And then there was one…
This Monday marked the end of the 2024 College Football Season, ending it like how the first instance of the playoffs did. The Buckeyes outduel the entirety of the Fighting Irish throughout the game, even holding a 21-7 lead by halftime. Then, all it took was a few important stops, the spamming of Jeremiah Smith, and the Buckeyes held off a desperate last-second comeback. Yet in the end, Ryan Day gets to keep his job for at least one more year. These two teams’ paths were full of domination against others, scoring points that seemed unfathomable against top teams, yet there were some hiccups in the regular season.
Part 1: Questionable Losses
Both teams were victims to some of the biggest upsets in the season, possibly of all time. Notre Dame was at the receiving end of being outlasted by the NIU Huskies, coming from the MAC conference. A blocked field goal was enough to shock the entire CFB world, in South Bend nonetheless. People seemed to think that the Irish would repeat the process of being overhyped and losing heartbreakingly repeatedly, yet whatever NIU HC Thomas Hammock told ND HC Marcus Freemen woke up the Fighting Irish and started their dominance.
As for the Buckeyes, another loss to their unranked rival in Michigan. That loss seemed to be the tipping point for Buckeyes fans, saying they wanted Ryan Day’s resignation letter in blood, and to send Will Howard back to Kansas State. And making it worse, this senior class will graduate without ever getting a chance to beat the Wolverines. Being knocked out of the BIG 10 Championship, made their path to the playoffs just a bit harder, and the only way they could salvage this season is if they made it all the way, as a minimum…
Part 2: The Dominance Begins
Notre Dame’s path began with a revived rivalry against their hometown rival of Indiana. Although the Hoosiers tried another desperate attempt at coming back, the Fighting Irish held on to escape with a victory, the first-ever match in the expanded playoffs. Then from there on out, they outlasted their opponent on all fronts. Crushing the dynasty of Georgia, even if there was a QB issue, let them score only 10. From there, pulling off an Orange Bowl Classic victory against the BIG 10 runner-up at Penn State. One of those coaches was going to be on the hot seat, and it looks like the narrative focused back on James Franklin.
As for Ohio State, they put on Doom’s “The Only Thing They Fear Is You” and spammed one receiver in most games: Jeremiah Smith. Tennesse Fans proclaiming Buckeye Stadium was “Neyland North”? Here’s a forty bomb, while making Nico Iamaleava look like an actual true freshman. Oregon Ducks are predicted to win the whole thing? Another forty bomb, decimating any hope by the 1st quarter, revenge for their earlier game. The duo of QBs Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, in Jerry World? Sorry, the only thing they’ll be getting is Jack Swayer strip-sacking whatever hope they had left. This dominant powerhouse wanted to rewrite the narrative of their season and now has its final chance.
Finale
As the two teams met in Mercedes-Benz Stadium(For the third time this post-season!), Riley Lenoard started things off, by fully becoming Lamar Jackson against the Steelers, as he fully rushed down for a TD. But then after having to throw up and take a huge breather, nothing happened much in the 1st quarter. Yet afterward, Jeremiah Smith and Quinshon Jenkins wanted to put the game on lockdown, by putting up 21 points by halftime, almost ending the game right there and then.
From there, Ohio State hanged another TD by Quinshon Jenkins and two more FGs in the second half. Notre Dame managed to get eighteen points by getting two TDs with the two-point conversions. But on a 3rd & 11, deep into the 4th, with Notre Dame needing just one more stop to still have a chance…they let Jeremiah Smith go one-on-one with a DB, and not put all the support, and then some, behind him. You can guess what happens next, as Ohio State is your 2025 National Champions of College Football, even if it still meant being a little brother to the Wolverines. A tremendous redemption story for the Buckeyes, as now Ryan Day can sleep peacefully at night, knowing that Jeremiah Smith will keep his job secure for the upcoming years.
