• Ohio State wins its first title in a decade: Again in 2015, the Buckeyes received the primary nationwide championship within the four-team playoff period. Final evening, they secured the primary title of the 12-team playoff period.
• QB Will Howard silenced any doubters: The Kansas State switch posted a career-best PFF grade within the nationwide championship sport towards among the finest secondaries in America.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Strive PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting to your favourite NFL group.
Estimated studying time: 7 minutes
For the primary time in a decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes have reclaimed their spot atop the school soccer world.
In a historic season that marked the debut of the 12-team School Soccer Playoff, Ohio State captured the nationwide championship with a commanding 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in Atlanta, Ga.
Join PFF+ for in-depth evaluation, PFF grades, Premium Stats, fantasy soccer instruments, betting dashboards and rather more!
HIGHEST-GRADED PLAYERS
- QB Will Howard, Ohio State (90.5)
- LB Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame (85.1)
- WR Jaden Greathouse, Notre Dame (81.7)
Participant of the sport: QB Will Howard, Ohio State
Forward of the 2024 season, the most important query surrounding the Buckeyes was whether or not they had a quarterback able to main them to a nationwide championship. Final evening, Howard erased any doubt with a career-best efficiency within the title sport.
Howard earned a 90.5 PFF grade on first evaluate, almost 5 factors increased than his earlier profession excessive. He accomplished 81% of his passes, delivered a big-time throw, averted turnover-worthy performs and added 61 dashing yards. His spectacular displaying capped a season wherein he earned an 86.2 passing grade, ninth amongst FBS quarterbacks.
Ohio State’s historic run protection shines once more
The Buckeyes dominated towards the run all season and earned a 95.3 run-defense grade, the very best by any FBS group over the previous six seasons. Nevertheless, their hardest problem got here within the nationwide championship towards Notre Dame, a facet that ranked fifth nationally in EPA per run.
Ohio State rose to the event, holding the Combating Irish to only 70 dashing yards and a pair of.9 yards per carry, each season lows for Notre Dame. The Buckeyes capped their defensive masterpiece with an 80.1 run-defense grade within the sport, the very best any protection recorded towards the Combating Irish this season.
What’s subsequent?
Each colleges ought to very a lot be within the thick of the nationwide title race. Ohio State sits at No. 3 and Notre Dame is No. 5 in our way-too-early top-25 rankings.
Whereas the Buckeyes will lose almost all their star gamers, they return arguably the 2 greatest gamers in school soccer: broad receiver Jeremiah Smith and security Caleb Downs.
The Combating Irish will return much more expertise, as they’re slated to return eight of their 15 Most worthy gamers from this previous season in response to PFF’s wins above common metric.
