When Notre Dame faces Ohio State in the first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff, the Fighting Irish will aim to end a two-game drought. The first and most important thing is that it has been 36 years since they last won the title of this game.
But since 1936, the Notre Dame team has defeated the Buckeyes. With Ohio State passing through Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas on the way to Atlanta, this version of the red and gray seems to have peaked at the right time.
Reducing Bucks isn’t easy, but it’s certainly not impossible. Three keys could determine Notre Dame’s chances at the national championship on Monday.
Play Like “Nothing to Lose” in the Red Zone
Jack Sawyer’s sack and subsequent scoop-and-score buried Texas in the Cotton Bowl, sealing Ohio State’s berth in the National Championship Game in the process. But that moment was just a reflection of the red defensive style played by the Buckeyes throughout the campaign.
With only 15 touchdowns allowed in 36 opponents’ red zone trips this season, Ohio State’s 41.7% punt yield is second among all FBS defenses. The only better red zone defense was Penn State’s at 41.5%, with 17 touchdowns scored on 41 red-zone opportunities.
Two of those red zone touchdowns came courtesy of Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. Riley Leonard’s 3-yard field goal early in the third quarter went 75 yards and served as the spark the Fighting Irish desperately needed after scoring just three points in the first half.
“You have nothing to lose. You’ve already made it this far,’” is how Leonard described Irish coach Marcus Freeman’s message. “‘You can’t live without regrets as long as you go out and play your game, let the ball roll.’
Jeremiah Love likewise went 71 yards for a touchdown. These possessions ended in an emphatic way Notre Dame left the board in its playoff-opening win over Indiana, which could have made that victory lopsided.
Against Ohio State, every scoring opportunity is precious. The Irish can’t get inside the 20 and not come away with seven points. In that, they have all the losses in the red zone.
At the same time, that message of playing without losing anything against Ohio State’s talented defense will be key for Notre Dame to capitalize on opportunities.
Create Takeaways
December 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Joshua Burnham (40) and cornerback Leonard Moore (15) tackle Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Myles Price (4) during the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Matt Cashore-Imagn Notre Dame has excelled all season in turnover production. The Fighting Irish are averaging a plus-1.13 turnover per game, which ranks fifth in the FBS before Monday’s National Championship Game. They will close out the season with the nation’s highest number of possessions, regardless of whether they force anywhere against Ohio State.
“This just goes to show what we do as a defense…being able to get up in big moments and stop when we need to,” said quarterback Leonard Moore.
Coming up with big stops for Notre Dame often equates to generating turnovers. Against Ohio State, the magic number would be two.
Simply winning the turnover battle was not the way to beat the Buccaneers. They came out with an awful lot of turnovers when they eliminated Tennessee in the first round of the playoffs, for example.
However, of Ohio State’s five turnovers this season, two have come in losses to Oregon and Michigan.
Fighting Irish fans may be upset when their team is asked to mimic the rival Wolverines, but Michigan coming back with both against Ohio State with Will Howard’s interception gives the Golden Domers a blueprint.
Notre Dame’s dominant turnover generation begins with its deep and talented secondary, which boasts a variety of pass-catching ability. Moore is one of four Irish defenders who have made the most selections this season, a quartet led by Xavier Watts’ six.
The line between crossing the route and pursuing a block and opening up one of Ohio State’s elite, big-play receivers to make a devastating catch is very narrow. Notre Dame also needs strong pressure on Howard from its front seven, which is key to the Irish’s third straight national championship.
A new face is coming up in a very big place
Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills (99) is helped off the field during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend . PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES. Injuries are an inevitable reality of football, especially in a season as long as an unprecedented streak that ends Monday at Notre Dame and Ohio State. On the road to Atlanta, however, the Fighting Irish endured a rash of injuries that could have derailed their season earlier.
Both lines have been particularly challenged, with the defensive unit losing Jordan Bothelo in September, the talented Boubacar Traore in October, and Rylie Mills in the first round win over Indiana.
The return of Howard Cross III inside provided much needed relief. Filling in for Mills, veteran Gabriel Rubio had two of his most productive games in the Sugar and Orange Bowl wins over Georgia and Penn State.
Now it’s the offensive line’s turn to step up to the final stage. Freeman announced that Anthony Knapp is out. Redshirt freshman Charles Jagusah could be the most important part of the Irish offense against Ohio State’s defense along with edge rusher JT Tuimoloau, who boasts nearly 20 tackles for loss on the season.