Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531388
62 FEBRUARY 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: OHIO STATE C O L L E G E F O O T B A L L P L A Y O F F BY KYLE KELLY OHIO STATE RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Last offseason, Ohio State went big-game hunt- ing in the NCAA transfer portal. Despite returning a 2023 first-team All-Big Ten running back, senior TreVeyon Henderson, the Buckeyes targeted and signed former Ole Miss run- ning back Quinshon Judkins. He was a first-team all-conference selection last season in his own right, but in the SEC. Judkins entered the transfer portal after his sophomore season in 2023. The Pike Road (Ala.) High product's prowess was reflected in his On3 Transfer Portal Ranking, slot- ting as the No. 2 running back and No. 14 overall player available. With Henderson and Judkins in the backfield, pundits projected the Buckeyes would have one of the best rushing attacks in college football in 2024. However, that has not been the case. Of the 133 FBS teams, Ohio State's rushing offense is No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 53 in the nation, with 169.0 rushing yards per game. After the regular season, the conference's coaches named Henderson and Judkins All-Big Ten third team — a demotion from last year's recognition. Henderson has 925 yards and 10 touchdowns on 126 carries, while Judkins has 924 yards and 10 scores on 174 attempts. Multiple injuries on the Buckeyes' offensive line contributed to their strain. On Oct. 12, against Oregon, starting left tackle Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending left knee injury. Then, on Nov. 19, first-team All-Big Ten center Seth McLaughlin rup- tured his Achilles tendon, ending his year. Both Simmons (San Diego State) and McLaughlin (Alabama) were transfer portal acquisitions in the 2023 and 2024 offseasons. Because of the injuries, Ohio State had to re- shuffle its offensive line, moving first-team All-Big Ten guard Donovan Jackson to left tackle. They also reinserted junior Carson Hinzman at center after he had lost his starting job to McLaughlin before the season. Sophomore Austin Siereveld — a for- mer Notre Dame recruiting target — took over for Jackson at left guard. Ohio State's injuries came to a head when they tried to beat Michigan on Nov. 30 with their physi- cal brand of football. Instead, they ended up gain- ing just 77 yards on 26 carries. The injury bug has similarly plagued Notre Dame's defensive front. The Irish lost starting three-tech defensive tackle Rylie Mills for the sea- son in the Indiana game Dec. 20. Also, graduate student nose tackle Howard Cross III, a preseason All-American, has been battling an ankle injury. He missed three games in November because of it. Still, Al Golden's defense has done all that's asked of it, holding teams to 127.9 yards per game on the ground, good for 34th in the nation. Against Georgia in the CFP semifinal, they held the Bull- dogs to 62 yards on 29 carries. Like Ohio State's rushing offense, Notre Dame's rushing defense is not an overarching strength. Both teams are comparable in that department, so neither has a true edge. Advantage: Even OHIO STATE PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE There might not be a better wide receiver in col- lege football than Jeremiah Smith. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder has taken the sport by storm during his freshman campaign, catching 70 passes for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is so talented that NFL Draft experts have said the former five-star recruit would be a top-five pick if he were draft-eligible this offseason. Smith is an absolute freak, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. Then, the Buckeyes have senior Emeka Egbuka to complement him. If he had entered the NFL Draft last offseason, he might have come off the board on Day 2. Last season, he had his best game against Notre Dame, catching 7 passes for 96 yards. This year, he has 70 catches for 896 yards and 10 scores. Ohio State's third wide receiver is a former Notre Dame recruiting target, Carnell Tate. He has hauled in 43 catches for 611 yards and 4 touchdowns. That output would lead all Irish wide receivers this season. Senior TreVeyon Henderson and junior Quinshon Judkins (above) form a potent one-two punch at running back for Ohio State, combining for 1,849 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground through 14 contests. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE On PaPer