With Jessica Pegula eliminated by Olga Danilovic two rounds ago, Coco Gauff was America’s last hope for a women’s singles title in the 2025 Australian Open.

Gauff’s opponent in the quarterfinals, Spanish star Paula Badosa, had never advanced further than the quarterfinals in any Grand Slam event in her career. But, all streaks must come to an end.

No. 3 seed Gauff, the heavy favorite in the match, would wind up losing in straight sets (7-5, 6-4) to Badosa, the No. 11 seed. This was Badosa’s first ever win over a top-10 opponent at a major, and it also propelled her to her first Grand Slam semifinal.

A victory over Badosa would’ve given Gauff her second consecutive semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, but now she’ll have to wait for Roland Garros in May, where she fell in the semifinals of the French Open a year ago.

Here’s everything to know about Gauff’s loss and what to expect moving forward:

Highlights from Gauff’s Australian Open defeat

Who does Paula Badosa play next at Australian Open?

With her win over Gauff in the quarterfinals, Badosa will now face the winner of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. No. 33 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the Australian Open semifinals. Sabalenka plays Pavlyuchenkova in a night session match Tuesday in Australia (3:30 a.m. ET).

When is the next women’s Grand Slam event?

Gauff’s next shot at her second career Grand Slam title will be at Roland Garros in Paris. The French Open is scheduled to begin on May 25 this year, with the final matches played on June 8.

When are the Australian Open finals?

With the quarterfinals in progress, the finals are on the horizon. The women’s semifinals are scheduled for Thursday in Melbourne, while the final is set for Saturday, Jan. 25. The time for the match has yet to be determined, but it will be played at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

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Sometimes, coaches get so concerned with being crafty they forget to do what makes sense.

So it was in the second half of Notre Dame vs Ohio State in the national championship game, when on fourth-and-2, from their own 33-yard line, the Fighting Irish attempted a fake punt down 28-7.

It was surprising to see the punt team take the field at all in a short-yardage situation, and somehow even more surprising to see a fake in such an obvious spot. Backup quarterback Steve Angeli’s pass fell incomplete on a rollout to Jordan Faison, as the ball fell through the latter’s hands during a diving attempt.

The play was nearly a success, but the chaos of a fake punt can make plays that seem relatively simple messy by nature.

The Fighting Irish defense stood firm on the ensuing Buckeyes possession, forcing a field goal that made it 31-7 Buckeyes. Notre Dame would score and convert a 2-point conversion on its next drive to make it a two-possession game — making it so the gifted three points loom a little bit larger in the third quarter.

Time to make some space in the Ohio State trophy case.

The Buckeyes added another piece of hardware to their storied program with another title, this time winning the College Football Playoff national championship game over Notre Dame on Monday night.

Winning national championships isn’t something new to Ohio State — it is in the top 10 of most titles won in Division I history and a major reason why it is one of the powerhouse programs in the country. However, it might feel like it’s been quite some time for Buckeye fans, who have waited more than a decade for another moment to raise the trophy to end the college football season. Now after a long road down the 12-team playoff, Ryan Day has captured his first championship as head coach in Columbus.

Shop Ohio State national championship gear

With another championship secured, here is how many total titles the Buckeyes have in their history:

How many national championships has Ohio State football won?

Ohio State can now claim nine national championships thanks to Monday’s victory.

The Buckeyes have won national championships in:

1942: 9-1, head coach: Paul Brown
1954: 10-0, head coach: Woody Hayes
1957: 9-1, head coach: Woody Hayes
1961: 8-0-1, head coach: Woody Hayes
1968: 10-0, head coach: Woody Hayes
1970: 9-1, head coach: Woody Hayes
2002: 14-0, head coach: Jim Tressel
2014: 14-1, head coach: Urban Meyer
2024: 14-2, head coach: Ryan Day

However, two of those titles could be disputed.

The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, only recognizes seven of those victories because of how national champions were selected prior to the implementation of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998. Prior to that, in most years, Ohio State was awarded the title of national champion by the Associated Press, United Press International or coaches polls.

Buy Ohio State CFP championship books and posters

However, in 1961, the Buckeyes were awarded the national championship by the Football Writers Association of America and in 1970, they were named champions by the National Football Foundation. In 1961, Alabama was also named national champions, and in 1970, Nebraska and Texas also got the honor.

In 2002, 2014 and 2024, Ohio State won the national championship game.

Who has the most national championships in college football?

Ohio State’s victory now moves it into a tie with Southern California for the sixth most national championships the NCAA recognizes. Here is the top 10 per the NCAA:

1. Yale: 18
2. Alabama: 16
3. Princeton: 15
4. Notre Dame: 13
5. Michigan: 10
T-6 Southern California: 9
T-6 Ohio State: 9
8. Harvard: 8
9. Oklahoma: 7
10. Minnesota: 6

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is certain that he’s going to play football next season. He isn’t so sure if it’ll be for the Rams.

“Yeah. Who knows what’s going to happen. A lot of that stuff is out of my control. And we will see what it’s going to be. There was obviously stuff that was going on early on in the season,” Kupp said. “I don’t have any clarity on what that’s going to look like or anything like that. So yeah, obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don’t know what that’s going to look like.’

