Ohio State beat Notre Dame in CFP Championship in Atlanta
Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes gets a Gatorade bath after beating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Get
ATLANTA - Ohio State held off a determined Notre Dame comeback to claim its sixth football national championship with a 34-23 victory Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The game was held in downtown Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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What we know:
The Buckeyes appeared to be cruising to a comfortable win after building a 31-7 lead. However, Notre Dame surged late in the game, scoring two touchdowns and converting both 2-point attempts to pull within one score in the fourth quarter.
Facing a critical third-and-11 on the next drive, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard delivered a 56-yard pass to standout receiver Jeremiah Smith, who was in single coverage on the right sideline. The completion set up a field goal that extended the Buckeyes' lead and effectively ended Notre Dame's comeback hopes.
What's next:
The victory completed a seven-week turnaround for Ohio State, which had suffered a stunning loss to 20-point underdog Michigan earlier in the season. The Buckeyes’ latest title was their first since the 2014 season and adds to their legacy as one of college football’s elite programs. The team will return to Columbus with the championship trophy in hand, ready to celebrate with their fans at the Horseshoe.
The Source: The details in this article come from Monday night's game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. FOX Sports and The Associated Press contributed to this report.