Ohio State’s Game-Sealing Field Goal Brought Joy, Pain to Bettors

Ohio State Buckeyes place kicker Jayden Fielding (38) reacts after making a field goal against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Jayden Fielding's 33-yard field goal for Ohio State with 26 seconds left sealed a national championship victory for the Buckeyes. It also sealed the fate of bettors around the country.

Ohio State entered Monday night's game as an 8.5-point favorite. When Fielding converted his first field goal of the game, a 46-yarder midway through the third quarter, Ohio State bets looked as good as cashed as the Buckeyes lead grew to 31–7. Notre Dame stormed back, however, cutting the lead to eight after a remarkable touchdown pass from Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard to Jaden Greathouse and a trick play two-point conversion with 4:15 left in the game.

With some questionable clock management on Ohio State's ensuing possession, it looked as if Notre Dame might get one last shot to send the game to overtime, when the Buckeyes dialed up a third-and-long deep ball to superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who faced single coverage as the Fighting Irish loaded the box. The 56-yard pass from Will Howard ultimately set up Fielding's kick, which pushed the Buckeyes lead to 11, securing the win and a cover for fans with their money on Ohio State and a rough loss for those backing the Irish.

Tough beat for #NotreDame spread backers.

A last min FG allows #OhioState to cover the -8.5 spread.

34-23 Final

Ohio State are National Champions! #CFPNationalChampionship #ohiostatebuckeyes pic.twitter.com/GDgDjGqTKO
— HotTakes (@hottakes_app) January 21, 2025

That was a big FG for some of us
— Mike Craven (@CravenMike) January 21, 2025

THE OHIO STATE (-8.5) KICK IS GOOD. THAT'S THE COVER PLAY.

Significant to MANY 😂 pic.twitter.com/XZ1Vuzy9Cc
— br_betting (@br_betting) January 21, 2025

OHIO STATE COVERING SPREADS 💯 💯
— LeSean Shady Mccoy (@CutonDime25) January 21, 2025

This will be a bruuuutal +8.5 bad beat.
— Jake Brown (@JakeBrownRadio) January 21, 2025

I feel for Notre Dame +8.5 bettors
Absolute bad beat
— Izaak Mike (@MikeBBN) January 21, 2025

Notre Dame had covered 11 consecutive games entering Monday night's game, per MGM. While an eight or 11-point loss certainly makes no difference to those on the Fighting Irish sideline, the bad beat was definitely a bit of salt on the wound for plenty of fans.