The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes have dominated their path through the College Football Playoff, winning three consecutive games by double digits. However, none of that will matter to the city of Columbus if they can’t finish the job on Monday night against the No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national championship.
This marks the ninth encounter between these two storied programs. Despite being just a state apart in the Midwest, the all-time series tilts heavily in favor of the Buckeyes, who lead 6-2 and have won the last six matchups. Notre Dame’s last victory over Ohio State came in 1936.
Their most recent clash was last season, a thrilling contest where former Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord orchestrated a game-winning drive, culminating in a goal-line rushing touchdown as time expired to secure a 17-14 victory for Ohio State.
Now, the Fighting Irish have another chance to upend the Buckeyes, but the challenge is formidable. Ohio State issued a straightforward message ahead of the championship: “Next Game Up.”
Next Game Up 📌 pic.twitter.com/U19Rfd64UH
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 15, 2025
The Buckeyes are coming off a tense 28-14 semifinal victory over the Texas Longhorns, sealed by Jack Sawyer’s game-changing 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Notre Dame’s journey to the title game was equally dramatic, with a clutch 27-24 win over Penn State, thanks to Mitch Jeter’s game-winning field goal.
Both programs have rich histories and are hungry for a championship. Ohio State last claimed the title in 2014 under Urban Meyer, while Notre Dame’s championship drought dates back to 1988, when they were led by the legendary Lou Holtz.
