The Ohio State Buckeyes etched their name into history Monday night, claiming the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff National Championship with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame.
After a dominant opening drive by the Fighting Irish, where they marched 75 yards in 18 plays to take a 7-0 lead, the Buckeyes wasted no time responding. By halftime, Ohio State held a commanding 21-7 lead, thanks to a balanced attack and a stifling defensive performance.
Things appeared all but over when Ohio State extended their lead to 31-7 with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter. However, Notre Dame mounted a spirited comeback, clawing their way back within eight points of tying the game.
The Irish’s momentum came to a screeching halt late in the fourth quarter when, on a pivotal third-and-11 from their own 34-yard line, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard found freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith on a gutsy go-route for 56 yards. The play effectively sealed the win for the Buckeyes, ending Notre Dame’s comeback hopes.
Smith’s performance drew praise from across the country, including from Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd, who was in awe of the young star.
“Jeremiah Smith is the most NFL-capable freshman I’ve ever seen in college football. What roster wouldn’t he make?” Cowherd said.
Smith finished the night with five receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown, but it was his lone second-half catch that cemented his place in championship lore.
Throughout Ohio State’s playoff run, Smith has been a game-changer. He torched Tennessee and Oregon in the earlier rounds but was held quiet against Texas. After Monday’s championship performance, the freshman phenom closed the playoffs with 15 catches, 381 yards, and five touchdowns.
With Smith at the helm of their receiving corps, the Buckeyes appear to have a bright future ahead. For now, though, they’ll revel in making history as the first champions of the 12-team College Football Playoff era.