Ohio State is celebrating a national championship that leads due to a change and a bye

Ohio State, the first team to start a four-game losing streak en route to National titlethey celebrated with 30,000 booke fans on Sunday at Ohio Stadium.

Fans braved 30-degree temperatures to welcome home a team that defeated five top-10 rivals en route to the title, including Oregon in RoseTexas in Cotton bowl and Notre Dame at College Playoff Championship Game.

“Everyone should have become national champions, and today we say thank you,” said coach Ryan Dan.

Ohio State was the first to win the inaugural four-team playoff a decade ago and became the first to win the 12-team version.

It did so by dominating the mod, last in just 6 minutes, 5 seconds over 240 minutes of playback and beating every opponent with double stats.

The team is also covered in criticism from a regular-season loss to rival Michigan, which generated calls for removal day.

Among those who addressed the crowd Sunday was defensive end Jack Sawyer, whose scoop-and-score on the Waning score from the Texas game is now part of Buckeyes lore.

“What I love about this team is it really embodies what it’s like to be from Ohio,” said Sawyer, who is from Pickerington, Ohio. “You beat yourself up, always pick yourself up and keep fighting. That’s what everybody in Ohio does and will continue to do.”

The celebration also marked a time of change. Just after athletic director Ross Bjork said he was working on a package to make Bukeyes day coach “for years to come,” reports surfaced that defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was headed to Penn State.

Thirteen of 22 starters for the playoffs. And those vying for an NFL roster spot include quarterback Wille Howard, Sawyer and his fellow captains: wide receiver Emeka Egbuk, running back Treeyon Henderson and linebacker Cody Simon.

Players leaving the draft team early include running back Quinshon Judkins and cornerback. Jordan Hancock.

The Bukeyeses, however, were hit with blanks.

RedShirt Freshman Quarterback Julian Sayin is expected to take over from Howard and will have top targets with star receiver Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate expected to return. Ohio State also picked up former West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson from the transfer portal and former Purmoue Stick Max Klare.

All-American Safety Caleb Falls is not draft eligible, and veteran defensive ends Sonny Styles and Davison Igbinosun have announced they will return in 2025.