The wide receiver has two years remaining on his contract. Los Angeles would save $7.52 million against the 2025 cap if Kupp is a pre-June 1 cut.

Kupp’s name circulated around this year’s NFL trade deadline as a possible player who could be on the move. But Rams head coach Sean McVay shot down Kupp trade rumors in October.

Kupp missed four games after injuring his ankle in Week 2. He was also inactive in Week 18 when the Rams elected to rest him.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

The 31-year-old wide receiver registered 67 catches, 710 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 12 games this year. His best season came in 2021 where he won the receiver triple crown, tallying 145 catches, 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. His performance won him NFL offensive player of the year. His stellar play continued into the postseason as he was named Super Bowl 56 MVP after the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kupp has battled injuries to his lower extremities since his 2021 campaign and his numbers have decreased. But the eight-year veteran believes he still has plenty of good football ahead.  

“Oh, yeah. There’s no doubt in my mind. I want to play football,” Kupp said. “I feel like I have a lot of good football left in me. I will be playing football next year. That much I know.”

OFFSEASON REVIEW: What’s next for the Rams?

Kupp’s friend and teammate Matthew Stafford also faces an uncertain future in Los Angeles. Stafford restructured his contract during the offseason. The 36-year-old quarterback contract runs through the 2026 season.

“As far as my future goes, it’s 30 minutes after the last game so I’ll take some time to think about it,” Stafford told reporters following the Rams’ 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs. “But I feel like I was playing some pretty good ball.”

When Stafford was asked if he has good football left in him. The quarterback had a similar response as Kupp.

“It sure feels like it,” Stafford said.

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A 2024 Ohio State football season that was seldom boring — with the Buckeyes enduring no shortage of twists and turns, triumphs and heartbreaks — has ended with a national championship.

After leading by as many as 24 points in the second half, Ohio State held on for a 34-23 victory against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The title is the Buckeyes’ ninth in program history, three of which have come since 2002. This is the first under coach Ryan Day.

It capped a commanding run through the inaugural 12-team playoff, with wins against Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame, in order — and each came by double digits.

Buy Ohio State championship gear with Fanatics

It’s the second time Ohio State has won a national championship in the first year of a new playoff format. Its most recent title before Monday night came in the 2014 season, which marked the debut of the four-team playoff.

Buoyed by three touchdowns from running back Quinshon Judkins, the Buckeyes got out to a 31-7 lead after a Jayden Fielding field goal with 7:52 remaining in the third quarter. Whatever comfort Ohio State had in that moment quickly disappeared, with the Fighting Irish staging a furious rally, one in which it scored two touchdowns and had two successful two-point conversions over a stretch of 14 minutes in the third and fourth quarters to make it a one-score game, 31-23, with 4:15 remaining.

Facing a third-and-11 on its ensuing drive, Will Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith for a 56-yard gain that got the Buckeyes down to the Notre Dame 10-yard line. It set up a 33-yard Fielding field goal with 26 seconds remaining to secure the victory.

The championship was an exclamation point to an occasionally tumultuous season, one in which Ohio State lost two regular-season games, including a shocking 13-10 loss to archrival Michigan. The setback was its fourth in a row to the hated Wolverines, raising loud questions about Day’s job security.

As the No. 8 seed in the playoff, however, the Buckeyes responded, winning the four postseason games by an average of 17.5 points.

Here’s a look at how the game unfolded, including the score, updates, highlights and more:

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame highlights

CFP championship game score updates

National championship game live updates

Final: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23

Ohio State FG essentially clinches national title

Even in a game with this many plot twists and unpredictable swings of momentum, that should do it.

Following the Jeremiah Smith reception, Ohio State burns some precious clock and gets a 33-yard field goal from Jayden Fielding with 26 seconds remaining to extend the Buckeyes’ lead to 34-23.

Barring an unprecedented collapse, Ohio State will win its ninth national title.

Jeremiah Smith catch gets Ohio State on verge of national title

In the biggest play of the game, Ohio State turns to its best offensive player.

On a third-and-11 from its own 34-yard line and 2:45 left, Will Howard unloads it to Jeremiah Smith, who broke past a Notre Dame defensive back and hauled in the pass for a 57-yard gain down to the Fighting Irish 9.

The Buckeyes will have a first-and-goal coming out of the two-minute timeout. Notre Dame has just one timeout left.

Notre Dame TD makes it one-score game

And just like that, it’s a one-score ballgame.

After forcing the Ohio State punt, Notre Dame goes 80 yards in just six plays and 2:10, aided largely by a Riley Leonard 33-yard pass to Mitchell Evans. The biggest, most important play, though, came on a third-and-9, when Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse, his favorite target this quarter, for a 30-yard touchdown.

On the 2-point conversion, the Fighting Irish get inventive, with Jordan Faison taking a handoff on a sweep and tossing it to a wide-open Beaux Collins to make it 31-23 with 4:21 left.

Ohio State punts for first time

Notre Dame isn’t quite done yet. After the missed field goal, Ohio State picked up a first down, but doesn’t get past its own 39-yard line and is forced to punt after a Will Howard incompletion to Jeremiah Smith on third-and-3.

