Every Sunday, the DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the NCAA championship and the players eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Players eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft are listed in bold.
Penn State (6) – Notre Dame (7): 24-27
Drew Allar (15/23, 135 yards, INT) decisive for… Notre Dame.
The Penn State quarterback throws an interception with 2 minutes left in the game. Notre Dame and Riley Leonard (15/23, 18 carries, 258 yards, TD, 2 INT) take advantage of this to run the clock. Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter does not miss the opportunity, and allows his team to reach for the first time in its history officially.
However, despite a ball released at the end of the first quarter which should have been a touchdown, Nicholas Singleton (15 races, 84 yards, 3 TDs) scored a hat-trick. The Penn State runner uses his power and electric quickness to beat all the Notre Dame defenders one by one. Tight end Tyler Warren was again heavily targeted by Drew Allar. Unfortunately, it is not decisive.
The statistic that we will remember from the Penn State offense is 0. This number corresponds to the number of receiving yards for Penn State's outside receivers (wide receiver). A historic figure which is one of the main causes of the defeat of the Nittany Lions.
However, the defensive line does its part of the job. The pair Abdul Carter – Dani Dennis-Sutton recorded 3 sacks, and 7 pressures on the quarterback in addition to an interception for the second. But, that is not enough.
Notre Dame was sluggish at times, but was resilient in the second half with 3 touchdowns. Quarterback Riley Leonard and running back Jeremiah Love resist opposing tacklers, while Notre Dame may have found itself a number 1 receiver. Little in sight during the regular season, Jaden Greathouse (7 REC, 105 yards, TD) comes out from its cocoon, and is decisive. His 54-yard reception first allowed Notre Dame to equalize at 24-24, then another put him in a good position for the winning field goal.
So Penn State stops there. Announced to return to university, Drew Allar should confirm his words. He still has 2 years of eligibility remaining. Tyler Warren will become one of the curiosities of the next Draft at the tight end position. But, the college wonder is at the pass rusher position. Abdul Carter has almost the same background as Micah Parsons (EDGE, Cowboys). He should be a future top 5 pick in the next Draft.
THE KICK IS GOOD 😳
NOTRE DAME TAKES THE LEAD WITH SECONDS LEFT.#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/vhDW0FXQ9W
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 10, 2025
Texas (5) – Ohio State (8): 14-28
A story of roommates.
We are in the fourth quarter. Texas is in position to tie. After a very suspicious first play call one yard short of the touchdown, Quinn Ewers (23/39, 283 yards, 2 TDs, INT) then saw his ex roommate Jack Sawyer take the ball from him after a sack. This decisive action from the Ohio State pass rusher will then end with a touchdown. A few minutes later, safety Caleb Downs intercepted the Texas quarterback. Finished. Ohio State will return to the final after 4 seasons of absence.
Before that, both teams had a lot of trouble developing good football. In the first half, defenses forced 8 consecutive punts. Between these punts, the running backs have their moment of glory. Quinshon Judkins (9 races, 36 yards, 2 TDs) opened the scoring with a run. Then, TreVeyon Henderson (6 races, 1 REC, 117 yards, TD) puts Ohio State back in front just before halftime on a pass from Will Howard. Meanwhile, Jaydon Blue (4 races, 5 RECs, 75 yards, 2 TDs) also stood out as a receiver with a touchdown.
Judkins and Blue will even score a double each in the second half in the same situations as in the first half. All this before Jack Sawyer's decisive action. Furthermore, the Ohio State defense completely crushes Quinn Ewers, with 4 sacks and 15 pressures. This was necessary because the attack did not really shine. Their new star receiver Jeremiah Smith only made 1 reception, for 3 yards.
Texas stops there for perhaps Steve Sarkisian's final game as a college coach. Quinn Ewers announced before the game that these would be his last college games, before the likely big jump to the NFL. Others should follow him, including tackle Kelvin Banks, whose draft rating is high.
JACK SAWYER SCOOP-AND-SCORE 😱
Ohio State is one step closer to advancing to the national championship! pic.twitter.com/BPoV5FBRGZ
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025
Final
The NCAA final will therefore pit Ohio State against Notre Dame. It will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 1:30 a.m. French time. Ohio State is favorite, but Notre Dame will have arguments.
The winner will succeed Michigan.
