Ohio State coach Ryan Day is hugging players with confetti falling overhead. His Buckeyes, who beat Notre Dame 34-23 Monday to win the national title, have cemented their place in program history. The coach himself has stamped an Urban Meyer seal onto his John Cooper-esque resume.

Then, for the biggest play of the game, Notre Dame decided to leave Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on an island. It was third and 12 and the Fighting Irish would get the ball back with a stop with a chance to tie the game. Smith completely burned his defender and he was wide open for a huge gain, and he iced the game.