A 51-yard punt and a 10-yard return gives the Fighting Irish the ball at their own 20 with 6:34 to play.

Notre Dame comes up empty after missed FG

Notre Dame was well-positioned to make Ohio State continue to sweat, with some timely Jaden Greathouse catches and Buckeyes penalties getting the Fighting Irish all the way down to the Ohio State 8-yard line after the forced fumble.

A 1-yard Riley Leonard loss on a run followed by back-to-back incompletions made it fourth-and-goal from the 9. Rather than go for it down 16 and with 9:38 left, Marcus Freeman opts for the 27-yard field goal, which Mitch Jeter misses, with the kick clanging off the left upright.

Ohio State will take over at its own 20 with a 16-point lead and 9:27 left. A national championship is within reach for the Buckeyes.

Notre Dame forces Ohio State fumble, keeps hopes alive

The Fighting Irish got the huge play they needed.

Linebacker Drayk Bowen punches the ball out of Emeka Egbuka’s grip after the Ohio State wideout hauled in a pass and before Egbuka’s knee could hit the ground. The ball comes out and Notre Dame recovers at its own 21-yard line with 14:46 left.

It was the Buckeyes’ first fumble since a win at Penn State all the way back on Nov. 2.

We’ve still got a game, folks.

End of third quarter: Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 15

The third quarter ends with Ohio State driving, with a second-and-8 at the Notre Dame 45-yard line. A score here would seem to end Notre Dame’s hopes of a comeback, so a huge couple of plays coming up for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame TD makes it a two-possession game

A Notre Dame offense that had been impotent since its first drive finally comes back to life.

After picking up its first first down since the touchdown run on the opening possession, Notre Dame gets a 34-yard touchdown pass from Riley Leonard to Jaden Greathouse that gets the Fighting Irish within two scores of Ohio State after a successful 2-point conversion. It’s 31-15 with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter.

The drive went 75 yards in 10 plays and 4:49. It was made possible by a pass interference call on Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun on what had been an incomplete Leonard pass on a third-and-19 from the Notre Dame 37-yard line.

Ohio State FG extends lead

The good news for Notre Dame: an Ohio State drive didn’t end with a touchdown for the first time tonight. The bad news: the Buckeyes still came away with some points.

After the failed fake punt, Ohio State gets down to the Notre Dame 19-yard line, but a holding call pushes it back 10 yards and Will Howard is unable to connect with an open Carnell Tate for what would have been a 28-yard touchdown. Will Fielding comes in the game and sneaks in a 46-yard field goal to push the Buckeyes’ lead to 31-7 with 7:52 left.

Notre Dame fake punt fails

Staring at a 21-point deficit, Notre Dame opts to get creative on special teams with a fake punt. It didn’t go according to plan. Rather than go for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 33-yard line, the Fighting Irish send out the punt team, with backup quarterback Steve Angeli taking the direct snap and trying to hit Jordan Faison for a first down, but the wideout isn’t able to bring in what would have been a diving catch.

A curious play call from Notre Dame, given some of its success in short-yardage situations so far. Why resort to a predictable trick play when you could have gone for it straight up?

Regardless, Ohio State takes over at the Notre Dame 33 with a chance to extend its lead even more.

Quinshon Judkins third TD pushes Ohio State lead to 21

Ohio State is able to capitalize on Judkins’ long run — with Judkins himself finishing it off.

Three plays after his 70-yard run, Buckeyes running back barrels into the end zone on a third-and-goal from the Notre Dame 1-yard line. It’s Judkins’ third touchdown of the day, two of which have been on the ground.

Judkins is up to 88 yards and two touchdowns on six carries, along with two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown. And his team is up 28-7 on Notre Dame with 12:46 left in the third quarter.

Quinshon Judkins breaks huge run for Ohio State

If there were any hope for Notre Dame to flip the script defensively on Ohio State, one of the first plays of the second half didn’t offer much encouragement.

On a second-and-10 from the Ohio State 25-yard line, Quinshon Judkins broke through for a 70-yard run, nearly taking it to the house. His scamper gives the Buckeyes a first-and-goal at the Notre Dame 5.

National championship halftime stats

With Ohio State nursing a 21-7 halftime lead, here’s a look at the stats through the first two quarters:

After going 75 yards on 18 plays on its opening drive, Notre Dame had just three yards across its next three possessions combined. Ohio State, meanwhile, scored on each of its three drives, totaling 231 yards.

Here are some notable individual stats:

Ohio State

Will Howard: 14-15, 144 yards, 2 TDs; 6 rushes, 26 yards
TreVeyon Henderson: 7 carries, 37 yards
Jeremiah Smith: 4 catches, 32 yards, 1 TD
Emeka Egbuka: 4 catches, 33 yards
Carnell Tate: 2 catches, 35 yards
Quinshon Judkins: 3 carries, 16 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 21 yards, 1 TD

Notre Dame

Riley Leonard: 5-9, 46 yards; 10 rushes, 39 yards
Jadarian Price: 2 carries, 11 yards
Eli Raridon: 1 catch, 14 yards

Halftime: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 7

Ohio State stretches lead with Will Howard TD pass

This one could be getting out of hand.

