5-star signee Tavien St. Clair shares 3-word reaction to Ohio State's Natty win against Notre Dame

Ohio State’s thrilling 34–23 victory over Notre Dame in the 2025 College Football Playoff national championship ignited national celebrations. Among the notable reactions was that from five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair.

On Tuesday on Instagram, St. Clair posted a photo of the Buckeyes hoisting the championship trophy amid a cascade of confetti and captioned it:

“More to come.”

Image via IG@tavienstclair

This national title marks Ohio State’s first since 2014 and a crowning achievement for coach Ryan Day, who silenced critics after enduring scrutiny following a fourth consecutive loss to Michigan in November.

The Buckeyes, seeded No. 8, became just the fifth team in the AP poll era to secure a national championship without a conference title. Quarterback Will Howard played a pivotal role, delivering two touchdown passes while completing 14 of his first 15 throws.

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s strategic play-calling exploited gaps in a Notre Dame defense that had allowed an average of only 14.3 points per game—the second-best in the country—heading into the final.

Notre Dame struck first with a grueling 18-play drive led by quarterback Riley Leonard, who ran the ball nine times before exhaustion forced him to vomit on the sidelines.

However, Ohio State responded with an unprecedented feat, scoring touchdowns on its first four drives—a record in national championship history. Running back Quinshon Judkins was instrumental, recording three touchdowns to establish a commanding lead.

Ohio State’s title triumph, a rallying call for future recruits

Just 51 days after enduring the toughest loss of his coaching career, Ryan Day led the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes to their first national title in a decade.

"The story gets to get told now," Day said, via ESPN. "It's a great story about a bunch of guys who have overcome some really tough situations. There was a point where there was a lot of people that counted us out, and we just kept swinging and kept fighting. It's the reason you get into coaching, to see guys overcome things, learn life lessons and then reach their dreams. This is what happened tonight."

Ohio State dominated early, leading 31–7 by the third quarter. However, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard ignited a late rally. Leonard’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse, followed by a 2-point conversion to Jeremiyah Love, closed the gap to 31–15.

Minutes later, Leonard connected with Greathouse again for 30 yards, and a 2-point trick play reduced the deficit to 31–23 with just over four minutes left. As February’s signing day nears, Ohio State boasts the fourth-ranked recruiting class in 2025, trailing only Texas, Alabama and Georgia and leading the Big Ten.

Following its third national title since 2002, Ohio State faces a roster overhaul, but key talent remains. Five-star QB and Alabama transfer Julian Sayin is expected to lead the offense, throwing to FBS’s top receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Transfers CJ Donaldson Jr. (RB) and Max Klare (TE) bolster the roster, while RB Quinshon Judkins' potential return could elevate the offense further. The defense will rely on younger players to step up, but the return of Downs offers stability.