NATIONAL CHAMPS
Ohio State holds off Notre Dame, 34-23, to win the program's ninth national championship.
It took a total team effort for Ohio State to win the national championship, but two stood out.
With so many impressive performances to choose from on both sides of the ball, it was two fifth-year seniors who were named MVPs following the Buckeyes' win over Notre Dame.
On one side of the ball, Will Howard was named the Offensive MVP. The quarterback completed 17-of-21 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. His 81% completion rate is the best for an Ohio State quarterback in a bowl game (among quarterbacks who have thrown at least 10 passes).
The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder also used his legs as a weapon, running for 57 yards on a season-high 16 carries. And when he was showcasing his throwing ability, he was finding open receivers, especially on the game-clinching throw to Jeremiah Smith, when Notre Dame's defense showed Cover 0 on 3rd-and-11.
WILL HOWARD JEREMIAH SMITH pic.twitter.com/BSefjsDUIx
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 21, 2025
While Howard had a superb game on his way to winning offensive MVP honors, it was the way he started the contest that set the tone for Ohio State's offense. Howard's 13-straight completions to start the game set a CFP title game record for consecutive completions.
On the other side of the ball, Cody Simon was named the defensive MVP of the national championship. The linebacker finished with a team-high eight tackles (one tackle for loss) while quarterbacking Ohio State's defense, his fifth straight game with at least seven tackles.
