ATLANTA — Ryan Day was a dead coach walking.
His roster, worth reportedly $20 million in Name, Image & Likeness, was wasting generational talent.
Tennessee was going to overrun fading Ohio State in its own stadium in the opening round of the expanded College Football Playoff.
Those narratives seem silly now, even preposterous. That loss to Michigan at The Horseshoe feels like an eternity ago.
So much changed for these Buckeyes from the third week in December to the third week in January. Day is a national champion, and so are his players.
That loss to Michigan will now be a footnote to championship glory, not a way this elite group will be remembered.
Eighth-seeded Ohio State finished its dominant playoff run to its first title in a decade by holding off valiant Notre Dame, 34-23, in front of 77,660 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
All told, the Buckeyes won their four playoff contests over No. 1 Oregon, No. 5 Texas, No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 8 Tennessee by a combined 145-75.
The Irish, once down 24 points early in the second half, came storming back late. But their second-ranked scoring defense, ripped apart all night, couldn’t get the ball back.
On third-and-11, Will Howard hit fantastic freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith on a 59-yard go-route, ending a memorable night for the Kansas State transfer quarterback and icing the title at the two-minute warning.
Howard set a CFP national championship game record with 13 straight completions to start the evening, and his final throw made him an Ohio State legend.
The Irish scored first, eating up nearly 10 minutes of clock. It was the lone reason for Notre Dame fans to cheer until a late comeback.
The Buckeyes shrugged off that jab like it was a love tap. They scored touchdowns on all three first-half possessions, outgaining the Irish, 231-93, in the opening half.
After that promising first drive, Notre Dame managed just 18 yards.
Howard missed on just two of 16 passing attempts while completing passes to six different receivers in the opening half.
He had all day to throw, and receivers running free through the Irish secondary. The Buckeyes faced six third downs in that first half, and converted all of them.
Howard found Smith to convert the first one on Ohio State’s first possession, and the two connected from eight yards out to even the game at 7-7.
Smith was wide open in the flat, a foreboding sign for Notre Dame. It was a preview of the hours to come. With 27 seconds left in the second quarter, Howard found Quinshon Judkins wide open for a six-yard scoring strike, a major blow to Notre Dame’s flickering hopes.
It didn’t get better after halftime. On the second play from scrimmage, Judkins cut back and went 70 yards before he was tracked down at the Notre Dame 5-yard-line.
Three plays later, he scored from one yard out, extending to a 28-7 Ohio State lead.
Notre Dame tried some trickery on their next drive, but a fake punt backfired, setting up Ohio State for yet another score.
Even though the Irish held, Jayden Fielding drilled a 46-yard field goal try. It was 31-7, and the rout felt like it was on.
This was how Notre Dame so frequently looked on this stage with Brian Kelly as its coach. It was punching above its weight class — or at least trying to.
The Irish attempted to rally, getting within two scores on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Riley Leonard to Jaden Greathouse.
After an Emeka Egbuka fumble, Notre Dame drove deep into Ohio State territory, but the drive stalled at the 9-yard line.
Marcus Freeman opted for a field goal with 9:27 left, a bizarre decision, and his kicker, Mitch Jeter, missed the 27-yard try off the goal post.
But Notre Dame kept on fighting, and was down just a single score after another Leonard to Greathouse touchdown, this one from 30 yards out, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion.
There was still 4:15 left on the clock. But Notre Dame couldn’t get the ball back. Howard and Smith wouldn’t allow it.
