Ezekiel Elliot, Cardale Jones & Ohio State Buckeyes Win Over Oregon Ducks In Historic College Football Championship Game: ESPN Sets Cable Record For Viewers

Led by quarterback Cardale Jones and running back phenom Ezekiel Elliot, the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Oregon Ducks in the inaugural NCAA College Football Championship Game. The Buckeyes weren't the only winners in the huge 42-20 beatdown at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the game's broadcast on ESPN shattering cable viewership records. 33 million people tuned into the game, topping the 28 million viewers the College Football Playoff semifinals brought in on New Year's Day during the Rose and Sugar Bowls, meaning the three games in the brand new college football playoff format brought in the three highest cable broadcasts in history. Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota — expected to go first overall in the 2015 NFL draft — finishes his college career without a national title, as Buckeyes fans celebrated the first title of the College Football Playoff era.

Tonight, we made history. Congrats, Buckeyes! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/fcvc2cTtQm

— OhioState (@OhioState) January 13, 2015

As The Hollywood Reporter's Michael O'Connell says, "A record 33.3 million viewers tuned into ESPN's coverage of the Championship Game between Oregon and Ohio State. All told, the debut of the College Football Playoff format brought the three top programs in cable history." The playoff format was also praised for bringing a "human element" to college football.  

Adds The Hollywood Reporter, the ratings make for "an incredibly auspicious start to the cable network's landmark 12-year, $7.3 billion deal" with the NCAA to broadcast the new playoff format. They add that it helped finish off a year where ESPN "marked its first atop all other cable channels, besting every other network in primetime viewership and adults 18-49."

Ezekiel Elliot was unstoppable against Oregon. And so was OSU's offensive line. #CFBLive on ESPN pic.twitter.com/04TFxDuVwh

— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) January 13, 2015

As ESPN report, the Buckeyes were led by sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliot who also set records, rushing "for 246 yards and four touchdowns and won Offensive Player of the Game," in an inspirational performance.

Ezekiel Elliot: 246 rushing yards, 4 TD; most ever in Championship Game (since BCS era began)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 13, 2015

You didn't need to tell Ohio native LeBron James twice:

Feed the Beast!!!! #Zeke

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 13, 2015

Jones, a redshirt sophomore and the team's third string quarterback, threw for "242 yards and a touchdown," as well as "one interception that wasn't his fault and lost one fumble that definitely was."

Uproxx's Andy Issac says that Elliot in particular, was "damn near perfect" and that without him Ohio State "don't win the championship," while SB Nation's Rodger Sherman showcased Elliot's unique way of celebrating: by eating confetti.

The Ohio State win saw congratulatory tweets from John Legend:

O-H!!!!!!!!!!! GAME OVER!!!!!! So happy for my home state!

— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 13, 2015

LeBron — who took a private plane to the game reports Yahoo! — again:

On this bird celebrating a great night for OHIO!! THE Ohio State Buckeyes are National Champions!! #OH https://t.co/5MprbHcWPs

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 13, 2015

and even the Empire State building:

Congratulations to @OhioState! Our lights are in scarlet and grey for their #CFBChampionship win. #OREvsOSU pic.twitter.com/ssY2KSaeAa

— Empire State Bldg (@EmpireStateBldg) January 13, 2015

Congrats, Ohio State.

MT @OhioStAthletics: .@OSUCoachMeyer M8kes history for @OhioState with first @CFBPlayoff trophy. #GoBucks #OSUnews pic.twitter.com/81ZPVvlGae

— OhioState (@OhioState) January 13, 2015