(BCSNN) -- The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship, held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, saw the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 34-23, on Monday night.

The Championship marked the culmination of an exciting season and a hard-fought battle between two of college football's most storied programs, and showed that an expanded College Football Playoff field was good for the sport and the fans.

Initially close with the Irish getting on the board first, the Buckeyes managed to take control early, scoring 21 points in the second quarter alone. Quarterback Will Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith for an 8-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 9-yard rush by Quinshon Judkins and another touchdown pass to Judkins from Howard. The Buckeyes' offensive onslaught continued into the third quarter with Judkins' second rushing touchdown of the game.

Notre Dame fought back valiantly, scoring a touchdown in the third quarter when Riley Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for a 34-yard pass. Leonard added another touchdown pass to Greathouse in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to overcome Ohio State's lead.

Ohio State's defense was a key factor in the game, holding Notre Dame to just 23 points and limiting their offensive yardage. The Buckeyes' defensive line, which had been dominant throughout the playoffs, stifled Notre Dame's rushing attack and forced Leonard to rely heavily on his passing game.

“Our team has come together so well over the last month and a half. There wasn’t school, so all we did was spend time together. It’s like being around a family. This is the tightest group of guys I’ve ever been around before," said Ohio State head coach Ryan Day of how the Buckeyes prepared.

The victory was Ohio State's first national championship since winning the very first College Football Playoff in 2015. The Buckeyes had to overcome injuries and tough competition throughout the season, but still managed to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. Hopefully, for Ryan Day, this will put to bed the concerns over his inability to win the big games in the past. However, the Ohio State coach still can't seem to figure out Michigan.

For Notre Dame, the loss was certainly a disappointment, but the Fighting Irish did have one heck of a season, with the only blemish until now being a loss to the NIU Huskies early on in the regular-season. Coach Marcus Freeman's squad had to navigate a challenging path, with ranked wins over No. 2 Georgia, No. 6 Penn State, No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 15 Louisville, No. 24 Navy, and No. 19 Army throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

Despite the big names, there wasn't as much buzz around this National Championship as some might have expected. We're still waiting for the TV viewership numbers to come in, but expect some tweaking to the Playoff format in the near future.

Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins was named the game's MVP, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns. On the Notre Dame side, Riley Leonard's 255 passing yards and two touchdowns highlighted his efforts.

The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship will be remembered for its high stakes, competitive play, and the emergence of future NFL stars from two of college football's most respected "Blue Bloods." Ohio State's victory solidified their place among college football's elite, while Notre Dame's strong performance ensured they will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming seasons.

Now fans can start turning their collective attention towards the 2025 college football season.