INDIANAPOLIS - Ohio State built a 24-point lead, then held off a hard-charging Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta on Monday night. Notre Dame raced out to a 7-0 early lead after taking the opening kickoff and marching down the field 75 yards in 18 plays. Senior quarterback Riley Leonard scored on a one-yard touchdown run to finish the drive. Ohio State responded emphatically with 31 straight points, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions to take control of the game. Senior quarterback Will Howard connected with freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith for an eight-yard touchdown to tie the game less than a minute into the second quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, the Buckeyes took the lead on a 10-play, 76-yard drive capped by a nine-yard touchdown run by junior running back Quinshon Judkins. Ohio State added to the advantage with less than 30 seconds to play in the half as Howard found Judkins for a six-yard touchdown to make the game 21-7 at halftime. The Buckeyes received the second half kickoff and needed just five plays to score. Judkins exploded for a 70-yard run, then scored three plays later from a yard out to push their lead to 28-7. Desperate to get back into the game, the Irish tried a fake punt on fourth-and-two from their own 33-yardline, but back-up quarterback Steve Angeli's pass fell incomplete to sophomore wide receiver Jordan Faison. Ohio State used the good field position to add a Jayden Fielding 46-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-7. Notre Dame began to show signs of life at the end of the third quarter as Leonard hit sophomore wide receiver Jaden Greathouse for a 34-yard touchdown, then sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 31-15. The Fighting Irish defense then recovered a fumble from Buckeyes' senior wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and drove down to the Ohio State 9-yardline before senior kicker Mitch Jeter missed a 27-yard field goal. The miss appeared to end Notre Dame's chance at a comeback, but the defense forced Ohio State to punt for the first time and the offense scored in just six plays. Leonard threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Greathouse, then Faison found a wide-open Beaux Collins for the two-point conversion to make the game one-score. The Fighting Irish were one play away from getting the ball back to potentially tie the game, but Howard made the play of the game, connecting with Smith for 56-yards on third-and-long to help seal the game. Fielding added a 33-yard field goal to provide the final margin. The Fighting Irish are still looking for their first national championship since 1988, while the Buckeyes won their ninth in program history and first since 2014.