Ohio State Claims National Title, Tops Final AP Poll

ATLANTA, Ga. — Ohio State clinched its sixth national championship in program history Monday night, defeating Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Buckeyes’ victory capped a dominant postseason run and secured their No. 1 ranking in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll released Tuesday.

The Buckeyes (14-2) received all first-place votes after their playoff run, which included decisive wins over Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas before facing Notre Dame. Head coach Ryan Day praised his team’s resilience, saying, “This group never stopped believing. They played their best football when it mattered most.”

Notre Dame (14-2) finished No. 2 in the poll, marking its highest end-of-season ranking since 1993. Oregon (13-1), which entered the playoff as the top-ranked team, fell to No. 3 after its semifinal loss to Ohio State. Texas and Penn State rounded out the top five, giving the Big Ten three teams in the final top five for the first time in conference history.

Georgia (13-3), which missed the 12-team playoff, finished at No. 6, followed by Arizona State, Boise State, Tennessee, and Indiana. The Southeastern Conference led all conferences with seven teams in the Top 25, while the Big Ten placed five teams in the rankings.

Ohio State’s championship victory was fueled by standout performances from quarterback Kyle McCord and placekicker Jayden Fielding, whose second-half field goal extended the Buckeyes’ lead. Offensive lineman Josh Simmons, who celebrated the win with teammates on the field, said, “This is what we worked for all season. It’s a dream come true.”

The Buckeyes’ title is their first since 2014 and solidifies their place among college football’s elite programs. Notre Dame, despite the loss, earned praise for its strong season under head coach Marcus Freeman. “We came up short, but this team showed heart and determination,” Freeman said. “We’ll be back.”

The final AP poll also highlighted notable achievements, including Boise State’s return to the top 10 for the first time since 2011 and UNLV’s first-ever end-of-season ranking. Alabama, under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer, fell six spots to No. 17 after a disappointing finish to the season.

Ohio State’s championship win and No. 1 ranking cap a historic season for the program and the Big Ten, which now boasts three national titles in the past decade.