ATLANTA (WCMH) -- Mission complete. Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 on Monday night in the first national championship game of the 12-team playoff era, claiming its first title in a decade and ninth overall. The victory caps off a remarkable playoff run that featured four straight wins, including two over SEC teams, in the aftermath of the late November loss to Michigan, handing coach Ryan Day his first national championship with Ohio State. The Buckeyes overcame an early deficit and led by as much as 24 points in the second half before the Irish tried to make a late run. The win marks Ohio State's seventh in a row against Notre Dame. Fourth quarter photos ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish late in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish late in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish late in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball before fumbling during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Drayk Bowen #34 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish forces Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes to fumble during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Mitchell Evans #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball as Cody Simon #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to make a tackle during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Mitchell Evans #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball as Jordan Hancock #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jaden Greathouse #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass in front of Jordan Hancock #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes for a touchdown during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jaden Greathouse #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass in front of Jordan Hancock #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes for a touchdown during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Adon Shuler #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tackles Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after throwing a pass for a first down against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after catching a pass in front of Christian Gray #29 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a first down during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Will Howard #18 celebrates with Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes after throwing a pass to Smith for a first down against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: The Ohio State Buckeyes bench reacts after a field goal against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the fourth quarter in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Quarterback Will Howard set a playoff championship game record by completing his first 13 passes. Receiver Emeka Egbuka set a school record by surpassing KJ Hill for most career receptions. With Notre Dame challenging in the fourth quarter, Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith on a 57-yard pass with two minutes remaining. Jayden Fielding connected on a field goal moments later to leave the Irish with too little time to come back. Third quarter photos In the first quarter, the Irish used an 18-play, 75-yard drive that lasted nearly ten minutes to get on the board first, with quarterback Riley Leonard scoring a one-yard touchdown. The Buckeyes answered back in the second quarter on their opening drive with quarterback Will Howard connecting with Jeremiah Smith for an eight yard touchdown. OSU took the lead thanks to a 9-yard run by Quinshon Judkins with 6:15 to go in the half. Judkins struck again after catching a six yard pass from Howard with 27 seconds left before the break, extending the lead to 21-7. Ohio State came out of the locker room and exploded with a 70-yard run by Judkins on the second play of the third quarter. The Ole Miss transfer finished out the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, scoring for the third time and reaching 50 career touchdowns. Jayden Fielding nailed a 46-yard field goal to make it 31-7 with 7:52 to go in the third. Second quarter photos The Irish got back on the board for the first time since their opening drive after Leonard threw a 34-yard touchdown to Jaden Greathouse. Leonard was able to convert for two points with a toss to Jeremiyah Love to get Notre Dame within 16 with 3:03 left in the third. Then in the fourth, Leonard connected with Greathouse again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown. Jordan Faison found Beaux Collins for the two-point conversion to pull the Irish within eight with 4:15 to go. The Buckeyes seek their ninth title and first since 2015, the first year of the College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish are in a national title game for the first time since 2013 and look to end a drought that dates to 1988. A win would be the first for coach Ryan Day since he took over the Buckeyes program in 2019. OSU also looks to extend its win streak against Notre Dame to seven games. The Irish haven't beaten Ohio State since 1936. First quarter photos Pregame Photo Gallery