Ohio State defeats Notre Dame in CFP, 34-23; CFF announces 2024 Top Ten

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Lebanon, TN – Ohio State defeated Notre Dame with a balanced offense to fend off a game Fighting Irish team who came back to challenge the Buckeyes in the end. Ohio State led midway through the third quarter, 31-7. However, the Irish countered with two TD passes from Riley Leonard to WR Jaden Greathouse to close the score. In both instances, the Irish converted two-point conversions to Jerimiyah Love and Beaux Collins to trail, 31-23 with 4:03 left to play.

The Buckeyes seemed to seal it when they isolated WR Jeremial Smith one on one with DB Christian Gray for a 56-yard completion from Will Howard to the ND 10. OSU kicker Jay Fielding connected on a 33-yard FG with 26 seconds remaining. It to finalized Ohio State’s first national championship since 2014, 34-24. This season, Collegefootballfan.com attended games played by both schools. With their win, Ohio State becomes the 15th FBS National Champion to appear on our annual schedule.

Ohio State and Notre Dame both came through Penn State

We saw Ohio State defeat Penn State in State College, PA with a last quarter goal line stand, 20-13. At our 700th game in our 45-year history, we watched Notre Dame dominate Navy at the Meadowlands, 51-14. In the semifinal played at the Orange Bowl on January 9, Notre Dame and Penn State tied four times. Tied 24-24, Christian Gray intercepted a Drew Allar pass late in the game. Again, a pass from Leonard to Greathouse put the Irish at the PSU 25. With seven seconds left, Notre Dame PK Mitch Jeter booted a 41-yard FG. The Fighting Irish advanced the Irish to face Ohio State in Atlanta for the 2024 CFP title.

Notre Dame RB Jermiyah Love (4) starts out on his hard-fought run to the left for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame RB Jermiyah Love (4) starts out on his hard-fought run to the left for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to eventually defeat Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl, 27-24.

2024: Probably our best season ever

Probably our greatest season among our 45 thus far, we attended three College Football Playoff (CFP) games among the 31, our most ever attended in one season. We now stand at 712 games attended heading into 2025. Among this year’s games, we attended games featuring 41 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools. With games played in four new states for us (total of 41 now including D.C) play and in 13 new FBS and FCS venues, we now have attended games played in 98 of the 135 FBS Stadiums and in 193 venues among all NCAA divisions and neutral sites and bowl games. And among the games this season, we’ve seen many top teams including eight that competed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. With that, we give you our Final Top Ten we saw in person this season:

Sun Devils star RB and Game Offensive MVP Cam Skattebo gets stopped by Texas for a turnover on downs in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Texas won 39-31 to move on to the AT&T Cotton Bowl. There they fell to Ohio State, 28-14.
Sun Devils star RB and Game Offensive MVP Cam Skattebo gets stopped by Texas for a turnover on downs in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Texas won 39-31 to move on to the AT&T Cotton Bowl. There they fell to Ohio State, 28-14.

Collegefootballfan.com 2024 Top Ten

  1. Ohio State 14-2 (at Penn State)
  2. Notre Dame 14-2 (vs. Navy; vs. Penn State)
  3. Penn State 13-3 (vs. Ohio State; vs. SMU; vs. Notre Dame)
  4. Texas 13-3 (vs. Arizona State)
  5. Oregon 13-1 (at Wisconsin)
  6. Arizona State 11-3 (vs. Texas)
  7. Georgia 11-3 (vs. Auburn)
  8. SMU (11-3) (at Penn State)
  9. BYU 11-2 (at Wyoming)
  10. Navy 10-3 (at UAB; vs Notre Dame)
    • Other under consideration: Ohio U. 11-3 (at Central Michigan; vs. EMU; at Toledo)

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of tailgate Tales: The Good, the fun, and the Ugly Click on the title to get your copy on Amazon.com today, and please submit your review of this fun, unique life-long adventure after you’ve read it. Thanks!

Tailgaters from throughout the years were able to join up today for a festive and fun occasion in the parking lot this day. Some inquired already about Game No. 1000. Maybe another ten years from now?
Tailgater friends from throughout the years were able to join up on October 26 for a festive and fun occasion in the MetLife Stadium parking lot this day. Today marked our 700th Game, Navy vs. Notre Dame. Some inquired already about Game No. 1000. Maybe another ten years from now? For now, maybe we’ll set our sights on No. 750 for a game and a venue to be named later!

Your thoughts?