Ohio State Stuns Notre Dame In Instant Classic To Claim National Title

ATLANTA (AP) — Instead of crying over another collapse, Ohio State can celebrate another national title after holding off a Notre Dame comeback bid Monday night to walk away with a nailbiter of a 34-23 victory over the Fighting Irish.

The win marked Ohio State's first national title since 2014, a year that saw the Buckeyes dominate the Oregon Ducks in the inaugural College Football Playoff championship game. This time around, it was a much closer affair, with the Buckeyes needing to dig deep to outlast a determined Notre Dame side.

The game was played in front of a packed crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with the energy in the building palpable from the opening kickoff. Both teams came out swinging, with Ohio State's high-powered offense going toe-to-toe with Notre Dame's stingy defense.

As the game wore on, it became clear that this was going to be a battle for the ages. The Buckeyes struck first, with a touchdown pass from their star quarterback to take an early lead. But the Fighting Irish were not about to back down, and they responded with a score of their own to tie the game up.

The back-and-forth continued throughout the first half, with both teams trading blows and neither able to gain a decisive advantage. It wasn't until the third quarter that Ohio State began to pull away, with a pair of touchdowns that gave them a 10-point lead heading into the final 15 minutes.

But Notre Dame was not done yet. The Fighting Irish mounted a furious comeback bid, scoring a touchdown and then recovering an onside kick to give themselves a chance to tie the game up. However, the Buckeyes' defense was up to the task, and they held firm to preserve the lead and secure the national title.

As the final whistle blew, the Ohio State players erupted in joy, hugging each other and crying tears of happiness. It was a moment that they will never forget, and one that will go down in history as one of the greatest championship games of all time.

The win capped off an incredible season for the Buckeyes, who overcame numerous challenges and setbacks along the way to emerge as the best team in the country. And as they celebrated on the field, they knew that all their hard work and dedication had paid off in the ultimate way.

For Notre Dame, it was a tough pill to swallow. The Fighting Irish had come so close to winning their first national title since 1988, only to fall just short. But they can hold their heads high, knowing that they gave it their all and left everything on the field.

As for Ohio State, they will now bask in the glory of their championship win. They will celebrate with their fans, and then begin the process of reloading and preparing for next season. But for now, they can just enjoy the moment, and savor the thrill of being the best team in the land.