Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/377020
UNDER THE DOME Despite being in neighboring states, Notre Dame and Ohio State have met only five times on the gridiron, with the Buckeyes winning the last three to take a 3-2 lead in the series. "I am excited we are able once again to bring these two programs together on the football field," Swarbrick said. "Football games between Notre Dame and Ohio State make great sense from a strength-of-schedule standpoint." "Any time you talk about Notre Dame and Ohio State meeting in a football game, that event automatically is going to have huge national significance," Irish head coach Brian Kelly said. The first home-and-home series between the two occurred in 1935-36, with the Irish winning 18-13 in Columbus in '35 and 7-2 the next season at home. In 1969, the Centennial year of football, historians voted the '35 victory at OSU — after trailing 13-0 in the fourth quarter — the greatest college game played. Ohio State tied the series 60 years later in 1995-96, first with a 45-26 win at home in 1995, led by Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George at running back. Then a 29-16 triumph at Notre Dame in 1996 helped propel the Buckeyes to their first Rose Bowl win in 23 years. After the 2005 regular season, No. 4 Ohio State met No. 5 Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes, with future Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith at quarterback, racked up 617 yards of total offense, the most ever to this day by an Irish opponent, in a 34-20 victory. OSU's four touchdowns came on 56- and 85-yard passes, and 68- and 60-yard runs. The last time Notre Dame and Ohio State squared off was in the Fiesta Bowl in January 2006, with the Buckeyes prevailing 34-20 over Darius Walker (No. 3) and the Irish to take a 3-2 lead in the series. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS