In 2024, the NCFA once again hosted a 4 team playoff leading to the National Championship which included 3 conference champs plus a Wild Card (determined via the power rankings) to fill out the field of playoff teams.
View the 2024 NCFA Post Season Bracket HERE.
The 2024 NCFA Playoffs would once again be hosted at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, OH. The games would feature two lopsided victories as top seeded Ohio State knocked off the Wild Card Coppin State in the opener by a score of 52 to 0. The night cap followed with #2 Clayton State defeating #3 George Mason 66 to 20 to set the stage for the National Championship Game.
The 2024 NCFA National Championship Bowl Game was set for a match up between #1 Ohio State against #2 Clayton State for the title. The matchup would mark OSU’s 4th straight title game appearance and Clayton State would get their first taste of National Championship action. However Clayton State would have a unique caveat… their Head Coach [Kevin Adkins] lead Central GA Tech to the National Championship over OSU just one year earlier.
The Lakers would get off to a dominant start jumping out to a 13-0 lead on a 9 yard TD pass from Sire Hardaway to Savion West, followed by a screen pass from Hardaway to Pacer Kincaid who would go 70 yards for another Lakers TD. This time the PAT would be no good on a bad snap. Ohio State would punch in their first score of the game late in the 2nd quarter when TE Aidan Donovan would take the direct snap from the wildcat formation and run it in from 2 yards out. 13-7 would be the score in favor of the Clayton State Lakers headed into half time.
The Buckeyes momentum would carry into the 3rd quarter. The Lakers would turn the ball over for the 4th time on the day when they fumbled the ball deep in their own territory setting up the Buckeyes inside the 5 of Clayton State. Once again TE Aidan Donovan would take the direct snap and run it in from 3 yards out to tie the game at 13 when the PAT hits the upright.
The game would remain knotted deep into the 4th quarter when once again Mr. Wildcat [Aidan Donovan] took the snap and ran in his 3rd TD from 4 yards out. The made extra point would give the Buckeyes their first lead of the day at 20-13. But Clayton State wasn’t done… With just under 2 mins left in the game, Hardaway (on his own 40 yd line) would use his arm to orchestrate a drive to give his team a chance at the comeback. The Lakers would get the ball down to the 2 with first and goal with 30 sec left. But the Buckeyes defense would stand tall with a goal line stand on 4th and 2 to secure the win by a final score of 20-13.
View the 2024 NCFA National Championship Bowl Game Broadcast HERE.
View the 2024 NCFA National Championship Bowl Game Photos HERE.
Aidan Donovan took home the MVP award at the 2024 NCFA National Title game with his play at Tight-End. He would rush for all 3 of Ohio State’s touchdowns leading the Buckeyes to their 3rd NCFA National Title.