The 2025 NCAA College Football National Championship, held on January 20, was a show-stopping game between Notre Dame and Ohio State, two of the best college football programs in the country. Held in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, the game was very close throughout, with several comebacks from both teams and a narrow victory for Ohio State.
Notre Dame, who was guaranteed a spot in the National Championships, was fueled by a series of wins during the season, beating top teams like Clemson and USC. The school has a historic football background, with 11 National Championship wins, more than any other college team. Their team is marked by their star quarterback Riley Leonard, who, after a recent injury scare, returned strong for the championships. His strengths include staying calm under pressure, excelling when his team is behind, and reading defenses accurately. Notre Dame’s head coach, Marcus Freeman, led the team to focus on adaptability, which helped the team bounce back several times during the game. He emphasizes, “What you’ve seen over the course of the year is just trying to make small, strategic changes to our scheme to make sure it fits the players we have” His strong relationships with the players, especially Leonard, have been vital to the team.
Ohio State, one of the nation’s strongest teams, feeds star players into the NFL. Their offense is led by quarterback Will Howard, known for his accuracy, quick decision-making, and ability to extend plays. The head coach, Ryan Day, was critical in helping the team maintain its impressive offense, and strengthen the team’s resilience and morale after crushing losses this season. During a press conference, he commented, “There’s obstacles, there’s challenges, there’s things that come in the way. So building relationships and building some of the expectations on the front end helps you deal with them so it doesn’t just all come caving in.” After being heavily criticized for Ohio State’s loss against the University of Michigan, Day was able to make a historic comeback and prove himself to the frantic fan base.
The game itself was very tight with Ohio State impressively winning 34-23. Notre Dame initially took the lead with Riley Leonard scoring and showing resilience after his recent injury. However, Ohio State responded with a drive led by Will Howard that brought the game to a tie. Ohio State displayed their offensive power, with Howard completing his first 13 passes without much difficulty, and the team outgaining Notre Dame 405 yards to 308. Ohio State’s defense drastically improved over the game, stepping up in key moments, especially during the fourth quarter when they stopped Notre Dame’s promising drive. During the third quarter, after a 31-7 lead, Howard threw a historic pass to Jeremiah Smith for 56 yards that helped Ohio State set up a field goal, and started the celebration of their new title.
For now, Day can relax after the emotional turmoil from the criticism of the University of Michigan game. He has solidified his place as one of the greatest coaches in title-winning history and has the third-highest winning percentage of .873. For Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, who was hoping to become the first Black coach to win a national title, the game is a moment of reflection and recuperation as his team begins to recover from the loss.
