A game-by-game look at how Ohio State advanced to the CFP Championship game

Coach: Ryan Day, 69-10 (six seasons)

Last national championship: 2014

Did you know: Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times (tied with Notre Dame and Oklahoma for second behind USC with 8): Les Horvath, 1944; Vic Janowicz, 1950; Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, 1955; Archie Griffin, 1974: Archie Griffin, 1975; Eddie George, 1995; Troy Smith, 2006.

Here’s a game-by-game look at the 2024 season for the Ohio State Buckeyes:

Game 1: Ohio State 52, Akron 6

In his first game as a Buckeye, quarterback Will Howard had three touchdown passes in the win over the Zips. It also was the first game for freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, who caught two of the three TD passes from the former Kansas State quarterback.

Game 2: Ohio State 56, Western Michigan 0

Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson each rushed for two touchdowns, and the offense had 683 total yards in the victory. The defense held Western Michigan to 99 yards of total offense.

Game 3: Ohio State 49, Marshall 14

Judkins, the former Ole Miss running back, rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Howard had a pair of long touchdown passes — 53 yards to Smith and 68 yards to Emeka Egbuka.

Game 4: Ohio State 38, Michigan State 7

The Buckeyes rolled past the Spartans in the Big Ten opener — also their first road game of the season. Smith had touchdowns rushing and receiving as the team finished with 483 yards of total offense.

Game 5: Ohio State 35, Iowa 7

Howard passed for four touchdowns and rushed for another in the home win over the Hawkeyes. The game was the final tuneup before the showdown against Oregon on the road.

Game 6: Oregon 32, Ohio State 31

In a battle of unbeaten teams, the Buckeyes fell short after missing out on an opportunity to score in the final seconds. Howard had two touchdown passes and a TD run in the loss.

Game 7: Ohio State 21, Nebraska 17

The Buckeyes bounced back from the Oregon loss with a come-from-behind win at home. Judkins’ 6-yard TD catch from Howard with 6:04 remaining sealed the victory.

Game 8: Ohio State 20, Penn State 13

The Buckeyes recovered after falling behind 10-0 to stun the Nittany Lions on the road. Jayden Fielding had two field goals and Howard had a pair of TD passes in the win.

Game 9: Ohio State 45, Purdue 0

The defense held the Boilermakers to 206 yards of total offense and recorded its first Big Ten shutout of the season. Another superb performance for Howard — three touchdown passes and a TD run — in the win.

Game 10: Ohio State 31, Northwestern 7

Judkins had a pair of one-yard TD runs and Carnell Tate had one of his two TD catches in a 21-0 second-quarter blitz that helped the Buckeyes pull away for the win. The defense held the Wildcats to 50 yards rushing on 30 attempts, which included four quarterback sacks.

Game 11: Ohio State 38, Indiana 15

The Hoosiers were unbeaten entering the game, and grabbed a quick 7-0 lead before the Buckeyes took over. After taking a 14-7 halftime lead, a 79-yard punt return TD by Caleb Downs early in the third quarter sparked OSU to the convincing win.

Game 12: Michigan 13, Ohio State 10

A late field goal by the visiting Wolverines was the difference in the stunning home loss for the Buckeyes. The loss ended OSU’s hopes of returning to the Big Ten championship game.

Game 13: Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17

Howard threw two touchdown passes to Smith while Judkins and Henderson rushed for two touchdowns apiece in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It was the first college football game played in December in 102-year-old Ohio Stadium.

Game 14: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21

Smith and Howard connected on two touchdown passes during a 34-point first half as the Buckeyes overwhelmed the Ducks in the Rose Bowl. Egbuka also caught a long TD pass and Henderson had a 66-yard TD run as OSU won and advanced to the national semifinals.

Game 15: Ohio State 28, Texas 14

Jack Sawyer stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers — his former roommate — and returned the fumble 83 yards for the clinching touchdown in the Cotton Bowl win over the Longhorns, giving the Buckeyes a shot at their sixth AP national title.