Ohio State is living up to expectations against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The Buckeyes came into tonight favored by 8.5 points over the Fighting Irish. Right now, they have nearly doubled that spread, leading 31-15 late in the third quarter, and that 16-point margin includes Notre Dame scoring the most recent touchdown and adding a two-point conversion. After the Irish scored on their first drive to take a 7-0 lead, Ohio State ripped off 31 consecutive points.
Assuming this result holds, the Buckeyes will have their first national championship in 10 years. They will also have ended the year on a four-game winning streak after their shocking 13-10 loss to Michigan in the regular season finale.
That outcome was stunning at the time and certainly looks even more so now. On social media, the question throughout the night has been an obvious one.
“How exactly did this Ohio State team lose to Michigan?” wondered journalist Jim Harwood.
“I ask again, how in the world did Michigan beat O State in 2024? One of the more implausible results ever,” a second person asked.
“How did they lose to Michigan?” a third person wondered.
“It will remain the funniest thing that has ever happened to me that this offense couldn’t score 14 points against the 2024 Michigan squad, the greatest 8-5 team ever,” said author/podcaster Jane Coaston, a Michigan alum.
“How on Earth did this Ohio State team manage to lose to Michigan this year?” another commented asked incredulously.
No doubt the Wolverines’ win over Ohio State was a massive upset, but it also served as a wakeup call for a Buckeye team that was in need of one.
“I think in that moment that kind of gave us a little spark,” Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins said of the loss and Michigan’s postgame flag planting. “Like, definitely, I would say it made us want to go harder, man, and realize, OK, like that was super disrespectful. I think it made a lot of guys wake up in that moment.”
The Buckeyes got punched in the mouth and responded. Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and now Notre Dame have suffered since.
One quarter left to go for a national title.
Related: Ohio State Star Says Michigan Loss Was ‘Spark’ For Playoff Run