With newly acquired Veterans Memorial alumni, James Peoples, #8 ranked with the Ohio State Buckeyes, defeated the #7 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a one-sided victory 34-23. These teams had very different paths to the National Championship. Notre Dame had closer games beating the #10 ranked Indiana Hoosiers 27-17, the #2 ranked Georgia Bulldogs 23-10 and the #6 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions 27-24. However, in the top half of the bracket, Ohio State had more blowout wins against objectively better teams. Ohio State went through the #9 ranked Tennessee Volunteers 42-17, the #1 ranked Oregon Ducks 41-21 and the #5 ranked Texas Longhorns 28-14.
The game started slow with one rushing touchdown from Notre Dame quarterback, Riley Leonard, ending the quarter 7-0 in favor of the Fighting Irish. The Buckeyes needed to get on the board, so they went all in. Ohio State quarterback, Will Howard, threw a touchdown to freshman receiver, Jeremiah White, and back-to-back scores from running back Quinshon Judkins, one rushing and one receiving putting the Buckeyes up 21-7 at halftime. Opening the second half, Quinshon Judkins rushed for his third total touchdown and Ohio State kicker, Jayden Fielding, scored a 47-yard field goal. Notre Dame answers back with a 34-yard touchdown by receiver, Jaden Greathouse, from Riley Leonard, making the score 31-15 entering the final quarter. Notre Dame attempted to make a comeback with a 30-yard touchdown thrown to Jaden Greathouse from Riley Leonard giving Greathouse his second touchdown; however, Jayden Fielding kicked the final points of the game for the Buckeyes ending the game with a win for Ohio State 34-23.
This year was the first year the College Football Playoff was extended from four to 12 teams, so if it weren’t for the change, neither Notre Dame nor Ohio State would’ve made it. The 12-team playoff will change the college football playoff forever, allowing more teams to win and get their programs in the history books. Cinderella runs (when a team that is ranked lower starts beating higher-ranking teams) will be more common especially since the playoff is a one-game elimination. Meanwhile, The Buckeyes add another trophy to their collection of nine, which puts them sixth, tied with Southern California on the most national championships won of all-time.