Following Notre Dame’s three-and-out, Ohio State goes 80 yards in 12 plays and 4:26, with Will Howard accounting for 69 of those yards between his legs and arm. He finishes it off with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins that extends the Buckeyes’ lead to 21-7 with 27 seconds remaining in the first half.

It’s Judkins’ second touchdown of the day, with one through the air and one on the ground. One of the few miscues of that drive was Howard’s first incompletion of the night. He had connected with a pass-catcher on his first 13 throws.

The Fighting Irish are in some serious peril here. Ohio State gets the ball to open the second half and this Notre Dame team is not built to come from behind.

Notre Dame punts again

Another drive, another quick exit for the Notre Dame offense.

The Fighting Irish has managed -4 yards on its two possessions since its game-opening touchdown drive. The most recent of which saw it gain only a yard before being forced to punt. Ohio State will take over at its own 20-yard line with 4:53 left.

Quinshon Judkins TD gives Ohio State first lead

Ohio State’s offense is having a masterful performance thus far on the biggest stage in the sport.

After watching from the sideline as Notre Dame took the early lead, Will Howard and the Buckeyes have scored touchdowns on each of their first two drives, the second of which just went 76 yards over 10 plays. Quinshon Judkins finishes it off with a bruising 9-yard touchdown run, slicing through the heart of the Notre Dame defense and extending his arm over the goal line for the go-ahead score that makes it 14-7 after the extra point. Judkins’ touchdown scamper was highlighted by a fierce stiff arm on Notre Dame linebacker Jaiden Ausberry.

Ohio State is averaging 7.2 yards per play.

Notre Dame punts

After moving 75 yards up the field on its first drive, Notre Dame is quickly sent off the field, failing to pick up a first down and being forced to punt from its own 20-yard line. The Fighting Irish were playing from behind on much of the possession, with a false start on second-and-10 knocking them back five yards and then a holding call erasing what would have been a 13-yard completion from Riley Leonard two yards short of the sticks on second down.

Ohio State will start from its own 24 with 12:21 remaining after a 46-yard punt and a holding penalty on the return.

Ohio State answers with Jeremiah Smith TD

Notre Dame’s lead was ultimately short-lived.

After giving up a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, Ohio State makes the most of its first possession, moving relatively effortlessly up the field and getting an 8-yard touchdown catch from Jeremiah Smith in which the freshman phenom was able to jog into the end zone.

Smith’s touchdown, which came on his second catch of the possession, capped off an 11-play, 75-yard drive that tied the game up after an extra point.

End of first quarter: Notre Dame 7, Ohio State 0

The first quarter ends with Notre Dame holding on to a 7-point lead, but Ohio State is threatening to tie it up, with a first down at the Fighting Irish 13-yard line.

Riley Leonard leads Notre Dame to TD on opening drive

Notre Dame headed into the national championship game as a decided underdog, with many analysts and experts picking Ohio State to not only win, but do so comfortably.

Faced with those odds, the Fighting Irish came out swinging. Led by Riley Leonard, who ran an astonishing nine times for 32 yards, Notre Dame goes 75 yards in 18 plays (18 plays!!) and takes 9:45 off the clock, which included two successful fourth-down conversions. It’s capped off by — who else — Leonard, who runs it in from one yard out on a quarterback keeper.

The Irish lead 7-0 with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter. It was Notre Dame’s longest drive of the season, both in yardage and time elapsed.

Pregame

Emeka Egbuka, Jack Sawyer among top prospects in NFL draft

Many of the players taking the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Monday night may be majoring in something other than sports, but they’ll be taking their talents to the NFL.

Included in that group are several projected first-round picks. Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, and offensive guard Donovan Jackson are all selected in the first round in the most recent mock draft from USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz. To see the full mock draft, click here.

LeBron James, Bryce Harper among celebrities at the national championship game

When a national title is on the line, stars have a habit of showing up.

LeBron James and Bryce Harper among the notable figures in Atlanta to cheer on the Buckeyes. Though James bypasses college, going directly from high school to the NBA, he’s an Ohio native who has cheered for the Buckeyes for years. Harper, a Las Vegas native, became a Buckeyes fan through marriage as his wife, Kayla Varner, who played soccer at Ohio State.

Other celebrities at the game include rapper Travis Scott, actor Anthony Mackie and Pro Football Hall of Famer (and former Notre Dame quarterback) Joe Montana.

Ohio State injury update

Injuries have forced the Buckeyes to shuffle their offensive line for much of the season. It will be the second start of Montgomery’s career, with his first coming in a Jan. 10 victory against Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Montgomery is a sophomore who was a four-star recruit coming out of high school.

Notre Dame and Ohio State national championship uniforms

Notre Dame, as the higher seed in the matchup between the College Football Playoff’s Nos. 7 and 8 seeds, is wearing its home navy blue jerseys, gold pants and gold helmets. The jerseys have white numbers with a gold outline, along with nameplates featuring a player’s last name in gold.

The Buckeyes will be going with white jerseys, gray pants and their usual silver helmets, many of which are heavily dotted with Buckeye stickers depending on what a player has accomplished over the course of the season.

The stage is set for the national title

The end zones at Mercedes-Benz Stadium usually are painted red and black for the hometown Atlanta Falcons, but they’ve given way Monday to the scarlet and gray of Ohio State and the gold and blue of Notre Dame, with the College Football Playoff logo at midfield.

