Maybe Ohio State football fans will like coach Ryan Day now. Fifty-one days after suffering the worst loss of his career, Day guided the No. 8-seeded Buckeyes to their first national championship in 10 years with a 34-23 victory over seventh-seeded Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship game presented by AT&T on Monday night.

Ohio State and Notre Dame made history even before kickoff of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish were the first two teams to reach the inaugural 12-team playoff title game.

Coach Ryan Day shushed the critics, running back Quinshon Judkins scored three touchdowns, and the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes held off a furious second-half rally to beat No. 7 seed Notre Dame, 34-23,