ATLANTA — Ryan Day was a lifeless coach strolling.
His roster, price reportedly $20 million in Identify, Picture & Likeness, was losing generational expertise.
Tennessee was going to overrun fading Ohio State in its personal stadium within the opening spherical of the expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff.
These narratives appear foolish now, even preposterous. That loss to Michigan at The Horseshoe seems like an eternity in the past.
A lot modified for these Buckeyes from the third week in December to the third week in January. Day is a nationwide champion, and so are his gamers.
That loss to Michigan will now be a footnote to championship glory, not a method this elite group will probably be remembered.
Eighth-seeded Ohio State completed its dominant playoff run to its first title in a decade by holding off valiant Notre Dame, 34-23, in entrance of 77,660 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
All instructed, the Buckeyes received their 4 playoff contests over No. 1 Oregon, No. 5 Texas, No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 8 Tennessee by a mixed 145-75.
The Irish, as soon as down 24 factors early within the second half, got here storming again late. However their second-ranked scoring protection, ripped aside all night time, couldn’t get the ball again.
On third-and-11, Will Howard hit improbable freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith on a 59-yard go-route, ending a memorable night time for the Kansas State switch quarterback and icing the title on the two-minute warning.
Howard set a CFP nationwide championship sport file with 13 straight completions to begin the night, and his closing throw made him an Ohio State legend.
The Irish scored first, consuming up almost 10 minutes of clock. It was the lone cause for Notre Dame followers to cheer till a late comeback.
The Buckeyes shrugged off that jab prefer it was a love faucet. They scored touchdowns on all three first-half possessions, outgaining the Irish, 231-93, within the opening half.
After that promising first drive, Notre Dame managed simply 18 yards.
Howard missed on simply two of 16 passing makes an attempt whereas finishing passes to 6 completely different receivers within the opening half.
He had all day to throw, and receivers operating free by means of the Irish secondary. The Buckeyes confronted six third downs in that first half, and transformed all of them.
Howard discovered Smith to transform the primary one on Ohio State’s first possession, and the 2 related from eight yards out to even the sport at 7-7.
Smith was vast open within the flat, a foreboding signal for Notre Dame. It was a preview of the hours to come back. With 27 seconds left within the second quarter, Howard discovered Quinshon Judkins vast open for a six-yard scoring strike, a serious blow to Notre Dame’s flickering hopes.
It didn’t get higher after halftime. On the second play from scrimmage, Judkins reduce and went 70 yards earlier than he was tracked down on the Notre Dame 5-yard-line.
Three performs later, he scored from one yard out, extending to a 28-7 Ohio State lead.
Notre Dame tried some trickery on their subsequent drive, however a pretend punt backfired, organising Ohio State for yet one more rating.
Though the Irish held, Jayden Fielding drilled a 46-yard subject purpose strive. It was 31-7, and the rout felt prefer it was on.
This was how Notre Dame so continuously appeared on this stage with Brian Kelly as its coach. It was punching above its weight class — or no less than making an attempt to.
The Irish tried to rally, getting inside two scores on a 34-yard landing go from Riley Leonard to Jaden Greathouse.
After an Emeka Egbuka fumble, Notre Dame drove deep into Ohio State territory, however the drive stalled on the 9-yard line.
Marcus Freeman opted for a subject purpose with 9:27 left, a weird choice, and his kicker, Mitch Jeter, missed the 27-yard strive off the purpose submit.
However Notre Dame stored on combating, and was down only a single rating after one other Leonard to Greathouse landing, this one from 30 yards out, which was adopted by a profitable two-point conversion.
There was nonetheless 4:15 left on the clock. However Notre Dame couldn’t get the ball again. Howard and Smith wouldn’t permit it.
