Final: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23
The 2024–25 College Football Playoff National Championship culminated in an entertaining title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Ohio State held off a late Notre Dame rally to claim the national championship, winning 34–23.
The Buckeyes built a large lead in the first half and weathered a comeback attempt by the Fighting Irish in the fourth quarter. Big plays in key moments — including a late long reception that effectively sealed the game — underscored Ohio State’s balance of explosive offense and timely defense.
Key Players & Moments
- Ohio State QB: Delivered clutch throws and a late completion that helped run out the clock.
- Notre Dame offense: Mounted a spirited comeback, narrowing the deficit to one score before Ohio State answered.
- Turnover and special teams plays: Influenced momentum swings in the second half.
- Coaching adjustments: Both staffs made halftime tweaks; Ohio State’s adjustments held up down the stretch.
What This Means
Ohio State adds another national title to its storied history, marking a major achievement for the program and its coaching staff. For Notre Dame, the loss was a tough finish but a confirmation of the program’s return to contention on the national stage.
The game also reinforced familiar playoff truths: big-game experience, depth, and the ability to execute in critical moments often decide championship outcomes.
How the Playoff Works (Quick Primer)
The College Football Playoff determines the national champion through a seeded postseason bracket. Teams qualify via conference championships and at-large selections, then advance through semifinal matchups to the national championship game.
Semifinals typically rotate among host bowl sites, with the championship played at a preselected neutral stadium. Selection and seeding are decided by the CFP selection committee based on on-field performance, strength of schedule, and other criteria.
Betting Note
Odds and lines fluctuate throughout the season and during the postseason. Any betting information in this article is for reference; always check live lines with your preferred sportsbook before placing wagers.
Check out the latest betting lines for upcoming college football games
* Betting odds correct at the time of article publication. All betting odds are subject to fluctuation.
College Football Playoff National Championship History (Recent)
| Year (Game Date) | Game | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Ohio State 42, Oregon 20 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2016 | Alabama 45, Clemson 40 | Glendale, Arizona |
| 2017 | Clemson 35, Alabama 31 | Tampa, Florida |
| 2018 | Alabama 26, Georgia 23 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2019 | Clemson 44, Alabama 16 | Santa Clara, California |
| 2020 | LSU 42, Clemson 25 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 2021 | Alabama 52, Ohio State 24 | Miami Gardens, Florida |
| 2022 | Georgia 33, Alabama 18 | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 2023 | Georgia 65, TCU 7 | Inglewood, California |
| 2024 | Michigan 34, Washington 13 | Houston, Texas |
| 2025 | Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23 | Atlanta, Georgia |
Note: Official records sometimes include adjustments; this list reflects the most recent championship results.
CFB Betting Frequently Asked Questions
What is Futures betting in NCAAF?
Futures betting refers to wagers such as who will win the national championship or which team will win any given conference. These tend to be long-term bets that will see your stake tied up for some time and require patience from the bettor, but which can prove lucrative if you were to back something early at big odds.
What’s the best betting advice for NCAAF?
Sportsbooks are always looking to attract new customers and many use the incentive of sign-up bonuses as one way of doing this.
These bonuses usually come in the form of free betting credits once you have made your first deposit and can be used to have a risk free bet on the NCAAF.
Some sportsbooks will also offer enhanced odds on certain outcomes in NCAAF games, particularly during the Bowls season.
Which schools have won the most national championships (as claimed by schools)?
The number of national championships claimed by college football programs varies, especially when considering titles from the early years of the sport. According to ESPN, the schools with the most NCAA-recognized national championships are:
- Yale: 18 championships
- Alabama: 16 championships
- Princeton: 15 championships
- Notre Dame: 13 championships
- Michigan: 10 championships
- USC: 9 championships
- Harvard: 8 championships
- Ohio State: 8 championships
- Oklahoma: 7 championships
- Minnesota: 6 championships
It's important to note that some schools claim more national championships than the NCAA officially recognizes. For instance, Princeton claims 28 titles, and Yale claims 27, including championships from the early years of college football that the NCAA does not officially recognize.
These discrepancies arise because, prior to the establishment of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998 and the College Football Playoff (CFP) in 2014, national champions were often determined by various polls and organizations, leading to multiple teams claiming the title in a single year. This lack of a standardized system resulted in schools claiming different numbers of championships based on different selecting organizations.