Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes secured their ninth national title, their first since 2014, by defeating Notre Dame 34-23 on Monday night. The long-awaited victory reaffirmed Ohio State’s elite status in college football and solidified the head coach’s reputation as one of the top leaders. In the aftermath, the Ohio State social media team added a humorous touch to the celebration.
Ohio State Takes Shot At Iconic Notre Dame Motto After National Championship Win
The Ohio State Athletics ‘X’ account posted an image of mascot Brutus Buckeye slapping the famous “Play Like a Champion” plaque in Notre Dame’s locker room. Rubbing salt into the wounds of the Fighting Irish defeat, the Buckeyes put their own twist on the motto.
Gold Trophies not helmets 🏆 pic.twitter.com/KWyw2JUcu5
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) January 21, 2025
While cheekily amending the famous plaque to read “Play Like A National Champion Today,” the post further took aim at Notre Dame with the caption “Gold Trophies not helmets,” mocking the Fighting Irish’s iconic helmets and emphasizing Ohio State’s superiority.
FOLLOW ALONG: Track Every Transfer Portal Entrant in our CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
For head coach Day, this national championship win marks a milestone in a career filled with near misses. The Ohio State head coach has led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff multiple times, including 2019, 2020, and 2022.
However, the ultimate prize had eluded him until now. His closest attempt came in the 2020 season when Ohio State reached the title game but fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide in a lopsided 52-24 defeat. The program hadn’t won a national title since 2014.
Challenging Playoff Path For The Ohio State
The road to this year’s title was anything but easy for Ohio State.
Their playoff journey began with a 42-17 victory over the ninth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers. The Buckeyes then faced the top-seeded Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl, dominating their Big Ten rival in a 41-21 triumph. In the semifinal, Ohio State clashed with the No. 5 Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl, where they secured a hard-fought 28-14 win to earn their place in the championship game.
In the title matchup against Notre Dame, the Buckeyes faced an early deficit. The Fighting Irish opened with a nearly 10-minute drive, capping it off with a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
However, Ohio State responded with an offensive onslaught, scoring 31 unanswered points and taking full control of the game. Notre Dame rallied late, narrowing the gap with two touchdowns and a successful two-point conversion. With time winding down, the Fighting Irish had a chance to tie the game, but Ohio State’s defense held firm.
One of the defining moments of the game came late in the fourth quarter. With Notre Dame trailing by eight and needing a stop to regain possession, Ohio State faced a critical third-and-12.
That’s when Jeremiah Smith, the standout freshman receiver, made a game-clinching play. His performance in the championship game highlighted his immense potential and justified the hype surrounding his recruitment. With the CFN’s top-ranked 2024 true freshman in the fold, the Buckeyes are an understandable favorite to repeat as champions next season.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
