IT’S SAFE TO say that not many people saw this one coming.
Underdogs Ohio State made history by clinching the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship with a 42-20 win against the Oregon Ducks and their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Marcus Mariota.
The defeat may be Mariota’s last in college football. The 21-year-old, who is one of the most talked-about prospects in America, has until Thursday to decide if he will declare for this year’s NFL Draft.
But Monday night in Dallas belonged to the Buckeyes and to running back Ezekiel Elliott in particular. He rushed for a record 246 yards and four touchdowns as Ohio State clinched the crown in front of a 85,689 crowd.
It could have been even more one-sided but for four Buckeyes’ turnovers. Third-string quarterback Cardale Jones threw an interception but also passed for 242 yards and a touchdown as well as running in a touchdown himself from a yard late in the first half.
This was the first championship game under the new playoff system which saw the top four seeded teams meet in semi-finals with the winners progressing to the decider in AT&T Stadium. Ohio State, who were a slightly contentious pick as the fourth and final seed, are now the champions.
The win was coach Urban Meyer’s third in the national championship game to add to the titles won at Florida.
