After a long college football season, only two teams remain. The Ohio State Buckeyes (13-2) will play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-1) in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship. The Buckeyes are favored by more than a touchdown over the Irish. Where does that rank historically? Check out the list of the biggest spreads in the history of the national championship game.
Biggest College Football National Championship Game Spreads
| Year | Matchup | Spread | Cover/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2023
|
Georgia vs. TCU
|
UGA -14
|
✅ UGA by 58
|
|
2003
|
Miami vs. Ohio State
|
Miami -11.5
|
❌ OSU by 7
|
|
2001
|
Florida State vs. Oklahoma
|
FSU -11.5
|
❌ OU by 11
|
|
2013
|
Alabama vs. Notre Dame
|
Bama -10
|
✅ Bama by 28
|
|
2021
|
Alabama vs. Ohio State
|
Bama -9.5
|
✅ Bama by 28
|
|
2025
|
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
|
OSU -8.5
|
TBD
|
|
2014
|
Florida State vs. Auburn
|
FSU -8.5
|
✅ FSU by 3
|
|
2002
|
Miami vs. Nebraska
|
Miami -8.5
|
✅ Miami by 23
|
Ohio State opened as a 9.5-point favorite against Notre Dame. Since then, that number has come down to 8.5. Still, that’s one of the largest spreads in national championship game history, via The Athletic.
You don’t have to travel far back for the biggest spread in national championship game history. The Georgia Bulldogs were 14-point favorites over the TCU Horned Frogs in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship. Georgia covered with ease, winning 65-7.
Ohio State pulled off one of the greatest upsets in college football history. In the 2003 National Championship, Miami was favored by 11.5 points over the Buckeyes. Led by freshman star Maurice Clarett, the Buckeyes defeated the Hurricanes 31-24 in double overtime, snapping Miami’s 34-game win streak.
The last time Notre Dame played in the National Championship, they were 10-point underdogs to Alabama in 2013. The Crimson Tide dominated the Irish in a 42-14 victory.
Ohio State also found themselves on the wrong side of an Alabama beatdown, losing 52-24 in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame History
And here’s Ryan Day fired up over Lou Holtz: pic.twitter.com/kYkGAn5BAt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2023
Ohio State enters the game with a 6-2 career record against Notre Dame.
The Irish last defeated the Buckeyes in 1936. Ohio State has won six straight against the Irish dating back to 1995.
Ryan Day has a 2-0 advantage over Marcus Freeman.
Ohio State famously won their 2023 matchup against Notre Dame by scoring a touchdown with one second left on the clock. It also led to a bizarre rant by Day, who criticized Notre Dame legend Lou Holtz after the Hall of Fame coach pointed out the Irish’s physicality advantage over the Buckeyes.
| Year | Score |
|---|---|
|
1935
|
Notre Dame 18, Ohio State 13
|
|
1936
|
Notre Dame 7, Ohio State 2
|
|
1995
|
Ohio State 45, Notre Dame 26
|
|
1996
|
Ohio State 29, Notre Dame 16 |
|
2006
|
Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20 |
|
2016
|
Ohio State 44, Notre Dame 28 |
|
2022
|
Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10 |
|
2023
|
Ohio State 17, Notre Dame 14 |
