2025 College Football Playoff Prediction: Why the Irish Will Shock the Buckeyes

Ladies and gentlemen, the stage is set: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State in the 2025 College Football Championship. Vegas says Ohio State by 9 points. I say Vegas should stick to what they do best—making drinks and taking folks’ money. Remember, they also predicted Sonny Liston would beat Muhammad Ali—twice. Sure, that may have been a lifetime ago; nonetheless, the Ali-Liston fights are emblematic of what I see happening here—a colossal odds-defying upset where the thirty-nine-year-old Marcus Freeman captures his first national championship on his way to a legendary coaching career.

So here are my reasons why the Fighting Irish will rewrite the odds—and make Ryan Days’ hot seat even more unbearable:

Evenly Matched Teams, Despite All the Hype About the Buckeyes

Sure, the Buckeyes’ offense looks unstoppable—until you remember they haven’t met a defense like Notre Dame’s. The Irish are letting opponents score just 14.3 points per game this season. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s quarterback, Riley Leonard, is doing his best superhero impersonation: running, passing, and just finding ways to make big plays at the right time. Oh, and like the Buckeyes, the Irish have two outstanding running backs in super-speedy Jeremiyah Love and the hard-running Jadarian Price. In addition, sure-handed tight end Mitchell Evans and a strong group of wide and slot receivers, including Beaux Collins, Jordan Faison, and Jaden Greathouse, along with a gritty offensive line, give the Irish the ability to compete against the top defenses in the country successfully. The Buckeye defense will face a challenge in stopping the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State by Offensive Positions and Defense

• Quarterbacks: Will Howard faces off against Riley Leonard. Overall, Notre Dame’s Leonard has a slight advantage due to his athleticism and competitiveness. However, Howard throws a better deep ball, and he needs to, given that he has some of the best receivers in college football to catch those bombs.
• Receivers: Ohio State dominates here with Emeka Egbuka, Jerimiah Smith, and Carnell Tate, plus several reserve receivers that can ball with the best of them.
• Running backs: Even. Both teams have talented RBs, with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins leading the way for the Buckeyes.
• Offensive Lines: Ohio State has a slight edge due to fewer late-season injuries than Notre Dame.
• Defense: Ohio State narrowly edges out Notre Dame in this comparison, but the difference is minor. Both teams are exceptional against the pass, ranking #1 and #2 in the nation for passing yards allowed per game. They also excel in scoring defense, with Ohio State taking the top spot by allowing only 12.2 points per game, while Notre Dame follows closely at #2, allowing 14.3 points per game. In terms of total defensive yards allowed, Ohio State ranks #1 in the nation, giving up an average of 251.1 yards per game, whereas Notre Dame ranks #9, allowing 298.3 yards per game.

“The outcome of the 2025 College Football Championship Game will hinge on defense. It will be the determining factor that shapes the game, decides momentum, and ultimately crowns the champion. The ability to dominate defensively will surely separate victory from defeat.”

Ryan Day and the Big Game Blues

Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day, has a tremendous regular-season record. In fact, he might be the best coach in college football…on any given Wednesday. But when it comes to big games for Day, there’s only one word to describe it, “choke!” Day’s Buckeyes have lost four straight to arch-rival Michigan. That’s not just a losing streak—it’s a saga of epic proportions in Buckeye land, matching John Cooper (1988-2000) for the most consecutive losses by an Ohio State coach to “that team up North.” And while he’s made it to the College Football Playoff three previous times, the spot in the trophy case reserved for the championship trophy continues to collect dust. Lots of dust.

Notre Dame: Momentum Kings

The Irish didn’t just stumble into the championship—they kicked the door down. Their semifinal win over Penn State was a masterclass in the clutch: a late-game interception, a perfect field goal, and a coach screaming and gyrating as if he’d just won the lottery. Notre Dame has more consistently demonstrated the ability to excel under pressure in big games, giving them an advantage over Ohio State in the intangibles. They appear to have the perfect blend of talented players, a strong coaching staff, camaraderie, luck, and the right circumstances, all aligning at the right moment—the essential ingredients—the secret sauce—for championship teams.

Buckeye Land Overconfidence

Meanwhile, Ohio State fans are already engraving the trophy with “2025 Champions.” Slow down there, fellas. Overconfidence has taken down bigger giants than the Buckeyes—again, like the unbeatable Liston losing to Ali. Or, like a more relatable upset to Ohioans, the 1990 epic knockout of the seemingly invincible and unbeaten Iron Mike Tyson delivered by Ohio native Buster Douglas, which “shocked the world.” Besides, only a few weeks ago, most of you flakey Buckeye fans called for Day’s head after the Michigan loss. Now look at you, thinking he can pull this thing off. Nope. It’s not gonna happen, and deep down inside, all of you fans know it.

“Ohio State’s biggest challenge is not Notre Dame; it’s their history of cracking under pressure in big games under Ryan Day.”

2025 College Football Playoff Prediction: Irish Eyes Are Smiling

When the dust settles, and the confetti cannon misfires into someone’s nachos, Notre Dame will be the team celebrating. Why? Because they’ve got the grit and the defense, and, most importantly, they’re not carrying the weight of four straight Michigan losses on their backs, along with several failed Playoff appearances. As a result of another epic choke by a Ryan Day-led team, Marcus Freeman will not only become the first Black head coach to lead a team in an NCAA Divison I championship game—he will also make history as the first Black head coach to hold the NCAA College Football Championship Trophy high over his head in victory.

So buckle up, college football fans. It’s going to be a wild ride. And if Ryan Day loses again? Well, there’s always motivational speaking. As for a Freeman loss or win, will this be his last game as a college head coach? Rumors are flying that the Chicago Bears want him badly. 

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