CFP championship game time today

Date: Monday, Jan. 20
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

The broadcast of the game between Buckeyes and Fighting Irish is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 20 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

What channel is CFP championship game on today?

TV channel: ESPN | ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN App | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

Ohio State and Notre Dame’s matchup in the College Football Playoff championship will air on ESPN. Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will call the game while Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath will serve as the sideline reporters.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

CFP championship game betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday, Jan. 18

Spread: Ohio State (-8.5)
Over/under: 45.5 points
Moneyline: Ohio State (-375) | Notre Dame (+300)

Ohio State football schedule 2024

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Akron (W, 52-6)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Western Michigan (W, 56-0)
Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Marshall (W, 49-14)
Thursday, Sept. 26: at Michigan State* (W, 38-7)
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Iowa* (W, 35-7)
Saturday, Oct. 12: at No. 3 Oregon* (L, 32-31)
Saturday, Oct. 19: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. Nebraska* (W, 21-17)
Saturday, Nov. 2: at No. 3 Penn State* (W, 20-13)
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Purdue* (W, 45-0)
Saturday, Nov. 16: at Northwestern* (W, 31-7)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 5 Indiana* (W, 38-15)
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Michigan* (L, 13-10)
Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 9 Tennessee, CFP first-round (W, 42-17) **
Wednesday, Jan. 1: vs. No. 1 Oregon, CFP Rose Bowl quarterfinal (W, 41-21) **
Friday, Jan. 10: vs. No. 5 Texas, CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal (W, 28-14) **
Monday, Jan. 20: vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, CFP championship game **
Record: 13-2, 7-2 Big Ten

* Denotes Big Ten game

** Denotes CFP ranking

Notre Dame football schedule 2024

Saturday, Aug. 31: at No. 20 Texas A&M (W, 23-13)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Northern Illinois (L, 16-14)
Saturday, Sept. 14: at Purdue (W, 66-7)
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Miami, Ohio (W, 28-3)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. No. 17 Louisville (W, 31-24)
Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Stanford (W, 49-7)
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. Georgia Tech (W, 31-13)
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. No. 24 Navy (W, 51-14)
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida State (W, 52-3)
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Virginia (W, 35-14)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 17 Army (W, 49-14)
Saturday, Nov. 30: at USC (W, 49-35)
Friday, Dec. 20: vs. No. 10 Indiana, CFP first round (W, 27-17) **
Thursday, Jan. 2: vs. No. 2 Georgia, CFP Sugar Bowl quarterfinal (W, 23-10) **
Thursday, Jan. 9: vs. No. 6 Penn State, CFP Orange Bowl semifinal (W, 27-24) **
Monday, Jan. 20: vs. No. 8 Ohio State, CFP championship **
Record: 14-1

** Denotes CFP ranking

CFP championship game news

Quarterbacks Will Howard and Riley Leonard were once roommates at Manning Passing Academy
‘It’s going to be an incredible game,’ Ex-Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer on the CFP final
How can Ohio State beat Notre Dame? 3 keys for College Football Playoff final
Four players to watch for Notre Dame football against Ohio State for a national championship
Why did Notre Dame football captain Jack Kiser decide to play a sixth season?

Ohio State vs Notre Dame predictions 

Here’s who our staff is predicting will win the College Football Playoff national championship game: 

Dan Wolken: Ohio State 33, Notre Dame 10 
Eddie Timanus: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 17 
Erick Smith: Ohio State 30, Notre Dame 16 
Jordan Mendoza: Ohio State 23, Notre Dame 16 
Paul Myerberg: Notre Dame 24, Ohio State 20 
Scooby Axson: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 21 

Mercedes Benz Stadium

The College Football Playoff national championship game will be played inside Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The retractable dome stadium is the home of the Atlanta Falcons and opened in 2017. It hosted the CFP championship game in 2018, too, which was won by Alabama against Georgia in overtime. Capacity can expand up to 75.000, though its record attendance was 79.330 for the 2022 Peach Bowl, when Georgia beat Ohio State 42-41 in a CFP semifinal.

College Football Playoff semifinals results 

Friday, Jan. 10 

Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 28, No. 5 Texas 14 

Thursday, Jan. 9

Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 6 Penn State 24 

College Football Playoff quarterfinals results 

Tuesday, Dec. 31 

Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14 

Wednesday, Jan. 1 

Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (OT) 

Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21 

Thursday, Jan. 2 

Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10 

College Football Playoff first round results 

Friday, Dec. 20  

No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17 

Saturday, Dec. 21 

No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10 

No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24 

No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17 

College football national champions list since 2000

2023: Michigan
2022: Georgia
2021: Georgia
2020: Alabama
2019: LSU
2018: Clemson
2017: Alabama
2016: Clemson
2015: Alabama
2014: Ohio State
2013: Florida State
2012: Alabama
2011: Alabama
2010: Auburn
2009: Alabama
2008: Florida
2007: LSU
2006: Florida
2005: Texas
2004: Southern California
2003: LSU, Southern California
2002: Ohio State
2001: Miami (Fla.)
2000: Oklahoma

CFP national championship weather 

The College Football Playoff national championship game will be played indoors at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Outside, the forecast is calling for sunny skies but very chilly temperatures maxing out at about 34 degrees and dropping to a low of 22. 

