Ohio State held off a Notre Dame comeback bid Monday night to walk away with a a 34-23 victory over the Fighting Irish, and their first national title since 2014.
Will Howard hit big-play receiver Jeremiah Smith for 56 yards on a late third-and-11 to seemingly lock down the game.
However, trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter.
The Irish stopped Ohio State on the first two plays of the next drive and used their timeouts. But on third down, Howard found Smith in single coverage on the right sideline and dropped his best pass of the season into the hands of the second-team All-American.
Howard, a transfer-portal success story from Kansas State, threw for 231 yards and two scores.
Quinshon Judkins rushed for 100 yards, 11 carries and scored three TDs.
