The 2025 College Football National Championship Game has arrived. After the first year of the expanded 12-team playoff (that has many things to work on for the future), we are left with two teams. The number seven-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the number eight-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes got through the semi-finals to set up an interesting affair.
These schools are packed with both talent and history and a win here would add to the schools’ already long lists of football national championships won. But who would come out victorious in Atlanta?
The Fighting Irish had the first possession of the game and would be able to get the game’s first points from it. Starting from their 25-yard line, the offense, led by quarterback Riley Leonard, was able to slowly make their way down to the Buckeyes’ one-yard line. This mostly consisted of running play from Leonard, a tactic that may come back to bite the Fighting Irish later in the game. However, on this occasion, it worked. Leonard found the endzone for a one-yard rushing touchdown to hand Notre Dame the early lead on a drive that took 18 plays and lasted nearly 10 minutes.
This lead did not last long, as Ohio State was able to respond with a score of its own. On a drive that started on their 25-yard line, the Buckeyes offense, led by Will Howard, made their way down to the Notre Dame eight-yard line. Here, Howard found 17-year-old freshman star Jeremiah Smith for the touchdown pass.
On the Buckeyes’ next drive, they were able to take the lead. Just as before, the team broke into the Fighting Irish’s red zone and then made it to the nine-yard line. From here, Quinshon Judkins found the endzone for the rushing touchdown.
A further extension of this lead would occur on Ohio State’s final drive of the half. This time, Howard found Judkins for a six-yard touchdown pass.
While the Buckeyes scored on every drive they had, the Fighting Irish were struggling. It felt like all of their offensive energy was used up on the opening drive, and for the rest of the half, they were a shell of their former self.
This meant that at halftime, the Buckeyes had a 21-7 lead over the Fighting Irish.
The second half began in the worst possible way for Notre Dame. They were already two scores behind, but the Buckeyes increased this to a three-score game on the first drive of the half. Thanks to a 70-yard run by Judkins, Ohio State quickly found themselves deep into Notre Dame territory and were very close to the goal line. A few plays later Judkins ran the ball into the endzone for a one-yard rushing touchdown. In response to this, Notre Dame would turn the ball over on downs on their 33-yard line.
This already gave the Buckeyes a good chance to add to their ever-growing lead, which is what they were able to do. However, to give credit to the Fighting Irish, their defense was able to stop Ohio State at the 28-yard line. This set up kicker Jayden Fielding with a 46-yard field goal attempt. This was something that he was able to make, adding three points to the Buckeyes lead, giving them 31 unanswered points. Notre Dame would need a miracle to win this game now.
Then, for the first time since the opening drive, the Fighting Irish offense was able to show some life. Leonard and company were able to make it down to the Buckeyes’ 34-yard line. Here, the quarterback found Jayden Greathouse for the touchdown pass. Notre Dame then attempted a two-point conversion, which was successful. This reduced the lead to 16 points, but more would have to be done.
In a stroke of luck for the Fighting Irish, Ohio State would then make a mistake. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Howard threw a 25-yard pass to Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka would then fumble the ball, and this was recovered by Notre Dame. Could they find the endzone again and make it a one-possession game?
The Fighting Irish offense would make their way down to the Buckeyes’ nine-yard. Here, the drive would stall, and a 27-yard field goal was attempted by Mitch Jeter. This was unsuccessful. Notre Dame would be able to cut the lead again on their next drive when Leonard found Greathouse for a 30-yard touchdown pass. This would also be followed by a two-point conversion. This reduced the lead to eight points, and with four minutes to go, the Fighting Irish needed the ball back.
This was something that they were not able to do. Ohio State slowly moved the ball down the field to reach the Notre Dame 15-yard line. Then, with 26 seconds left on the clock, Fielding kicked a 33-yard field goal to seal the win.
This meant that the Ohio State Buckeyes had defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 to win the 2025 College Football National Championship.
Coming into the game, it was expected that Ohio State would win this game comfortably, and by halftime, it was looking like that would be the case. However, the late comeback from Notre Dame was able to create some jeopardy, but in the end, it would not be enough.
This is the culmination of what had been a fantastic turnaround for the Buckeyes. They ended the regular season, missing out of the Big Ten Conference Championship game after an embarrassing defeat to the Michigan Wolverines. Something must have happened between that defeat and their first playoff game, as the team has been perfect ever since.
As for Notre Dame, they were able to shake off a very surprising defeat in week two to the Northern Illinois Huskies to make the championship game. It was not meant to be this year, but, as always with this historic program, never count them out in the future.
Congratulations to the Ohio State Buckeyes, the 2025 National Champions!
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2025-01-24 08:38:23