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame over/under 

The over-under for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame is 46.5, according to the BetMGM. 

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame moneyline 

Ohio State is a -350 favorite on the moneyline. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is a +280 underdog, according to BetMGM. Looking to wager? If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. Our college football betting guide can help you get started. We also have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. 

Where is Notre Dame located? 

The University of Notre Dame campus is in South Bend, Indiana, which is just south of the Michigan border. 

College Football Playoff format 

In addition to the expanded field, the new College Football Playoff format also includes first-round byes, automatic bids and home games for the first time in the CFP era. 

The four highest-ranked of these teams are seeded 1-4 and given a first-round bye. If the Group of Five champion is not among the top 12 teams in the final poll, it is slotted in at the No. 12 spot. 

From there, seven at-large teams make up the remainder of the field, beginning with the No. 5 team. Seeds 5-12 play in first-round games either at the home of the higher-ranked team or at another location if the higher-ranked team chooses. 

No. 5 hosts No. 12; No. 6 hosts No. 11; No. 7 hosts No. 10; and No. 8 hosts No. 9. From there, winners of the first-round games advance to the quarterfinals to take on the top four seeds. 

Of note: Once the final bracket is revealed, there is no ‘re-seeding’ to ensure the highest-ranked team faces the lowest-ranked remaining team. That means No. 1 plays the winner of the No. 8/9 game; No. 2 plays No. 7/10; No. 3 plays No. 6/11 and No. 4 plays No. 5/12. 

The CFP committee also will not make special arrangements to ensure teams that met in the regular season will avoid playing in the postseason. 

When was the last time Ohio State won a national championship? 

The Buckeyes have won eight national titles with their most recent coming in 2014, when they beat Oregon 42-20 in the first year of the College Football Playoff. Here are the seasons they won national championships: 

1942 
1954 
1957 
1961 
1968 
1970 
2002 
2014 

When was the last time Notre Dame won a national championship? 

The Fighting Irish haven’t won a national title since 1988, but Notre Dame has accumulated 11 championships in its storied history. Here are the seasons it won national championships: 

1924 
1929 
1930 
1943 
1946 
1947 
1949 
1966 
1973 
1977 
1988 

Ohio State vs Notre Dame history 

This will be the ninth time the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish have faced off, with the Buckeyes owning a 6-2 record. Here are the previous eight results: 

1935 – Notre Dame 18-13 
1936 – Note Dame 7-2 
1995 – Ohio State 45-26 
1996 – Ohio State 29-16 
2006 – Ohio State 34-20 
2016 – Ohio State 44-28 
2022 – Ohio State 21-10 
2023 – Ohio State 17-14 

Ohio State depth chart

Offense

QB: Will Howard, GR
RB: TreVeyon Henderson, SR
WR X: Jeremiah Smith, FR
WR Z: Carnell Tate, SO
WR Y: Emeka Egbuka, SR
TE: Gee Scott Jr., GR
RT: Josh Fryar, SR
RG: Tegra Tshabola, SO
C: Carson Hinzman, SO
LG: Austin Siereveld, FR
LT: Donovan Jackson, JR

Defense

LDE: Jack Sawyer, SR
NT: Ty Hamilton, SR
DT: Tyleik Williams, SR
RDE: JT Tuimoloau, SR
WLB: Sonny Styles, JR
MLB: Cody Simon, GR
LCB: Denzel Burke, SR
SS: Lathan Ransom, SR
FS: Caleb Downs, SO
RCB: Davison Igbinosun, JR
NB: Jordan Hancock, SR

Specialists

P: Joe McGuire, FR
K: Jayden Fielding, JR
PR: Brandon Inniss, SO
KR: Carnell Tate, SO

Notre Dame depth chart

Offense

QB: Riley Leonard, SR
RB: Jeremiyah Love, SO
WR X: Beaux Collins, SR
WR Z: Jordan Faison, SO
WR F: Jaden Greathouse, SO
TE: Mitchell Evans, SR
RT: Aamil Wagner, SO
RG: Rocco Spindler, JR
C: Pat Coogan, JR
LG: Billy Schrauth, SO
LT: Tosh Baker, GR

Defense

DE: RJ Oben, GR
NT: Howard Cross III, GR
DT: Gabriel Rubio, JR
VYPER: Joshua Burnham, SO
WLB: Jack Kiser, GR
MLB: Drayk Bowen, SO
ROVER: Jaylen Sneed, SO
FCB: Christian Gray, SO
FS: Xavier Watts, GR
BS: Adon Shuler, FR
BCB: Leonard Moore, FR
NB: Jordan Clark, GR

Specialists

P: James Rendell, GR
K: Mitch Jeter, GR
PR: Max Hurleman, GR
KR: Jayden Harrison, GR

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Less than 48 hours after their season came to an end, the Lions lost again.

On Monday, Ben Johnson decided to leave his post as Detroit’s offensive coordinator. He will reportedly stay in the NFC North to take the Chicago Bears’ head coaching job. Johnson’s move has been coming for a long time. Although he has been one of the top candidates for the past two coaching cycles, he has opted to return to the Lions each time.

