Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates after a touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen forces a fumble by Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Notre Dame place kicker Mitch Jeter reacts after missing a field goal against Ohio State during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Notre Dame wide receiver Jaden Greathouse catches a touchdown pass ahead of Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard runs for a touchdown against Ohio State during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates after scoring against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith runs for a touchdown against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is tackled by Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews celebrates after the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates after a touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates after scoring against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith catches a pass against Notre Dame during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith catches a pass against Notre Dame during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Ohio State place kicker Jayden Fielding celebrates after a field goal against Notre Dame during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates after a touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
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Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen forces a fumble by Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
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Notre Dame place kicker Mitch Jeter reacts after missing a field goal against Ohio State during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
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Notre Dame wide receiver Jaden Greathouse catches a touchdown pass ahead of Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
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Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard runs for a touchdown against Ohio State during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
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Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates after scoring against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith runs for a touchdown against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
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Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is tackled by Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews celebrates after the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates after a touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
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Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates after scoring against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith catches a pass against Notre Dame during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
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Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith catches a pass against Notre Dame during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
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Ohio State place kicker Jayden Fielding celebrates after a field goal against Notre Dame during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
ATLANTA — Instead of crying over another collapse, Ohio State can celebrate another national title after holding off a Notre Dame comeback bid Monday night to walk away with a nailbiter of a 34-23 victory over the Fighting Irish.
Will Howard hit big-play receiver Jeremiah Smith for 56 yards on a late third-and-11 to lock down a game that had been a laugher, then turned into something else.
Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter.
The Irish stopped Ohio State 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 hands of the second-team All-American.
It set up a field goal that started the celebration in earnest, closing out a seven-week climb from the depths of a loss to 20-point underdog Michigan to the top of college football. Ohio State will bring its sixth “natty” and first since the 2014 season back to the Horseshoe in Columbus.
Howard, a transfer-portal success story from Kansas State, threw for 231 yards and two scores, but nothing will beat the pass to Smith with everything on the line.
The receiver, who had been bottled up by Texas in the semifinals then was fairly quiet for most of this game, finally got loose for the kind of play he’s been making all year. He finished with five catches for 88 yards.
Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, then added a field goal on its fifth.
Ohio State place kicker Jayden Fielding celebrates after a field goal against Notre Dame during second half of Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game in Atlanta. Associated Press
When Quinshon Judkins (100 yards, 11 carries, three TDs), a transfer from Mississippi who highlighted Ohio State’s judicious use of the ever-growing portal, busted a 70-yard run to set up the score that made it 28-7, this game looked over.
It wasn’t, and now Irish coach Marcus Freeman will have to answer a few tough questions — one about the failed fake punt in the third quarter that turned into a field goal for a 31-7 lead, the other about sending Mitch Jeter in for a short field goal attempt while down 16 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 9. It might have looked like a better call had Jeter’s kick not clanged off the left upright.
Really, though, Ohio State was the better team. The Buckeyes out-gained Notre Dame 445 yards to 308. Howard completed his first 13 passes and never really got stopped. The proof: Ohio State punted a grand total of once.
