Home Sports Ohio State 34-23 Notre Dame: Buckeyes hold off Fighting Irish to win thrilling CFP National Championship game

Ohio State 34-23 Notre Dame: Buckeyes hold off Fighting Irish to win thrilling CFP National Championship game

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Ohio State 34-23 Notre Dame: Buckeyes hold off Fighting Irish to win thrilling CFP National Championship game

The Ohio State Buckeyes held off a thrilling Notre Dame comeback to win the CFP National Championship game 34-23 in Atlanta on Monday night.

In front of a star-studded crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that included LeBron James, Travis Scott, Ezekiel Elliott, Bryce Harper and Anthony Mackie, the Buckeyes secured the victory when Will Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith on a deep pass for two . remaining minutes.

The matchup between two of college football’s most famous programs also featured a message from President Donald Trump, who was sworn in Monday, that aired on ESPN at halftime.

Also present was the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s youngest daughter, the Rev. Bernice King, executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

This was the first time the CFP national championship game was held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and also the first time the game was played on Presidential Inauguration Day.

Ohio State’s victory was the ninth National Championship in program history and running back Quinshon Judkins dominated with three touchdowns and 121 yards on 13 touches.

Ohio State withstood Notre Dame comeback to win CFP National Championship game

Confetti falls on Buckeyes as they celebrate with thousands of Ohio State fans

Confetti falls on Buckeyes as they celebrate with thousands of Ohio State fans

Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer and quarterback Will Howard celebrate on the podium

Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer and quarterback Will Howard celebrate on the podium

Buckeyes quarterback Howard connected with big-play receiver Smith for 56 yards on a late third-and-11 to clinch a game they had dominated before the Fighting Irish threatened to rally.

Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make the game a one-score late in the fourth quarter.

The Irish stopped Ohio State, which has built a star-studded roster thanks to nearly $20 million in NIL funding, on the first two plays of the next drive and used their timeouts.

But on third down, Howard found Smith in single coverage on the right sideline and dropped his best pass of the season into the receiver’s hands.

Howard, a success story in the Kansas State transfer portal, threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, but nothing will top the pass to Smith with everything on the line.

He set up a field goal that started the celebration in earnest, capping a seven-week rise from the depths of a loss to 20-point underdog Michigan to the top of college football.

Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first four possessions in a dominant opening to the game, then added a field goal in the fifth.

When Judkins, a transfer from Mississippi who highlighted Ohio State’s judicious use of the ever-growing portal, broke off a 70-yard run to set up the score that made the score 28-7, this game went by the wayside.

Will Howard hit Jeremiah Smith on a third-and-11 to secure a game they had dominated.

Will Howard hit Jeremiah Smith on a third-and-11 to secure a game they had dominated.

1737435045 265 Ohio State 34 23 Notre Dame Buckeyes hold off Fighting Irish

However, it was heartbreaking for Notre Dame and its impressive coach Marcus Freeman.

1737435046 154 Ohio State 34 23 Notre Dame Buckeyes hold off Fighting Irish

The final was played before a star-studded 77,660 spectators at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Among those in attendance was LeBron James with the NBA icon, a huge Ohio State fan.

Among those in attendance was LeBron James with the NBA icon, a huge Ohio State fan.

It wasn’t, and now Irish coach Marcus Freeman will have to answer some tough questions.

The first is about a failed fake punt in the third quarter that turned into a field goal for a 31-7 lead.

The other involved sending Mitch Jeter in for a short field goal attempt while down 16 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 9. It might have seemed like a better call if Jeter’s kick hadn’t clanged off the left upright.

However, Ohio State was actually the better team. The Buckeyes outgained Notre Dame 445 yards to 308 and Howard completed his first 13 passes and was never stopped.

Ohio State completed a four-game run in the first 12-team CFP bracket, winning each of its playoff games by a multiple-point margin.

The postseason blitz followed a late-regular-season loss to rival Michigan that raised questions about Buckeyes coach Ryan Day’s job security.

But Day will now bring Ohio State’s ninth ‘natty’ and first since the 2014 season back to the Horseshoe in Columbus.

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