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With Ohio State's 34-23 win over Notre Dame, the college football season is officially over. Now there are just three NFL games left for football fans - the conference championships and Super Bowl LIX - before football fans endure the long offseason until August when the NFL preseason and the new college football season begins. Early betting odds already favor Ohio State to repeat as champions in 2026, ahead of Texas and Georgia. The Buckeyes last championship was 10 years ago in the first four-team CBF playoff and now in the first 12-team CBF playoff they are back to winning ways, they love the new formats. Meanwhile, Notre Dame's championship drought continues as the Fighting Irish haven't hoisted the trophy since 1988.
Ohio State's Dominance Over Top-10 Teams Secures Historic Title
Ohio State's road to the title was nothing short of extraordinary. According to the final College Football AP poll, the Buckeyes defeated six top-10 teams: No. 2 Notre Dame by 11, No. 3 Oregon by 20 in the quarterfinals, No. 4 Texas by 14 in the semifinals, No. 5 Penn State by 7, No. 9 Tennessee by 25 in the first round and No. 10 Indiana by 23. Their journey in these playoffs began after a tough regular season loss to hated rival Michigan, but the 12-team playoff gave them a second chance. Over four rounds, they dismantled elite opponents, demonstrating their resilience and dominance, and I think Buckeyes fans who called for Ryan Day to quit or be cut will feel differently now that they are champions.
In the semifinals, Ohio State beat Texas in a hard-fought battle deep in Longhorn territory, capped by a crucial scoop-and-score by Sawyer. The championship game against Notre Dame proved to be the ultimate test. The Buckeyes, led by Howard's near flawless performance, turned the tide after an early Irish touchdown and eventually ran away with the victory. For Ohio State fans, the fact that they were celebrating in the same stadium as the SEC Championship made their triumph all the sweeter.
New Playoff Format Fueled Ohio State's Comeback
The new playoff format played a key role in Ohio State's resurgence. As told above in previous years, their season would have ended after the Michigan loss. Instead, head coach Ryan Day and his staff used the extra time before the playoff to refine their strategy and unleash their full potential when it mattered most. The Buckeyes' playoff run featured a mix of explosive offense and stingy defense, with big plays defining their championship push.
While this Ohio State team may not match the dominance of LSU's 2019 squad led by Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, and Justin Jefferson, their accomplishment is historic. This is also the first time since 1965-66 that the Big Ten has won back-to-back national titles. Ohio State's triumph in the new playoff era will be ed as a statement for the program and a shining moment in college football history will they wait another 10 years for their next championship? we don't know so for know they'll celebrate and enjoy their offseason.