Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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OHIO STATE RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Like Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott had 27 car- ries against the Fighting Irish. While McCaffrey was held in relative check with 94 yards, Elliott produced 149 and had a backbreaking 47-yard touchdown after the Irish had closed to within 28-21. J.T. Barrett was repeatedly used on quarterback draws, with his 23 carries netting 96 yards. Three counters and reverses to Braxton Miller and Jalin Marshall netted 41 yards for an overall total of 285. ADVANTAGE: Ohio State OHIO STATE PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE The Buckeyes vertical game was almost non-exis- tent, with its longest pass play a 30-yard screen to Elliott. It featured a heavy diet of hitches or outs on the side that a first-time starter, cornerback Nick Watkins, was playing. They seldom tested junior Cole Luke on the other side. Watkins held up fairly well, but the three-step drop, seven- to 10-yard completions were OSU's staple, while the Irish were trying to prevent the big play. Top receivers Michael Thomas, Marshall and Miller combined for 14 catches that amassed only 113 yards (8.1 yards per reception). Barrett com- pleted 19 of 31 passes for 211 yards with two scores and an interception. OSU used a quick, short passing game more than usual while trying to exploit an injury-ravaged Irish secondary. ADVANTAGE: Ohio State NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME VS. OHIO STATE RUN DEFENSE Senior running back C.J. Prosise was not able to help as hoped, so a greater burden fell on freshman Josh Adams, who rushed for a hard- earned 78 yards on 14 attempts (5.6 yards per ON PAPER REVISITED BY LOU SOMOGYI Freshman running back Josh Adams accounted for 78 of Notre Dame's 121 rushing yards against the Buckeyes defense. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA