It wasn’t always pretty, but Ohio State Club Football punched its ticket to its sixth-straight national championship game on Sunday in Columbus.
In a game marred by turnovers, penalties and ejections, the Buckeyes managed to turn a 28-3 halftime advantage into a 49-9 win over Michigan State, clinching their sixth straight conference championship title.
Despite three offensive turnovers and another on special teams, Ohio State’s offensive line paved the way to victory. The Buckeye offense churned out a season-best 375 yards on the ground, including 162 from quarterback Niko Pappas, whose 70-yard touchdown run proved to be the highlight of the afternoon. Pappas, who has now accounted for 37 total touchdowns in seven games, is three touchdowns away from breaking the NCFA single-season touchdown record which is held by former George Mason quarterback Chase Soper, who accounted for 39 in 2021. Pappas is tied with Kellyn Gerenstein – who was in attendance on Sunday – for the Ohio State program record for single-season touchdowns. Gerenstein accounted for 37 touchdowns in seven games in 2022.
Running backs Milan Jackson, Ethan Young and Lucas Fenstermaker combined to carry 24 times for 197 and two scores while Pappas completed 12 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns with Ricardo Washington and Desean Bonte hauling in two scores apiece. Washington finished the day with four receptions for 60 yards while both of Bonte’s receptions went for touchdowns as he finished with 50 yards receiving. Senior Charlie Harlow led the team in catches and yardage on the day, pulling in five passes for 80 yards.
Although Ohio State fumbled three times and threw a first-quarter interception, the Buckeye defense was stifling all afternoon. Michigan State’s first three points game after the Buckeyes muffed a punt return and the Spartans lone touchdown of the day came late in the fourth quarter with a majority of defensive substitutes in the game.
The Ohio State defense surrendered just 91 total yards of offense, and posted 13 tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Tyler Beckman led all players with nine total tackles while Christian Allen posted six tackles, including 3.5 for loss. The secondary also had multiple elite performances as freshmen Jackson Gula and Tommy Roberts III combined for 10 total tackles and seven pass breakups.
Two Michigan State assistant coaches were ejected by the officials for arguing calls while Ohio State had two touchdowns and an interception called back due to penalties. The game was called off with 30 seconds remaining in the contest due to a severe injury suffered by a Michigan State player.
With the win, Ohio State clinches its sixth straight NCFA National Championship appearance. The Buckeyes are 3-2 all-time in the title game, winning in 2019, 2021 and 2024. Ohio State is set to take on undefeated Coppin State, winners of the Mid-Atlantic Conference. The Eagles have two national titles in their trophy case, as they went back-to-back in 2012-13. It will be the first national championship game appearance for Coppin State since 2013.
The 2025 NCFA National Championship Game is set for Saturday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. in the Toledo Glass Bowl. For more information, please visit the NCFA National Championship Game webpage.
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