👉👉 collegefootball Ohio State: The 2025 National Champions The first kings of the 12-team playoff era On January 20, 2025, the Ohio State Buckeyes officially ended a decade of "close calls" by defeating Notre Dame 34–23 in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Entering the first-ever 12-team playoff as the #6 seed, the Buckeyes had to take the "hard road." They didn't just win; they survived a brutal four-game gauntlet that saw them dismantle Tennessee, shock #1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl, and outlast Texas in a semifinal thriller. The title game was a display of pure Buckeye depth. After falling behind 7–0 early, Ohio State rattled off 31 unanswered points. Will Howard played the game of his life, earning MVP honors by completing 17-of-21 passes, while Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins proved to be the missing piece of the puzzle, accounting for three total touchdowns. For Ryan Day, the victory wasn't just about a trophy—it was about silencing every critic and cementing Ohio State as the pr...