3 min read
Jan 20, 2025
By FreeWire Sports
From doubters to dominators: Ohio State silences the critics and brings the Natty back to Columbus.
ATLANTA — THE PROMISED LAND
OHIOOOOOOOO! LET’S FREAKING GO! WE DID IT! THE BUCKEYES ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Somebody pinch me because this feels too good to be true. Nope, it’s real. The confetti’s falling, the trophy’s coming back to Columbus, and Buckeye Nation reigns supreme.
Final score: 34–23. Write it down. Engrave it in stone. Frame it on your wall. Notre Dame thought they could hang with us, but by the end of the night, they were waving the white flag.
Let’s talk about the man of the hour, Will Howard. He played out of his mind. My guy was throwing dimes all night, finishing 17-of-21 for 231 yards, 2 touchdowns, and not a single interception. Ice. In. His. Veins. Every time he dropped back, it felt like magic was about to happen. Remember that stretch in the first half when he completed 12 straight passes? Yeah, that wasn’t just impressive — it was record-breaking. And as if his arm wasn’t enough, Howard also gashed Notre Dame for 57 rushing yards on 16 carries. Dual-threat king.
And then there’s Quinshon Judkins. This dude wasn’t just running the ball — he was running THROUGH people. Eleven carries, 100 yards, two touchdowns. That’s 9.1 yards a pop, for anyone keeping track at home. Absolute monster. Every time he touched the ball, you could hear Notre Dame’s defense collectively whisper, “Not again…” TreVeyon Henderson chipped in with 49 hard-fought yards on 12 carries, and even Howard got in on the ground attack, just to remind everyone he’s the full package.
Of course, it wasn’t just the ground game. Jeremiah Smith, the freshman phenom, showed up and balled out. Five catches, 88 yards — every one of them clutch. He made it look easy, like the stage wasn’t the biggest of his young career. Emeka Egbuka added six grabs for 64 yards, and Carnell Tate came through with two for 35. Even Judkins got involved in the passing game with two receptions for 21 yards. The Irish secondary? Toast.
That first Notre Dame drive had me a little worried, I won’t lie. They ate up 10 minutes of clock and punched it in for a touchdown. But after that? Forget about it. JT Tuimoloau and the boys on defense turned the tide and never looked back. Riley Leonard? The dude was running for his life back there. By the second half, I swear he started sliding in the pocket just to avoid getting hit. Tough scene.
And now we have to talk about Ryan Day. Go ahead and cue up the redemption arc because this man silenced all the doubters tonight. Remember when people were calling for his job? (Looking at you, Ann Arbor.) Those same folks owe him an apology, a handwritten letter, and maybe a fruit basket. Day coached an absolute masterpiece — aggressive, fearless, and confident. He didn’t just win a national title; he coached like he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Notre Dame, bless their hearts, gave it a shot. I’ll give them credit for that first drive, but the rest of the game? They looked like a team that accidentally wandered into a heavyweight fight. Riley Leonard spent so much time on the turf he might as well have been planting flowers. Props to the Irish for showing up, I guess, but this night belonged to Ohio State.
This win wasn’t just about a trophy. This was about redemption. This was about legacy. This was for every Buckeye fan who’s ever had to endure SEC fans running their mouths about “real football.” This was for every Michigan fan who convinced themselves this was their year. Guess what? It wasn’t. It never is. This was OUR night.
We are the National Champions. We are the best team in college football. We are Ohio State. Period.
To all the doubters, haters, and “experts” who said we couldn’t do it: enjoy that nice plate of crow. To my fellow Buckeyes, this one’s for us. These moments are special (even if they seem to happen a lot for us). Throw on your scarlet and gray, scream “O-H” at strangers, and party like it’s 2015 all over again.
The parade starts now. LET’S GO BUCKS!
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