The Ohio State Buckeyes Buck The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Thrilling National Championship Game

#8 Ohio State Buckeyes vs #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

In a game that saw momentum swing wildly, the Ohio State Buckeyes emerged victorious over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a thrilling National Championship matchup.1

The Fighting Irish came out of the gates strong, showcasing their potent rushing attack behind a dominant offensive line. Notre Dame effectively utilized their offensive line and tight ends to open up holes for their running backs and quarterback, Riley Leonard, gaining valuable yards on their opening drive leading to a touchdown. Leonard ran for 40 yards on 17 attempts and a touchdown and completed 22 of 31 passes for 255 yards and 2 TDs.

Defensively, Notre Dame linebacker #0 Xavier Watts proved to be a force to be reckoned with. He displayed impressive coverage skills in the passing game while also generating consistent pressure on the quarterback with his relentless pass rush. Watts made 8 tackles, one for a loss.

However, the second quarter saw the Notre Dame offense plagued by holding penalties, stalling drives and hindering their momentum. Despite these setbacks, the Fighting Irish displayed resilience, staging a late rally in the game. Wide receiver #1 Jaden Greathouse emerged as a key contributor, making several spectacular receptions and showcasing his impressive yards-after-catch ability. His contributions were further enhanced by his strong plays from the slot receiver position, consistently gaining yards after the catch, picking up key first downs, and delivering crucial downfield blocks. Gatehouse finished the game with 6 catches for 128 yards and 2 TDs.

A crucial missed field goal proved to be a significant turning point in the game. After recovering a fumble, the Fighting Irish elected to attempt a field goal with approximately nine minutes remaining in the game. The missed kick not only left points off the board but also shifted the momentum decisively in favor of the Buckeyes.

Ohio State, under the guidance of head coach Ryan Day, displayed a high level of energy and discipline throughout the game. The Buckeyes' offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage, providing exceptional pass protection for quarterback Will Howard, and paving the way for a potent rushing attack.

Howard, in a stellar first half, completed 14 of 15 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his accuracy and efficiency. While his second-half performance was less impressive, he made two crucial throws late in the game to seal the victory for the Buckeyes. Howard finished 17 of 21 for 231 yards and 2 TDs.

Wide receiver #4 Jeremia Smith proved to be a dynamic playmaker, showcasing his elusive running skills and making several key receptions. He led the Buckeyes with 5 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Quinshon Judkins led the Buckeyes in rushing with 11 carries for 100 yards and 2 TDs.

Ohio States defense accumulated 54 tackles, 7 were tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Cody Simon led the way with 8 tackles.

Ultimately, the Ohio State Buckeyes' offensive dominance and timely plays proved to be the difference in a hard-fought and exciting National Championship game.