The traditional Gatorade bath hoisted by members of his victorious team was already pouring on to Ryan Day as Notre Dame made their last futile play in the dying seconds with time suffocating a gutsy Fighting Irish comeback. Day joins Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer as winning coach of an Ohio State national championship team, their first title since 2014.
Just seven weeks earlier, it seemed Day's job was under intense scrutiny following a fourth consecutive loss to their bitter rivals Michigan, who had lifted the national championship just a year ago, having won their own battle to overcome seasons of frustration. The loss to the Wolverines marked a significant turning point in the Buckeyes' season. Ohio State made the College Football Playoff as the No.8 seed, going on to dominate Tennessee, Big Ten champion Oregon to avenge their regular season defeat, and Texas with an overpowering offense and stifling defense. They have been the best team in the College Football Playoff, and deserved winners of the national championship.
In Notre Dame, the Buckeyes were facing a team that had won thirteen straight games since their shock upset loss to Northern Illinois in Week Two, and in Marcus Freeman, a young, talented coach who became the first black and Asian man to coach a championship final team. Freeman had played for Ohio State as a linebacker and started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Buckeyes in 2010. The Fighting Irish led the country in takeaways and had scored 158 points from turnovers so Ohio State were aware of the threat facing them.
Ohio State and Notre Dame boasted the best two defenses in college football in terms of points allowed, teams averaged just 12.2 per game against the Buckeyes, and 14.3 per game against the Irish. Something had to give.
Notre Dame start strong
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard settled into the game early on, two runs giving the Fighting Irish a confidence building first down. Build momentum, Leonard converted a 4th & 1 play as his offensive line were making a big statement. A second 4th & 1 conversion on the Ohio State 6-yard line led to a 1-yard touchdown from Leonard, his ninth run of an 18-play, 75-yard drive which took 9:45 off the clock and gave Notre Dame a 7-0 lead. It was the first time Ohio State have been behind in a playoff game this year.
Ohio State answers back quickly
Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard varied the attack, ensuring his key playmakers TreyVevon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith, subdued in the semi-final win over Texas, all touched the ball early to make key plays on Ohio State’s opening drive and take the Buckeyes quickly to the red zone.
Howard used a play fake to flip the ball to Smith who nonchalantly jogged in for an 8-yard touchdown reception. Their 11-play drive taking up 6:05 was a strong answer from Ohio State and brought them level.
Having forced Notre Dame to punt, Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was calling plays to mix his skill players. Receivers Egbeka and Smith were making runs and the dynamic running back duo of Judkins & Henderson were lining up out wide and catching passes out of the backfield, also freeing up space for Carnell Tate to make plays too.
The 215 lb back Judkins scored a 9-yard touchdown run to cap a 75-yard, 10-play scoring drive that took 6:06 off the clock and put the Buckeyes in front for the first time in the game. After their opening marathon drive, Notre Dame found themselves trailing with 6:15 left in the half, and back to back three and outs for the Fighting Irish after their successful opening drive, knowing Ohio State would receive the ball to start the second half, put them under pressure.
Will Howard was ruthlessly efficient driving Ohio State's offense. The Buckeyes quarterback completed his first 13 passes, finding success on the run against Notre Dame's man coverage, and in the air against the Irish zone defense. Notre Dame’s man coverage was opening up the option for him to scramble and gain valuable yards. Howard's cross body throw to Judkins resulted in a 6-yard touchdown for the running back’s second score to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive and put Ohio State up 21-7 with 27 seconds left in the half, knowing they would receive the ball at the start of the second half. As they did against Texas in the semi-final, the Buckeyes made a critical, morale-sapping score just before half-time.
Notre Dame penalties cost them two successive drives and running back Jeremiyah Love was struggling to get going, rushing for just one yard in the first half. "We've just got to relax", Marcus Freeman said at the interval.
Ryan Day, sensing the opportunity with his team two touchdowns ahead, said to ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe: "We’ve got to come out and have a great drive." Ohio State converted all six of their third downs in the first half. 6 for 6 on third down. Momentum was firmly in their favour.
