Coach Ryan Day shushed the critics, running back Quinshon Judkins scored three touchdowns, and the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes held off a furious second-half rally to beat No. 7 seed Notre Dame, 34-23,

The Ohio State football football program did what many said it couldn’t. The Buckeyes picked themselves up off the mat, in the depths of despair after losing to Michigan and went on the

Ohio State opened up the 12-team College Football Playoff the same way it opened up the four-team field: holding up a trophy. The Buckeyes knocked off Notre Dame in the championship game, 34-23, to reclaim their spot at the top of college football.