When the Ohio State football team walked off the field on Nov. 30, having lost a fourth straight game to Michigan, none of this seemed possible. In that moment, it didn’t seem possible the Buckeyes would even make it to Atlanta.

Coach Ryan Day shushed the critics, running back Quinshon Judkins scored three touchdowns, and the No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes held off a furious second-half rally to beat No. 7 seed Notre Dame, 34-23,