Showdown Time: Notre Dame – Ohio State : Lebron James , Chase Young, Justin Fields, Zeke & Joe Burrow

One of the most anticipated regular season matches that each team has played in a while took place between Notre Dame and Ohio State on Saturday night. Despite their close proximity, this was only their seventh encounter overall, with Ohio State now holding a 5-2 advantage after winning the last five.

Although the final result wasn’t what Notre Dame supporters had hoped for, many positive things also occurred. Regardless of the outcome, it was a remarkable evening in Columbus as two of college football’s elite players faced off.

Ohio State Performance Summarized

Ohio State (1-0) had an offensively uncharacteristically slow first half, scoring only one touchdown and trailing 10-7 at the break. Top wide receiver and Heisman Trophy candidate Jaxon Smith-early Njigba’s injury and subsequent absence from most of the second half didn’t help.

Instead of Smith-Njigba, Xavier Johnson, a fifth-year walk-on, gave the Buckeyes a boost late in the third quarter. Johnson’s 24-yard touchdown reception on a seam pattern through the middle finished off a 10-play, 70-yard drive.

In the fourth quarter, they then let the football lose all of its air. With 11:57 remaining, they started a drive that they completed in 14 plays for a 95-yard gain and a 2-yard touchdown rush by Miyan Williams.

Notre Dame Performance Summarized

Once again in possession of the ball, Notre Dame (1-0) went three-and-out, with quarterback Tyler Buchner being sacked by Mike Hall for a loss of 11 yards. With 3:42 left, the Fighting Irish punted 75 yards, but they never got the ball back as the Buckeyes ran out the clock.

In 2021, Ohio State’s defence struggled, which was a major factor in its defeats by Oregon and Michigan. However, the defensive unit significantly improved in its first game under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, limiting Notre Dame to just 253 total yards and 72 in the second half. Tommy Eichenberg recorded three tackles for loss, including two sacks, and Hall recorded two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, and a sack.

TreVeyon Henderson and Williams, two running backs, carried the ball 35 times for a combined 172 yards. Another Heisman candidate, C.J. Stroud, completed 24 of his 34 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

In his debut game as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback, Tyler Buchner completed 10 of 18 passes for 177 yards while also rushing 11 times for 18 yards. On 30 carries, the Fighting Irish gained 76 yards and a touchdown.

Given that Ohio State is currently riding a four-game winning streak, this is only the sixth match between the two teams overall and the first in Columbus, Ohio, since 1995. It’s not surprising that several recognizable faces were seen, especially those with connections to the local team, as both programs often send a large number of players to the NFL.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Ohio State Buckeyes | Full Game Highlights

 

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