Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM FEBRUARY 2025 63 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 Smith, Egbuka and Tate have helped the Buck- eyes compile the nation's No. 29 passing game at 263.4 yards per outing. All-Big Ten third-team quarterback Will Howard is the distributor, com- pleting 268 of 369 passes for 3,490 yards with 32 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Even though Ohio State has superstars at wide receiver, Notre Dame can match that star power in the secondary. There might not be a better safety in college football than Irish graduate student Xavier Watts. Opposing teams have tried to target the reigning Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner 30 times but have completed only 16 passes for 157 yards. He's swat- ted down 3 passes, intercepted 6 more and has not allowed a touchdown. The Irish also have a fantastic freshman in Leon- ard Moore. The Round Rock (Texas) High graduate has lessened the loss of preseason All-American Benjamin Morrison by putting together a Fresh- man All-America campaign. While Moore has sur- rendered 2 touchdowns, he also has 2 intercep- tions and 6 passes broken up. Of the 48 times he's been targeted, Moore has given up just 22 catches for 266 yards. Then, Notre Dame has two sophomore starters with NFL potential in cornerback Christian Gray and safety Adon Shuler. Starting nickel Jordan Clark has been an excellent acquisition out of Arizona State. The graduate student nickel has allowed only 1 touchdown and 28 receptions for 274 yards on the 47 times teams have targeted him. As a unit, Notre Dame's passing defense ranks No. 5 nationally by holding teams to 167.4 passing yards per game. Its team passing efficiency is the country's best at 99.88. Though Ohio State's team stats might not be as attractive as Notre Dame's, it still poses one of college football's toughest matchups. But so does Al Golden's defensive backfield. The Buckeyes did have 240 and 223 yards in the last two seasons against Al Golden's defense. But this year, they have Smith. It's a slight edge, but he gives Ohio State the upper hand. Advantage: Ohio State NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. OHIO STATE RUN DEFENSE What can the Irish expect from Jeremiyah Love in the national championship game? Notre Dame's sophomore running back re-aggra- vated a regular-season knee injury against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, causing him to miss most of the second half. He finished with a season-low 19 rushing yards in that quarterfinal game and failed to score a touchdown for the first time this year. The Irish also have junior Jadarian Price, who offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said would be the lead back on most teams. The 5-foot-10, 206-pound Price is third in the nation in yards after contact per carry with 4.69. He has 110 carries for 720 yards and 7 touchdowns this year. Meanwhile, Notre Dame still has one of the best rushing quarterbacks in college football in senior Riley Leonard. On 148 carries, Leonard is up to Staff Predictions Todd D. Burlage: Ohio State 28, Notre Dame 24 This isn't necessarily a longstanding rivalry, but there is some recent history brewing between Notre Dame and Ohio State. These two blue bloods played a home-and-home series in 2022-23, with the Buckeyes winning both hard-fought games — 21-10 in '22 and 17-14 in '23. So, here they are, ready to meet for a third straight season. Notre Dame (14-1) has made it to the title game with a solid run game on offense that ranks 14th nationally at 210.7 yards per game and an opportunistic defense that forced 32 turnovers and parlayed those takeaways into 151 points, easily the best mark in the nation. The Irish are also tied for the na- tional lead with 6 defensive touchdowns. Ohio State (13-2) counters with a stingy defense of its own that allowed only 12.1 points a game — the nation's best mark — before the CFP semifinal against Texas. Playing as well as any team in the country, the Buckeyes make good on their fourth playoff appearance in the last six seasons and win their ninth national championship. Steve Downey: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 20 Reports of the Buckeyes' demise were greatly exaggerated, it seems. It was easy to dismiss their national title hopes after that demoralizing 13-10 defeat at the hands of an inferior Michigan team in their regular-season finale. As it turns out, we have the Wolverines to thank for awakening a sleeping giant that was once thought to be the best team that money could buy. Spurred on by the motivation of erasing that embarrassing setback to Michigan — much in the same way the Irish did with their loss to Northern Illinois Sept. 7 — Ohio State has strung together three impressive playoff victories to reach college football's biggest stage. Notre Dame has been impressive in its own right, but in a much different way, grinding out victories over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State. However, with freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith transforming into Julio Jones 2.0 in front of our eyes during the CFP, I believe the Buckeyes have too much firepower for the Irish to overcome. It was a great run, but one that will fall one game short of a national title. Tyler Horka: Notre Dame 28, Ohio State 24 I don't like Notre Dame's ability to get into a shootout against Ohio State and live to tell about it, but if the Fighting Irish defense keeps this game in the 20s then a path to victory is in plain sight. That side of the ball will need to make some plays against an offense as talented as Ohio State's. Heck, the Irish defense needed game-altering plays to beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl. This'll be no different, and, if anything, it'll be even more imperative. Be it Christian Gray or Leonard Moore or Xavier Watts on the back end or someone from the front seven, there will be a defensive standout that enables Notre Dame to win its first national championship since 1988. Kyle Kelly: Notre Dame 27, Ohio State 26 How can you pick against this team? It's clear that something magical in South Bend is happening this season and the only way for it to end would be with Notre Dame ending its national championship drought in historic fashion. The Irish haven't beaten the Buckeyes since 1936. They've had their chances but just haven't been able to get to done. No matter how unbeatable the Buckeyes have looked this postseason, I just don't have it in me to pick them against Notre Dame. Give me the Irish by one — just enough to bring the national championship trophy back to South Bend for the first time in 37 years. Jack Soble: Ohio State 27, Notre Dame 23 Before you bring out the pitchforks, just know that in 28 games so far on the beat, the Irish are 3-0 when I pick against them. So, in a way, you're welcome. There's a path for Notre Dame to win this game. The Irish have to turn it into a grind-it-out slugfest that comes down to who can be the tougher and more physical team. If this becomes a track meet, they have no chance against the immensely talented Buckeyes. But if Notre Dame slows it down and plays this game on its own terms, I think the Irish have a shot. This will be another classic, but ultimately, Ohio State is throwing the ball too well right now to lose a game. A special Irish season ends just short of immortality. Graduate student linebacker Cody Simon leads the Buckeyes with 97 total stops, including 11.5 for loss and 7 sacks. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE