College Football Championship
Nicolas Margarit
Staff Writer
On January 20, 2025, the Ohio State Buckeyes won their first national championship since 2014 by defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34–23 in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
On the game’s first drive, Notre Dame took the field and went 18 plays, 75 yards for a touchdown, with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Riley Leonard. However, Ohio State responded and scored 31 straight points unanswered. First, the Ohio State quarterback, Will Howard, hit true freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith for an 8-yard touchdown, and then he threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to running back Quinshon Judkins. Judkins then scored another rushing touchdown which increased the Buckeyes’ lead. An important moment occurred in the third quarter when Judkins broke free for a 70-yard run, setting up another score and pushing them even more ahead. Notre Dame tried to come back in the fourth quarter, with Leonard finding receiver Jaden Greathouse for two touchdown passes and two successful two-point conversions which cut the lead down to 31–23. But with the season on the line, Howard threw a 56-yard pass to Smith on 3rd and 11 near the end of the game to set up a 33-yard field goal by kicker Jayden Fielding to ice the game for Ohio State.
The win marks Ohio State’s ninth national championship in program history and their first in the new 12-team playoff format. Ohio State’s path to the title was a tough one, they first lost to a number 1 Oregon in early October and then lost to a not-so-great Michigan team late in November which had cast doubt on their championship aspirations. Ohio State was able to come back from these losses and became even better giving them another Natty. For Notre Dame, their drought for another national championship continues with their last title won in 1988. Despite the defeat, the Fighting Irish completed a remarkable season under head coach Marcus Freeman, finishing with a 14–2 record and securing their highest final ranking since 1993.
At the beginning of the season after a loss to a team, everyone expected them to blow out Northern Illinois they were faced with tons of criticism and were seen as having no shot to make the National Championship. After this loss, they went on a 14-game win streak until their loss in the national championship, so it is pretty incredible they ended up making it to this point. Both teams were seen as favorites to make the playoff, so it is no surprise they ended up here. The 2024-25 college football season was special and will be remembered as the first year of the new 12-team playoff. Not only that but also Ohio State’s championship run, fueled by resilience and star performances including true freshman Jeremiah Smith who will be a star in the future, ended a season full of surprises, upsets, and memorable moments. The new contenders emerging, the ongoing power of dominant programs, and the enhanced excitement of the postseason all suggest that college football is growing in exciting ways. At this point, looking ahead to the start of next season, it’s safe to say that the future of the sport has never looked brighter.
Contact Nicolas at nicolas.margarit@student.shu.edu