Plus, more questions on whether the CFP format was a success, next year's rising teams and college football's longest season ever.

The Ohio State University Buckeyes are national champions after defeating Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday night. It was the first college football championship game played under the new 12-team format implemented this season.

A traditional superpower reasserts itself in the era of the 12-team playoff, conference realignment, the transfer portal, and paying athletes.

As much as Ohio State's passionate supporters — and some within the media — had written off Day, his family and his team never lost hope.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day, who faced criticism after the team's loss to Michigan, found his family after winning the national championship.