If you were looking for the biggest game of the year, you had to head south. Specifically, to the heart of Georgia. The where is college football championship 2025 question had a very specific answer: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
It was a cold Monday night on January 20, 2025.
The air outside was crisp, but inside that massive, retractable-roof marvel, things were heating up. We saw the culmination of the first-ever 12-team playoff format. Honestly, it changed everything. The season felt longer, more grueling, and definitely more chaotic than the old four-team era. By the time we got to Atlanta, everyone was exhausted but electric.
The Venue That Stole the Show
Atlanta isn't new to this. In fact, it became the first city to ever host the CFP National Championship twice. They did it back in 2018—you remember the Tua Tagovailoa second-and-26 walk-off? Yeah, that one. This time, the "Benz" welcomed over 77,000 fans.
The stadium itself is a beast. It’s got that "halo" video board that’s basically a giant 360-degree screen. It makes you feel like you're inside a video game.
Interestingly, Atlanta wasn't even supposed to be the host originally. Las Vegas was the first pick. But Vegas had a massive scheduling conflict with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Apparently, you can't have 150,000 techies and 80,000 football fans in the same desert town without the hotels literally exploding. So, the committee called up Atlanta, and the rest is history.
Why Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
It’s basically the capital of college football. You’ve got the College Football Hall of Fame right down the street. The SEC Championship happens there every December. It’s a logistics dream.
- Capacity: 71,000+ (expanded to 77,660 for the title game).
- Roof: Retractable (though it stayed shut for the game).
- Concessions: Still some of the cheapest in the pros ($2 hot dogs, anyone?).
The Matchup: A Midwest Civil War in the South
So, who actually made it to the where is college football championship 2025 destination? It was a classic. The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes took on the No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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Think about that for a second. In the old system, neither of these teams would have even smelled a championship. The 12-team bracket allowed these two "lower" seeds to fight their way through a gauntlet.
Ohio State, led by Ryan Day, had a chip on its shoulder. Notre Dame, under Marcus Freeman, was trying to win its first title since 1988. It felt like a heavyweight bout from the first whistle.
How the Game Went Down
Notre Dame actually jumped out early. Riley Leonard scrambled for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and the Irish fans were losing their minds. It looked like the "luck of the Irish" was real.
Then, the Buckeyes woke up.
Ohio State scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. Quarterback Will Howard was dealing. He found the freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith for a score, and then Quinshon Judkins—the transfer from Ole Miss—just started bulldozing people. Judkins ended up with three touchdowns on the night.
By halftime, it was 21-7.
Notre Dame didn't quit, though. They staged a late comeback in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 31-23. They even converted two 2-point conversions. It was getting tense. But a late field goal by Jayden Fielding sealed the deal.
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Final Score: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23.
The Impact of the 12-Team Format
People were worried the expanded playoff would devalue the regular season. Kinda the opposite happened. We saw teams like Indiana and SMU staying relevant deep into November.
By the time we reached the championship in Atlanta, we had seen 11 playoff games instead of the usual three. The "Path to Atlanta" was a marathon. Ohio State had to beat some serious contenders just to get there.
Critics say it's too much football for college kids. Supporters say it’s the most fair way to crown a champ. Either way, the money was astronomical. ESPN’s "Megacast" was everywhere, and the ratings were through the roof—over 22 million people tuned in.
If You're Planning for Next Time
If you missed the 2025 game, don't worry. The circus keeps moving.
For the 2025-26 season (the game played in January 2026), the location shifts to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. After that, we’re looking at:
- Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium) in 2027.
- New Orleans (Caesars Superdome) in 2028.
- Tampa (Raymond James Stadium) in 2029.
Pro-Tips for Attending a Championship
If you ever go, don't just show up for the kickoff. The CFP "Playoff Playlist Live!" is usually a free concert series the weekend before. In Atlanta, we had Lil Wayne and Camila Cabello performing. It's basically a mini-Super Bowl.
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Also, stay near Peachtree Street. It’s the hub for most of the fan activities. You can walk to the Georgia World Congress Center, which hosts "Playoff Fan Central." It’s basically a giant indoor theme park for football nerds.
What’s Next for the Champions?
Ohio State is back on top. Ryan Day finally got his ring, which should quiet the "can't win the big one" crowd in Columbus for at least a week or two. Will Howard cemented his legacy as a one-year wonder who actually delivered.
For Notre Dame, it's a "close but no cigar" situation. But Marcus Freeman proved the Irish can compete at the highest level without a conference affiliation.
If you're looking to gear up for the next season, keep an eye on the transfer portal. It’s basically the new NFL free agency. The rosters that played in Atlanta will look completely different by the time the next kickoff rolls around.
Actionable Insights:
- Track the 2026 Schedule: The next championship is January 19, 2026, in Miami.
- Book Early: If you plan on going, hotel prices in host cities triple about six months out.
- Follow the Bracket: With 12 teams, the "bubble" talk starts in October now, so pay attention to the weekly CFP rankings.
- Check Secondary Markets: Ticket prices for the Atlanta game dropped significantly about 48 hours before kickoff as "casual" fans realized they couldn't make the trip.
Atlanta 2025 was a milestone. It was the year the playoff grew up. It was the year Ohio State reclaimed the throne. And most importantly, it was the year we realized that 12 teams might actually be better than four.