The Ohio State Buckeyes secured their ninth College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 on Monday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Among the crowd was NBA superstar LeBron James, a diehard Buckeyes fan, who cheered passionately for his team.

Joining LeBron was Bryce Harper, the Philadelphia Phillies' first baseman, who enjoyed the thrilling victory. Although LeBron never played college sports, his connection to Ohio State runs deep, dating back to his high school days at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio.

The Game: A Thrilling Comeback for the Buckeyes

Notre Dame came out swinging, with quarterback Riley Leonard leading an 18-play drive and scoring on a rushing touchdown to go up 7-0. However, Ohio State turned the tide in the second quarter. A touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith and a rushing score by Quinshon Judkins gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead.

Before halftime, Judkins struck again with another rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 21-7. LeBron, watching from his luxury suite, celebrated enthusiastically, raising his arms in triumph.

Ohio State dominated early in the third quarter. Judkins broke free for a stunning 70-yard touchdown run, followed by a field goal that stretched the lead to 34-7. While Notre Dame rallied late, Jaden Greathouse caught two touchdown passes and converted two-point plays to narrow the gap to 23-31 with just three minutes remaining. But the Buckeyes controlled the clock expertly, sealing the victory with a late field goal.

Legends in the Stands

The game wasn’t just about the action on the field. NFL icons Joe Montana and Jerome Bettis, both Notre Dame alums, were on hand to support the Fighting Irish. Despite their storied careers—Montana’s four Super Bowl wins with the 49ers and Bettis’ Super Bowl XL victory with the Steelers—Notre Dame fell short of securing their 12th national championship.

Meanwhile, Ohio State added to their illustrious history, claiming their first title since 2014. Key performances from quarterback Will Howard (231 passing yards, two touchdowns) and running back Quinshon Judkins (100 rushing yards, two touchdowns) solidified their place as one of college football’s powerhouses.

With LeBron James and the Buckeye faithful celebrating in style, it was a night to remember for Ohio State fans everywhere.