Ohio State quarterback Will Howard joked that his team slept on the plane after their 34-23 win over Notre Dame, saying “Sleep is for the weak.” The Buckeyes arrived at their post-game news conference as national champions, and they had good reason to celebrate.
On Monday night, Ohio State defeated Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and then Notre Dame in dominating fashion. The team’s journey was far from smooth, however. In a viral video, head coach Ryan Day, Howard, and linebacker Cody Simon were seen riding in a College Football Playoff golf cart when it crashed into a wall.
“We’re going to charge the medical bills to the CFP,” Day joked about the incident. Despite the bumpy start, the Buckeyes are ecstatic about their national championship win. “To go play at home against Tennessee who’s a very, very good team, then go to Oregon, the No. 1 team in the country and win that game at the Rose Bowl the way we did,” Day said.
Day praised his coaching staff for leading the team to such an impressive run. The Buckeyes have a young talent mix with experienced coaches, making them an attractive target for poaching. However, Day plans to fight to keep his top coaches on board.
“We’ll do everything we can to keep these guys together,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunity after you win something like this.” Despite potential departures, there are many reasons why the team wants to stay. As Day put it, “there’s no better place than Ohio State.”
The Buckeyes’ national championship marks an exciting fresh start for the program and its fans.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6078146/2025/01/21/ohio-state-ryan-day-will-howard