He now departs for the Windy City, joining a rival with the 2024 NFL draft’s No. 1 pick, Caleb Williams, on their roster. Johnson will be tasked with making sure that the prince that was promised delivers on his potential.

Meanwhile, for the second time in Dan Campbell’s tenure as Lions’ head coach, he’ll be looking for a new offensive coordinator.

Here’s a look at the winners and losers following Johnson’s relocation to Chicago.

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Winners

Chicago Bears

After trusting Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus to steer the franchise in a winning direction, the Bears finally admitted defeat in hiring guys named ‘Matt.’ Instead, they have turned to Johnson, who hopes to, ironically, get the franchise off the mat.

They are the big winner here, and for good reason. Johnson comes in as one of the top offensive coordinators in the league and a highly coveted candidate. They should be commended for reeling in one of the coaching cycle’s big fish. Plus, it comes at the cost of potentially weakening a division rival, who the Bears will have to compete with if they want to make the postseason going forward.

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Johnson still has to show that he’s a capable head coach rather than a great coordinator. Regardless, there is a risk with every hire and Chicago puts itself in a position to succeed with this one. The Bears are all-in on Williams and now it’s up to him to deliver in what is a very favorable position.

Ben Johnson

Johnson also walks away as a winner, getting his chance to become a head coach. There are only 32 of those jobs in the league and the former offensive coordinator deserves his shot. He doesn’t have to move far, going from Detroit to Chicago, and gets the added benefit of coaching a young quarterback like Williams.

The Bears provide an opportunity to mold an offense around a more mobile quarterback, adding a dimension that was missing with the Lions. They are armed with talent like DJ Moore and Rome Odunze on offense and come into the offseason with a projected $66.63 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.

Chicago also has the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. This roster can easily be molded to fit Johnson’s needs. He waited for the right opportunity and appears to have found it with the Bears.

Caleb Williams

While his fellow draft class members like Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix enjoyed plenty of success in their first seasons, Williams didn’t have the same benefit. It was a challenging year for the quarterback, who was dealt a hefty dose of reality in his rookie year.

Chicago’s offensive coordinator hire, Shane Waldron, didn’t make it through the year, nor did Eberflus, only adding to the dysfunction. In many ways, it’s a throw-away year for Williams. He now gets a fresh start with someone with a proven track record.

Sophomore year should be much better for him.

Losers

Detroit Lions

Not only did the Lions lose their crafty offensive coordinator, but they also lost him to a team within the division. This is a double whammy for Detroit, which has to replace a key member of its coaching staff and compete against him twice a year.

The Lions were arguably the Super Bowl favorites this season. At the very least, they were the NFC favorites. For a team that’s never won a Super Bowl, the thought was that Detroit would see their coaching staff poached after the parade. Instead, they now bid farewell and have nothing to show for it.

Dan Campbell

Now, Campbell’s job starts. Thanks to two great coordinators, he’s enjoyed a charmed NFL life over the last couple of years but now he’ll need to find a replacement. Championship windows close quickly in the league and making the wrong hire can effectively end Detroit’s ability to compete in its current form. After a 15-2 season that ended abruptly in the playoffs, Campbell will need to hit a home run with his third OC hire as head coach.

Las Vegas Raiders

Considering Johnson’s apparent checklist before taking a head coaching job, this one always seemed to be more of a pipe dream rather than reality, despite the reports of momentum building. Las Vegas still doesn’t have a clear answer to their quarterback position. That makes them a risky landing spot for any potential coach, especially after their recent run of quick firings.

Ben Johnson

Johnson is not only a winner in the situation but also comes out on the losing end. While his new team is seemingly positioned for success, that is more of a projection. Johnson leaves behind a loaded Lions’ offense headlined by a dominant offensive line and the league’s best running back duo.

He will not get the chance to take all that talent with him to Chicago, which means results may vary. As a top candidate, Johnson won’t have a long leash to deliver results before fans get antsy. There’s a real chance that his stint in Detroit could set expectations too high, which will only make life more difficult with every bump in the road he encounters with the Bears.

Johnson also appeared more reserved and disconnected than the fiery personalities on Detroit’s staff, like Campbell and Aaron Glenn. This only raises more questions about how he’ll fare as the face of the Bears’ operation.

Make no mistake though. No one will be surprised if Johnson delivers excellent results in Chicago. However, don’t discount the possibility that this thing comes crashing down faster than anyone anticipates.

If it does, the warning signs were there.

The NFL’s 2025 coach hiring cycle was relatively stagnant during the first weeks of the offseason. The New England Patriots made a quick move to hire Mike Vrabel, but the other six teams seeking new leaders were stuck in a holding pattern.

That changed when the Washington Commanders eliminated the Detroit Lions from the 2025 NFL playoffs on Saturday. The upset made Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, two of the top coaching candidates on the market, available to be hired immediately.

The Chicago Bears wasted little time making sure they secured Johnson as their new head coach. The Bears are finalizing a deal with Johnson to be the team’s new head coach, according to multiple media reports.

Johnson spent three years as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, leading the Lions to a top-five offense in scoring and yardage each season. He helped the Lions reach the NFC championship game following the 2023 NFL season, played a big role in their earning the No. 1 seed in 2024 and turned Jared Goff into a Pro Bowler.

