Ohio State Reclaims the Throne with National Championship Victory
The Ohio State Buckeyes capped off one of the most memorable championship runs in recent history with a commanding 34-23 victory over No. 7 Notre Dame at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night, securing their ninth national championship title.
“This story deserves to be told, and it’s a fantastic one,” said Ohio State head coach Ryan Day in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “These guys have faced and conquered some incredibly tough situations. At times, people counted us out, but we kept fighting and persevering. This is why you get into coaching—to help young men overcome obstacles, learn life lessons, and achieve their dreams. That’s exactly what happened tonight.”
With this victory, Day joins a distinguished group of Buckeyes coaches—Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, and Paul Brown—who have led Ohio State to national championship glory.
The win also silences critics who had called for Day’s dismissal following postseason disappointments and losses to arch-rival Michigan in recent years. Monday’s triumph marks Day’s 70th win at Ohio State, boosting his winning percentage to .875 (70-10), the highest among all current FBS coaches, according to Ohio State’s game notes.
Day credited the team’s resilience and unity throughout the season as the keys to their success against Notre Dame.
“Faith was a cornerstone for us this season,” Day said. “We laid a strong foundation early on, knowing we’d face challenges along the way. We stuck together like a family through the tough times, and that perseverance paid off. This victory validates everything these players have worked for all season. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Ohio State’s championship win also secures back-to-back national titles for the Big Ten Conference, following Michigan’s College Football Playoff victory last season.
