Honestly, if you had told me back in September that we’d be watching a No. 8 seed hoist the trophy, I probably would’ve laughed. But that’s exactly what happened. The Ohio State Buckeyes are the ones who won the ncaa football championship in 2025, and they did it by basically dismantling Notre Dame in a 34-23 victory that felt both like a blowout and a nail-biter at the same time.
It went down on January 20, 2025. Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium was packed, mostly with scarlet and silver, but the Irish fans were loud—at least for the first ten minutes.
The Night the Buckeyes Took Over Atlanta
The game started off kinda weird. Notre Dame actually looked like the better team for exactly one drive. They marched 75 yards in 18 plays, chewing up almost ten minutes of the clock. Riley Leonard, the ND quarterback, eventually punched it in from a yard out. 7-0 Irish. For a second there, it felt like Ohio State was still stuck in the hotel.
Then Will Howard woke up.
If you didn't follow the season closely, people were skeptical of Howard. He was the transfer from Kansas State who was supposed to just be a "bridge" quarterback. Instead, he came out and completed his first 13 passes in the championship game. That’s a record, by the way. He didn't just play well; he played perfect football for three quarters.
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Why the 12-Team Playoff Changed Everything
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the new 12-team format. This was the first year of the expanded playoff, and Ohio State is the perfect example of why it worked (or why it's unfair, depending on who you root for).
The Buckeyes actually lost two games in the regular season. In the old four-team era? They're probably out. Done. Season over. But under this new system, they snagged the No. 8 seed. They had to play four playoff games to get here.
- Quarterfinal: They absolutely smoked No. 1 Oregon 41-21 in the Rose Bowl.
- Semifinal: They edged out Texas 34-31 in the Cotton Bowl.
- National Championship: They took down Notre Dame.
It’s wild to think that the "eighth-best" team in the country ended up being the last one standing. But honestly, watching them in Atlanta, they looked like the best team in the world. Ryan Day finally got his ring, and you could see the relief on his face when the clock hit zero. He’s 45 now—the youngest coach to win it since Urban Meyer back in '08.
The Jeremiah Smith Show
You can't talk about who won the ncaa football championship in 2025 without mentioning Jeremiah Smith. The kid is a true freshman. He shouldn't be this good. He finished the game with 5 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, but those stats don't tell the whole story.
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His 56-yard catch on a third-and-11 late in the fourth quarter was the play of the game. Notre Dame had actually clawed their way back to 31-23. The momentum was shifting. The Irish were smelling blood. Then Howard just chucked it deep, and Smith climbed the ladder like he was playing against middle schoolers. That catch essentially ended the game.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Ohio State’s offense was just too much for Marcus Freeman’s defense to handle. The Buckeyes outgained the Irish 445 to 308.
Quinshon Judkins was another monster. He’s a transfer from Ole Miss, and he ran for 100 yards and scored three total touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). When he broke a 70-yard run in the third quarter to set up a score, it looked like the game was over.
Notre Dame didn't quit, though. Riley Leonard finished with 255 yards passing and two scores to Jaden Greathouse, who caught everything thrown his way in the second half. They even pulled off a trick play for a two-point conversion to make it a one-score game. But they just didn't have enough gas left in the tank to stop the Buckeyes' final drive.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Win
A lot of folks are saying Ohio State "bought" this championship with NIL money. Look, they definitely spent a lot. They brought in Howard, Judkins, and Caleb Downs (who was a stud at safety all night). But you still have to coach those guys. You still have to play the games.
The Buckeyes punter, Joe McGuire, only had to walk onto the field one time. One punt. In a national championship game. That’s not just "buying" talent; that’s elite execution.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season
If you're a college football fan looking ahead, here’s what this 2025 result actually tells us:
- The "Elite" Seeds don't matter as much: Being No. 1 or No. 2 is great for the bye week, but as Oregon found out, sitting out for three weeks can make you rusty. Ohio State stayed "hot" by playing.
- Freshmen are the new seniors: Jeremiah Smith proved that if you're good enough, you're old enough. Expect more teams to start true freshmen in high-leverage spots.
- The Transfer Portal is the shortcut: Every major contributor for OSU in this game—Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins, Caleb Downs—came from the portal. If your team isn't using it, they're losing.
Ohio State now has nine national titles. This one might be the most special because of the road they took to get there. They didn't just win a game; they survived a gauntlet.
If you want to keep up with how the 2026 season is shaping up, keep an eye on the spring transfer window. The Buckeyes have already lost a few starters to the NFL draft (expect Judkins and Egbuka to go high), but their recruiting class is already ranked in the top three. The era of the 12-team playoff is officially here, and it belongs to Columbus for now.