Ohio State had to sweat a little bit on Monday night.
The Buckeyes became the first two-loss national champion in 18 years with a 34-23 win over Notre Dame. Ohio State was far better than the Fighting Irish for the first 40 minutes of the game, but needed to stave off a late push from Notre Dame to get the victory.
Notre Dame scored 16 straight points after Ohio State took a 31-7 lead with 12:46 to go in the third quarter. The Irish trimmed the lead to eight with 4:15 to go when Riley Leonard hit Jaden Greathouse for a 30-yard TD before a two-point conversion. But Ohio State iced the game on a third down before the two-minute warning when Will Howard hit freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith for long completion.
[Read Nick Bromberg’s full title game recap right here]
Live71 updates
-
Ohio State wants its rings
-
The moment OSU secured the title …
-
OHIO STATE WINS THE CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
The Buckeyes win the first-ever 12-team playoff, beating Notre Dame 34-23 to claim the title!
It’s Ohio State’s first national title since the 2014 season.
-
Ohio State adds a FG
Jayden Fielding hits a 33-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game.
With 26 seconds left, it’s all a formality now.
The Buckeyes are on the way to a CFP championship!
Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23
-
Another angle of the Jeremiah Smith catch
-
Ohio State converts on a BIG pass play!
The Buckeyes roll the dice on 3rd down with a deep ball to Jeremiah Smith and it pays off for a huge 55-yard gain!
That will just about clinch it with a fresh set of downs at the 2-minute timeout.
-
Ohio State still in control
Even amid the chaos, the Buckeyes are basically one or two first downs away from securing the title.
Big 3rd and 11 coming up with 2:45 to go.
-
Leonard to Greathouse is the key
This Notre Dame comeback bid is all the back of the passing game coming to life with QB Riley Leonard finding his go-to target in Jaden Greathouse.
Greathouse has 5 catches for 11 yards and 2 TDs so far.
-
Touchdown Notre Dame!
Riley Leonard to … who else? … Jaden Greathouse for a 30-yard pinpoint TD pass!
And the 2-point try is GOOD to make it a one-score game with 4:15 to play.
Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 23
-
Notre Dame’s passing game coming alive
Suddenly Riley Leonard is slinging it out there as the Irish have quickly crosses midfield again.
Can they convert it into points this time?
-
Ohio State punts it
For the first time today, Ohio State is punting it away. Obviously a crucial stop by the Notre Dame defense there. ND ball with 6:25 to play for the national title.
-
Did ND make the right decision to kick?
Many on social media are being critical of Notre Dame’s decision to even try a short field goal when it was down 16 in the 4th quarter.
It was 4th and goal from the 9. Would you have
-
Notre Dame FG NO GOOD!
Mitch Jeter’s 27-yard attempt hits the upright, and an exciting drive ends in nothing for Notre Dame!
-
ND moves chains on 4th down!
Riley Leonard delivers another big pass to Jaden Greathouse to convert on 4th-and-5.
Notre Dame doing just enough to keep this game interesting.
-
Notre Dame on the march
Riley Leonard completes a big pass to Jaden Greathouse to get into OSU territory.
Big 3rd down conversion there for 30 yards.
-
Ohio State fumbles it away!
Emeka Egbuka lost the ball after a big gain, and Notre Dame gets the turnover it absolutely HAD to have there.
The Irish will take over at their own 21-yard line.
-
End of 3rd: Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 15
OSU would have faced a 3rd-and-6 from its own 38 but instead has it into Notre Dame territory after a late hit on the quarterback was called.
Brutal mistake by Notre Dame when it needed a stop.
-
-
Touchdown Notre Dame!
Jaden Greathouse with a terrific 34-yard catch and run to get the Irish a desperately needed score.
And after the 2-point conversion, it’s suddenly a two-score game again.
Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 15
-
Notre Dame has a drive going
Before this drive, the Irish didn’t even have a first down since the opening TD drive.
Now, thanks to a few nice plays plus a PI penalty, Notre Dame has the ball into OSU territory.