The Bears are banking on Johnson’s offensive acumen and creativity providing Caleb Williams with a strong, stable system that can help him blossom into a top-tier starting quarterback. Meanwhile, other teams in the Johnson sweepstakes will have to pivot as they look for their next franchise leaders.

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Here’s a look at how the Bears landing Johnson will impact other teams on the NFL’s coaching carousel.

How Ben Johnson to Bears impacts NFL coach hiring cycle

Who are the Las Vegas Raiders coaching candidates?

The Raiders seemed to be gaining on the Bears in the race to hire Johnson. Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported there was ‘a lot of momentum building’ for the Lions offensive coordinator in Las Vegas, but ultimately, he spurned the Raiders for a chance to work with Williams.

With Johnson – who was presumably the Raiders’ No. 1 coaching candidate – no longer available, Las Vegas will have to pivot to another candidate to replace Antonio Pierce. Below is a look at the list of candidates they have interviewed so far this offseason, minus Johnson:

Pete Carroll, former Seahawks head coach
Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator
Vance Joseph, Broncos defensive coordinator
Todd Monken, Ravens offensive coordinator
Ron Rivera, former Commanders head coach
Robert Saleh, former Jets head coach
Steve Spaguolo, Chiefs defensive coordinator

Interestingly, Monken is the only coaching candidate the Raiders have interviewed with an offensive background besides Johnson. The others all cut their teeth on the defensive side of the ball, so barring the Raiders reaching out to someone like Joe Brady or Liam Coen, Monken could be the logical pivot if they want an offensive-minded coach.

Monken, 58, helped lead the Ravens to back-to-back top-five offenses in his two seasons with the team. Lamar Jackson is on pace to win his second consecutive NFL MVP award, so the Raiders may be impressed with his ability to maximize the performance of their quarterbacks as the franchise looks for a long-term starting option.

Who are the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching candidates?

The Jaguars were also interested in Ben Johnson but the coaching job didn’t align with what the 38-year-old was seeking, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. As a result, the Jaguars will head back to the drawing board as the team considers some of the other candidates it has interviewed this offseason.

Below is the Jacksonville’s full list of interviews to date, excluding Johnson:

Joe Brady, Bills offensive coordinator
Liam Coen, Buccaneers offensive coordinator
Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator
Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator
Patrick Graham, Raiders defensive coordinator
Todd Monken, Ravens offensive coordinator
Kellen Moore, Eagles offensive coordinator
Robert Saleh, former Jets head coach
Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs defensive coordinator

Unlike the Raiders, the Jaguars have interviewed a handful of non-Johnson offensive-minded coaching options throughout the offseason. Their natural pivots would be Brady, Coen, Monken or Moore; an anonymous NFL executive said Coen was ‘outstanding’ in his interview with the Jaguars, according to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sports Illustrated, so that might make the Buccaneers offensive coordinator the next logical target in Jacksonville.

What does Ben Johnson to Bears mean for Mike McCarthy?

The Bears were the first NFL team to request to speak to McCarthy this offseason. The two sides eventually met after the veteran coach and the Cowboys opted to part ways, but McCarthy still lost the Chicago job to Johnson.

That will narrow McCarthy’s potential landing spots. He was only set to interview with the Bears and Saints, so barring a change of course from the Raiders, Jaguars, or Jets, New Orleans might be his only option.

McCarthy could still end up getting the Saints gig. The team was expected to be ‘very interested’ in him – as NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill initially reported – as he has the ‘familiarity’ with the organization that Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported would be a factor for New Orleans.

That said, Aaron Glenn is also ‘at the top of the list’ for the Saints, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The Jets are vying for Glenn’s services as well, among others, but if New Orleans manages to win the Glenn sweepstakes, that could leave McCarthy without a job in 2025.

As such, McCarthy finds himself in the unenviable position of waiting to see how Glenn’s scheduled interviews with the Jets and Saints go before knowing what his future will hold.

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One of the great Notre Dame football alumni was out on the field with the Fighting Irish prior to kickoff of the national championship game.

Former fullback Jerome Bettis was the honorary captain for Notre Dame for the coin toss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He was also on the field prior to the game hyping up the Fighting Irish fans.

Before he embarked on a 13-season NFL career that included a Super Bowl title and a Pro Football Hall of Fame recognition, Bettis played three seasons at Notre Dame as a fullback from 1990-93.

He made sporadic appearances in his first season in South Bend, but he burst onto the scene in his sophomore year when he ran for 972 yards on 168 carries in 12 games and 16 touchdowns. Bettis hauled in four touchdown receptions in a season in which Notre Dame went 10-3 and won the Sugar Bowl. The following season, Bettis had 825 yards on 154 carries in 11 games with 10 touchdowns while also hauling in two touchdown receptions. Bettis declared for the NFL afterward and finished his Notre Dame career with 337 rushes for 1,912 yards (5.7 yards per carry).

Bettis returned to Notre Dame decades later and graduated from the university in 2022, and he’ll have his legacy continue in South Bend next season. His son, Jerome Bettis Jr., committed to Notre Dame for the 2025 season.