Ohio State takes control
Day got his wish - a superb 5-play 75-yard drive in just 2:14 looked to have sucked the life out of Notre Dame fans. Quinshon Judkins exploded for a 70-yard run into open field, finally cut down at the 5-yard line, his coach charging down the sideline after him roaring him on. The Ole Miss transfer scored his third touchdown of the night, a 1-yard run which put the Buckeyes up, 28-7. Ohio State were in complete control. At half-time, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban warned “this could get ugly” if the Fighting Irish couldn’t stop the Ohio State offense.
On 4th & 2, Notre Dame reached into their book of trick plays, faking a punt, but the pass from backup quarterback Steve Angeli bounced out of Jordan Faison’s arms. The Irish finally forced a third down stop leaving Jaden Fielding to convert a 46-yard field goal to extend Ohio State’s lead to 31-7.
The Irish come out fighting
After Riley Leonard’s success running the ball on Note Dame's first drive, Ohio State were shutting down the run game and forcing the Irish quarterback to throw. Leonard converted the first third down for Notre Dame since the first quarter with a punishing run. Leonard's grit in earning every yard he ran was dragging his team into life. Receiver Jaden Greathouse broke two tackles on a 34-yard touchdown reception and a shovel pass from Leonard to Love brought Notre Dame back to 31-15 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
The next drive fuelled what had looked like an unlikely comeback. Notre Dame came up with a takeaway, Drayk Bowen stripped the ball out of Egbuka’s arms to give the Fighting Irish the ball back on their own 20-yard line. Leonard's 30-yard pass to Greathouse and a holding penalty on Ohio State moved the ball into Buckeyes territory. Leonard's 11-yard pass to Greathouse converted a critical 4th & 5 play and moved the Fighting Irish to the Ohio State red zone. Mitch Jeter’s 27-yard field goal attempt agonisingly rattled the left upright and the Irish missed their chance to close the gap.
A three and out for Ohio State gave Notre Dame possession with 6:25 to go and all three timeouts left. Leonard's 33-yard completion to tight end Mitchell Evans and a 30-yard slot fade touchdown pass to Greathouse capped a 6-play, 80-yard drive in just 2:10. Receiver Beaux Collins caught a pass from two-sport star Faison, who had won a national lacrosse championship for Notre Dame, to make the two-yard conversion and bring the Fighting Irish within a score. 31-23 Ohio State's lead was cut to 31-23 with 4:15 left in the fourth quarter.
Redemption
Howard was making key runs to keep the Buckeyes offense ticking over and, critically, keep the clock running. The Irish defense were aggressive to try and stop the run. On 3rd & 11, Notre Dame blitzed seven defenders and Howard launched a 57- yard looping pass downfield to Jeremiah Smith to give Ohio State 1st & goal and seize back control of the game. The Buckeyes used their remaining timeouts to run down the clock to 28 seconds left. Jayden Fielding kicks a 33-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes an unassailable 34-23 lead and clinch Ohio State's first national championship in ten years.
“Play Like A Champion Today” is the famous sign that greets Notre Dame players as they run out to their home stadium in South Bend, a message that was emblazoned on fans' T-shirts and taken to heart by their team who fought bravely but against an Ohio State team that were simply too strong for them on the day, taking control in critical plays.
Buckeyes' quarterback Will Howard, who completed 17 of 21 passes for 231 passing yards, gained 57 rushjng yards and accounted for two touchdowns recognised the importance of this, saying: "We did an unbelievable job on third down, winning situations.”
Ohio State can look back on a triumphant season where they went all in with the inspired recruitment of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who transformed a previously 64th ranked defense and some key transfer portal additions in Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins and Caleb Downs in particular.
A campaign that threatened to fizzle out after their loss to Michigan, resulted in a national championship just four games later. For that, despite all the plaudits delivered to the winning players and coaches, the biggest amount of credit must go to Ohio State's coach, who removed himself from the hot seat to lift a national championship.
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