If you were looking for a typical blowout, you definitely tuned into the wrong game. The Ohio State vs Notre Dame score from their most recent high-stakes meeting didn't just tell a story of points; it told a story of inches, a few desperate seconds, and a massive shift in the college football hierarchy.
Honestly, the 34-23 final score in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship was a lot closer than the box score makes it look. For a while there, it felt like the Fighting Irish might actually pull off the impossible. But then, Ohio State did what Ohio State does. They found another gear.
The Night the Buckeyes Took the Title
Let’s talk about that 34-23 score. It wasn't just a win; it was Ohio State’s ninth national championship. If you're a Notre Dame fan, it’s probably still a bit of a sore subject. The Irish actually struck first. They put together this absolute marathon of an opening drive—18 plays, nearly 10 minutes off the clock. Riley Leonard basically willed himself into the end zone. 7-0 Irish.
But you can’t keep a team like the Buckeyes down for long.
The middle of the game was where the wheels kinda came off for Notre Dame. Ohio State rattled off 31 unanswered points. It was relentless. Will Howard was surgical, finishing 17-of-21 for 231 yards. And Quinshon Judkins? The guy was everywhere. He scored three different ways—rushing and receiving. By the time it was 31-7 in the third, most people at Mercedes-Benz Stadium thought it was over.
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Why the 2023 Matchup Still Haunts South Bend
To understand why the 2025 game felt so heavy, you have to look back at the Ohio State vs Notre Dame score from September 2023. That was the 17-14 heartbreaker. You remember the one.
The Irish had the lead. They had the ball. They had the momentum. Then, with one second left on the clock, DeaMonte Trayanum plunged into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. It was a literal game of inches. Notre Dame only had 10 men on the field for that final play, a coaching blunder that has lived in infamy ever since.
That 17-14 result set the tone for this entire modern rivalry. It proved that even when Notre Dame plays a near-perfect game defensively, Ohio State finds a way to squeeze out a victory.
Breaking Down the Recent Numbers
When you look at the series history, the trend is pretty clear. Ohio State has won seven straight meetings. The Irish haven't actually beaten the Buckeyes since 1936. That is a wild stat. We are talking about two of the biggest brands in the sport, and yet it's been nearly a century of frustration for the folks in South Bend.
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Here is how the scores have looked lately:
- January 20, 2025: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23 (National Championship)
- September 23, 2023: Ohio State 17, Notre Dame 14
- September 3, 2022: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10
- January 1, 2016: Ohio State 44, Notre Dame 28 (Fiesta Bowl)
Notice a pattern? Ohio State usually scores in the 20s or 30s, while Notre Dame struggles to break that 24-point ceiling. In the 2025 title game, Riley Leonard threw for two late touchdowns to Jaden Greathouse to make the score look respectable, but the Buckeyes’ defense, led by Cody Simon’s eight tackles, was just too disciplined when it mattered most.
The Impact of the Transfer Portal and Recruiting
Part of why the Ohio State vs Notre Dame score keeps tilting one way is the sheer talent gap at the skill positions. In the most recent game, freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith had five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. The kid is a human highlight reel.
Notre Dame has definitely closed the gap in the trenches. Their offensive line in the 2025 game was spectacular for the first quarter, but they couldn't sustain it. Ohio State’s depth is just different. When you can rotate players like Sonny Styles and Quinshon Judkins without losing a beat, you're going to win most of those fourth-quarter battles.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
A lot of casual fans think Notre Dame is "soft" or can't compete with the Big Ten elites. That’s just not true. If you actually watched the 2023 or 2025 games, the Irish were physical. They hit hard. They led in both games.
The difference isn't toughness; it's explosive plays. Ohio State specializes in the "chunk" play. In the 2025 championship, they had 31 unanswered points because they could score in three minutes, whereas Notre Dame needed ten-minute drives to get into the red zone. It’s hard to win a modern football game when you have to be perfect for 15 plays in a row just to get seven points.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you're betting on or following the next matchup, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the 4th Quarter Depth: Ohio State’s recruiting classes are consistently top-3, which means their backups are often better than other teams' starters. This usually leads to late-game scoring surges.
- Quarterback Mobility: In the recent 34-23 game, Riley Leonard’s legs were the only reason Notre Dame stayed in it early. If the Irish don't have a dual-threat QB, the Buckeyes' pass rush usually pins its ears back.
- The "10-Man" Psychological Barrier: Until Notre Dame actually finishes a game against Ohio State, there’s going to be a mental hurdle. The 17-14 loss in 2023 is a ghost that still lingers in that locker room.
To stay ahead of the next big game, track the injury reports for Ohio State’s defensive secondary. That’s usually the only spot where they show any vulnerability. Also, keep an eye on the 12-team playoff rankings; these two are essentially locks to meet again in the postseason given how the current landscape looks.