, time consuming drive.
TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES!!!
Howard to the right side for Smith and he walks into the end zone untouched to tie the game up!!!
It's 7-7 early in the 2nd quarter!!!
Judkins to the left side and he cuts it back to the middle for a gain of 5 yards on first down.
2nd and 5 from the ND 8.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER FROM ATLANTA!!!
Howard on the QB keeper and he picks up 5 yards for a first down on the final play of the 1st quarter.
1st and 10 from the ND 13.
Play action roll out by Howard and he slings it for Egbuka up the sideline for a gain of 12.
3rd and 3 from the ND 18.
End around to Smith to the left side and ND smelled that out and dropped him for a loss of 5.
2nd and 15 from the ND 30.
Howard finds Judkins with the WR screen to the right side and he goes for 15 yards with blockers downfield.
1st and 10 from the ND 25.
Henderson up the middle and he cuts it outside to the right side and sprints for 19 yards and a first down!
1st and 10 from the ND 40.
Howards rolls left and releases to Scott who caught it at the line of scrimmage and shook off a tackle for a gain of 4.
2nd and 6 from the OSU 41.
Howard finds Smith on the comeback route to the left side and he stretches for the marker for a first down and a gain of 7.
1st and 10 from the OSU 37.
Henderson to the left side again, and this time he is stopped for no gain.
3rd and 5 from the OSU 30.
Here comes Howard and the Buckeyes starting the drive from their 25 and Henderson gets five yards on the run to the left side.
2nd and 5 from the OSU 30.
Riley Leonard took the team on his back, running it 9 times in that first offensive possession, many of those getting first downs on 3rd and 4th and shorts.
TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME!!!
Leonard with another run up the middle out of the shotgun and he punches it into the end zone on his ninth rush of the drive!!!
ND lead 7-0 after 10 minutes of play!!!
Leonard up the middle again, and again he gets the first down on a run up the middle out of the shotgun.
1st and Goal from the 1.
Leonard kept it on the read option and went left but slipped and was taken down just short of the marker.
4th and 1 fro the OSU 5.
Leonard roll right and tucks it for a gain of 5 yards before getting pushed out of bounds.
3rd and 3 from the OSU 7.
Love to the left side on the first down run and he picks up 2 yards.
2nd and 8 from the OSU 12.
Leonard out of the shotgun and he takes it up the middle again for a gain of 5 yards after pushing the pile.
1st an 10 from the OSU 14.
Price to the left side on the run out of the shotgun and he gets to the sideline and picks up 9 yards.
3rd and 1 from the OSU 19.
Leonard looks left for Mitchell on the comeback route but that pass was behind him.
2nd and 10 from the OSU 28.
Leonard rolls to the right side and he looks back to the middle for Raridon at the marker and he spins up field for a gain of 14.
1st and 10 from the OSU 28.
Leonard takes the snap out of the shot gun and he dives up the middle for a gain of 3 for the first time.
1st and 10 from the OSU 42.
Love gets the handoff to the right side out of the shotgun and he is stopped at the line of scrimmage!
4th and 1 and a big play coming up from the OSU 45.
Leonard with a run up the middle and he is stopped after a gain of 2.
3rd and 1 from the OSU 45.
Leonards hits Love on the left side and he turns up field for a 7 yard gain on first down.
2nd and 3 from the OSU 47.
Leonard goes back to Mitchell on the slant and he picks up 10 yards and move the sticks.
1st and 10 from the ND 46.
Leonard looks to the right side for MItchell but that pass to the marker was low and falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the ND 36.
Leonard with another run up the middle and he moves the chains with a 4 yard run.
1st and 10 from the ND 36.
Leonard on the designed run and he picks up 8 yards on the draw play up the middle.
3rd and 3 from the ND 32.
Here comes Riley Leonard and the Fighting Irish starting the game from their 25 yard line.
Love gets the handoff and he is stopped in the backfield for a loss of a yard!
2nd and 11 from the ND 24.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM ATLANTA!!!!
The Buckeyes just won the toss and choose to differ. We are moments away from kick off here from Atlanta, Georgia!
Colleges casing in
With the new look of College Football, this has become more of a business then ever before. And with big business comes big bucks. Each of the playoff contestants earned money for these extra games added to the end of the season, and obviously those who get to the big game get an even bigger pay day. Our Joe Brennan has more.
All time series
For as historical as they are, these two teams have only played against each other seven times. The Irish had the early edge in the series, winning both games in back to back years all the way back in the 30s. It would be another 60 years before would meet again, and Ohio State started their six game win streak they are currently on. They scored 29 or more points in each of the first four games, two of those being Fiesta Bowl wins.This will be the third straight year both of these teams meet. In 2022 the No. 2 Buckeyes beat the No. 5 Irish 21-10 in a Week 1 regular season match up that happened to be coach Freeman’s first game as the head coach of ND. Last year they beat Notre Dame 17-14 in South Bend. It’s been almost a century since ND has beat OSU, but what better time to do it than in the National Championship?
Coach Freeman
This a trip down memory lane for Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman who went to Ohio State University and played 51 games in 4 years as a linebacker in Columbus. He went to the NFL for just a year, signing deals with three teams but turned to coaching after he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart condition. His first coaching job was as a grad assistant at OSU before heading to Kansas State and Purdue as a linebackers coach. He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator at Purdy before joining Cincinnati for three years. In 2021 the Irish came calling and brought him in as the defensive coordinator but wen Brian Kelly left before the Fiesta Bowl in 2022, Freeman took over and hasn’t looked back since.
