Ohio State Claims National Championship in Historic 12-Team Playoff Run

ATLANTA — Seven weeks after a devastating loss to Michigan, Ohio State football completed a historic turnaround, defeating Notre Dame 34-21 to win the program’s seventh national championship in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. The victory capped a remarkable postseason run that saw the Buckeyes outscore their opponents 145-75 over four games.

“After all the things that have been said throughout the year, these guys are going to be cemented as one of the best stories in Ohio State history and one of the best football teams ever,” head coach Ryan Day said. “There was a point where not a lot of people had that vision, but these guys did, and they saw it through.”

The Buckeyes entered the playoff as the No. 8 seed after a 13-10 loss to Michigan on Nov. 30, their fourth straight defeat in the rivalry. That loss kept Ohio State out of the Big Ten Championship Game and nearly derailed their season. However, the expanded playoff format gave the team a second chance.

Ohio State’s journey began with a dominant 42-17 win over Tennessee in the first round, followed by a 41-21 victory over No. 1 Oregon in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, defensive end Jack Sawyer‘s 83-yard fumble return touchdown sealed a 28-14 win over Texas, setting up the championship showdown with Notre Dame.

The Buckeyes’ success was fueled by a core of players who returned for the 2024 season, including Sawyer, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and cornerback Denzel Burke. “It just kind of fueled our fire a little bit to come back and hoist the national championship trophy,” Burke said. “To be able to see them win it all like that, we wanted a piece of that.”

Day credited the team’s resilience and unity for their postseason success. “Storms are going to come,” he said. “How is the foundation built? Was it built on a true foundation of rock or of sand? We knew those storms were coming. We didn’t know when, but that was ultimately going to allow us to withstand those storms.”

In the championship game, Ohio State overcame an early 7-0 deficit, scoring 28 unanswered points to take control. Quarterback Will Howard completed his first 13 passes, setting a national championship game record, while running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins combined for over 200 rushing yards.

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who led the Buckeyes to a national title in 2002, praised Day’s leadership. “They did a masterful job of keeping that team together,” Tressel said. “And here we are — champions.”

For Day, the victory marked a redemption arc after years of criticism for his record against Michigan. “Funny now, right?” said safety Lathan Ransom. “All the people that want to talk about Coach Day, he brought a national championship to Ohio State.”