The 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes may not be playing football today, but their star running backs, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, are still making waves as the team’s legendary run to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship remains a hot topic. Let’s dive into how Henderson and Judkins powered Ohio State to the 2024 CFP title and cemented their place in Buckeye lore.
Henderson and Judkins were the engine of Ohio State’s offense all season, a two-headed monster that defenses couldn’t stop. Against Marshall, they combined for 238 rushing yards and three touchdowns, with Henderson breaking off a 40-yard score and Judkins bulldozing for two short-yardage TDs. That game was a microcosm of their season—Henderson’s speed and elusiveness paired with Judkins’ bruising power gave the Buckeyes a ground game that averaged 5.8 yards per carry, tops in the Big Ten. Henderson finished the year with 1,342 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Judkins, a transfer from Ole Miss, added 1,287 yards and 15 scores, earning both first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Their impact went beyond the stats. In the CFP, Ohio State leaned heavily on the duo to control the clock and wear down opponents. In the quarterfinal against No. 2 Texas, Henderson and Judkins combined for 189 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Buckeyes pull away in a 34-27 win. The semifinal against No. 1 Oregon was a showcase—Judkins ran for 142 yards and a score, including a 28-yard TD that sealed a 41-34 victory. By the time Ohio State faced No. 3 Penn State in the National Championship on January 20, 2025, the formula was clear: feed Henderson and Judkins. They delivered again, racking up 211 combined yards and three touchdowns in a 38-24 rout, securing Ohio State’s ninth national title and first since 2014.
What made Henderson and Judkins so lethal was their complementary styles. Henderson, a senior, was the home-run hitter—his 8.1 yards per carry led the team, and he had six runs of 40-plus yards, including a 75-yarder against Michigan that flipped the game in Ohio State’s 31-28 win. Judkins, a junior, was the thunder, excelling between the tackles with a knack for breaking tackles; he led the team with 62 forced missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus. Together, they gave quarterback Will Howard—who threw for 3,214 yards and 28 touchdowns—the perfect balance to keep defenses guessing. Howard’s play-action fakes off their runs opened up the passing game for receivers like Jeremiah Smith, who hauled in 82 catches for 1,312 yards.
Ohio State’s 2024 run was a masterclass in physical football, and Henderson and Judkins were the heart of it. The Buckeyes finished 13-2, with their only losses coming to Oregon in the regular season and a stunning upset to Michigan in November. But they avenged both in the CFP, with Henderson and Judkins combining for 392 yards across those rematches. Their dominance earned them a permanent spot in Ohio State history—fans still talk about that Marshall game, where they set the tone for a championship season. As the Buckeyes gear up for 2025, Henderson’s off to the NFL, but Judkins is back, ready to keep the ground game rolling. Ohio State’s title run showed the nation what a dynamic duo can do—and TreVeyon and Quinshon are still the talk of Columbus.
