ATLANTA (Diya TV) — In a game where the Buckeyes were down early, Ohio State completed a remarkable comeback story Monday night, winning 34-23 over Notre Dame to take the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Buckeyes will hold tight to their seventh national title in program history despite a late surge by the Fighting Irish.
Ohio State built a commanding 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter, but Notre Dame, under quarterback Riley Leonard, staged a furious rally. Leonard threw two touchdown passes – a 34-yard strike to Jaden Greathouse – making it 31-23 with 4:15 to go. Ohio State’s defense and some later timely offenses sealed the win for them.
An important third-and-11 drew quarterback Will Howard to freshman Jeremiah Smith, who took a strike 56 yards for the ball to Jayden Fielding for a 33-yard field goal that extended the Buckeyes’ lead to 34-23 with 26 seconds left.
It was a redemption win for Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, whose team had come in for much flak after the embarrassing loss to Michigan in November. The Buckeyes regained their mojo by dominating performances in the playoff and defeated Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas before the win over Notre Dame.
“It’s the reason you get into coaching,” said Day after the game. “To see guys overcome things, learn life lessons, and then reach their dreams.”
Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins rushed for 100 yards and three total touchdowns, while Howard threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Leonard led Notre Dame with 255 yards and two touchdowns, but the Irish fell short in their bid for their first national title since 1988.