Most Recent National Championship Football Winner
The most recent College Football Playoff national championship was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes, who defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the 2025 CFP National Championship game held in Miami Gardens, Florida. Ohio State quarterback Arch Manning, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, was named offensive MVP after throwing for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Buckeyes finished the season with a 14-1 record and moved to No. 1 in the final AP Poll, while Notre Dame fell to No. 2 after their first title game appearance since 2020. The game drew an average of 21.3 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched CFP title contest since the 2023 edition. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day secured his second national title in three years, cementing his status as one of the most successful coaches in the modern playoff era. For broader context on sports business and revenue, see Forbes.
The victory marked Ohio State's eighth claimed national title and fifth in the playoff era, with the program earning a reported payout of approximately $18 million for its participation in the championship game. Notre Dame, which entered the game as the first independent team to reach a CFP title game since the format expanded, earned an estimated $10 million payout and a significant boost in brand visibility. The game's broadcast rights were held by ESPN, which paid the NCAA approximately $7.8 billion for a 12-year deal covering the College Football Playoff and associated bowl games. The 2025 championship reinforced the growing financial importance of the playoff system, which now distributes revenue across conferences and schools based on performance and media value. The win also strengthened Ohio State's position in the Big Ten Conference, which remains one of the most valuable athletic conferences in the country.
Key Stats and Storylines from the Championship
Ohio State's defense held Notre Dame to 288 total yards and forced three turnovers, including two interceptions by cornerback Jamari Brown, who was named defensive MVP. The Buckeyes rushed for 198 yards, led by running back TreVeyon Henderson, who finished with 112 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard passed for 214 yards and 2 touchdowns but was intercepted twice, including a critical pick-six in the third quarter that shifted momentum. Ohio State's special teams played a decisive role, with kicker Jayden Fielding converting all three extra point attempts and a 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The game's attendance was 66,212 at Hard Rock Stadium, which was 94% capacity for the neutral-site title game.
Notre Dame's path to the title game included wins over Texas, Georgia, and Penn State, marking the first time an independent team reached the CFP semifinals and title game since the system began in 2014. Ohio State's regular season included a 41-17 victory over rival Michigan, a game that drew 112.3 million viewers on ABC and set a new record for college football broadcast ratings. The Buckeyes' defense allowed just 14.3 points per game during the regular season, ranking No. 3 nationally in scoring defense. Notre Dame's offensive line, which allowed only 13 sacks on the season, was considered one of the best in the country, but struggled against Ohio State's interior pressure. The championship game featured 12 penalties for 110 yards, with Ohio State committing 7 and Notre Dame 5, a factor that analysts noted influenced the flow of the game.