Notre Dame history
If there is a more historic, and important team than Notre Dame to college football, I haven’t seen it. Notre Dame is the 4th most winning school in college football history having won 13 since they brought their first one to South Ben back in 1919. Their most triumphant period was back in the 40s when they won four titles in the decade. They haven’t won a title since 1988 when the Irish took down West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. They lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the national title game back in 2012, and since CFP were implemented in 2014 they have been to two semifinals but lost both, first to Clemson in 2018 and then to Alabama in 2020. Now they are back and looking to with their 14th title in school history.
Star watch: Notre Dame
If you hear Notre Dame Coach Marcus Freeman talk about Riley Leonard, you will know who the star of this team in. He isn’t the flashiest, or the QB with the best arm or stats, but he has a will to win that should remind ND fans of QBs past. Leonard passed for just 2,606 yards, completing 66.4% of his passes and throwing for 19 yards and 8 INTs. They aren't numbers that will win him the Heisman, but they are numbers that have been good enough to lead his team to the National Championship. Against Georgia he passed for just 90 yards, but ran for another 80. Last game he had 223 yards and a TD in the air and on the ground, although he did toss two picks against Penn State. ND know that if this game is close late on their, QB is almost guaranteed to lead them to victory.
Star watch: OSU
The high powered offense of the Buckeyes is lead by their quarterback Will Howard has averaged 300 yards passing in the three playoff games and passed for six TDs while throwing just two picks to return this illustrious school back to the National Championship. The former Kansas State Wildcat has had the best season of his college career in his first year in Columbus. He has passed for 3,779 yards, threw 33 TDs and just 10 INTs in what is his final year in college. His future trajectory in the NFL is still unknown, but he can raise his draft stock tonight in the biggest game of his life. Howard won’t be worried about which round he is projected to go in the NFL Draft tonight. All he’ll be thinking about it how to bring Ohio State their 9th National Championship in school history.
Season recap: Notre Dame
Notre Dame came into the season ranked in the top 10 in the preseason polls, but suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the Norther Illinois Huskies in their second game of the season after Mitch Jeter had his 62 yard game-winning field goal blocked as time ran out. Since then the Fighting Irish have been perfect. They have won 13 straight including but the question remains? Who did they beat? They beat three ranked teams in the regular season none higher than 15th and beat an over achieving Indiana team in the first round of the playoffs before knocking out a Georgia team with a back up who had only thrown a handful of passes in his college career. Last week they squeaked by a 6th ranked Penn State team with a three point win.
Season recap: OSU
The Ohio State Buckeyes came into the season as the No. 2 ranked team in the preseason polls and rattled off five straight wins to start the season as Will Howard led his team to blow out win after blow out win, but they would lose a heart breaker to No. 3 ranked Oregon and suffered their first defeat of the season after Howard made a costly time management mistake at the end of the game. They would win their next five games including two wins against top 5 opponents, but inexplicably lost to their bitter rivals Michigan on the final game of the regular season. They got into the playoff off, and met Clemson first before getting their revenge against Oregon in the Rose Bowl to set up their Cotton Bowl win over Texas. Now they have a chance to win the National Championship for the first time for the second time in five years. This time they will look to win it all
Last game: Notre Dame
Notre Dame met Penn State in the Orange Bowl in what we expected to be a low scoring, defensive affair. That was the case for the first 15 minutes as both teams were deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the second quarter. Penn State broke the tie with a field goal on the first play of the second quarter, and then Nicholas Singleton added to the lead with a 5 yard TD run. Notre Dame came out of the half down 10-3 but the Irish fought back tying the lead with a Riley Leonard TD run and then Jeremiayah Love put ND up 17-10 a minute into the 4th quarter. That lead didn’t last long as Nick Singleton put the Nittany Lions up 7 points with two quick rushing TDs that were sandwiched around a Leonard INT. ND and Howard answered back with another TD to tie the game on a 54 yard bomb to Jaden Greathouse. The ND defense came up with a huge play late in the game, when Christian Gray picked off Drew Allar and set up a game winning Mitch Jeter field goal from 41 yards to bring the Irish back to the National Championship game.
Last game: Ohio State
Ohio State went to the Cotton Bowl and took on a Texas team that was playing in their back yard, but the Buckeyes didn’t let that phase them. They stopped the Longhorns on the opening drive of the game and turned that into seven points on the other side of the field. Neither team could get their offense going in the first half of a game that we expected loads of fireworks from both teams. The Longhorns tied it up with under a minute to go in the half, but on the next play from scrimmage, TreVeyon Henderson took a screen pass 75 yards to the house to take a lead heading into halftime. Jayden Blue and Quinn Ewers connected on a second TD of the night to tie the game at 14-14, but the Buckeyes had another answer. Will Howard built up an 88 yard, 13 play drive that was polished of by a Quinshon Judkins 1 yard run to give the Buckeyes a seven point lead with 7:02 to go. The play of the game was made by team captain Jack Sawyer who sacked his former roommate in Quinn Ewers and scooped the fumble up before taking it 83 yards for a TD to seal the game and send the Buckeyes back to the title game since 2021.
We are live from the ATL
Hello everyone and welcome Atlanta, Georgia where both the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish come into tonight as the “lower seeds” in the 12 team bracket. After finishing the regular season earning the right to get into the playoff, they have rattled off three straight wins and now have a chance to add another National Championship title to their extensive trophy cabinets back in South Bend or in Columbus. Both of these two schools are a couple of the winningest schools in college football history and tonight they have a chance to etch their names in history as the first team to win the 12 team College Football Playoff National Championship.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
It all comes down to this. The College Football debuted a 12 team playoff this season and after the regular season and three rounds of knock out games, there are just two teams remaining. It’s the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish meeting in the National Championship as two of the most historic schools meet for a must see match up from Mercedes Benz Stadium. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game as we crown the new kings of College Football.