Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: Keys to Victory
Only one team will leave Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday with a zero still in the loss column when the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
So what are the keys to victory for both sides in a game that will be the first marquee matchup for both the Irish and Buckeyes?
Ohio State Wins If...
...The Buckeyes can stop the Notre Dame run game.
As it did in 2022, this game could come down to the defense for either side. Ohio State's defense held Notre Dame to just 10 points, all of which came in the first half. Even after a slow start offensively in the first half, the Buckeyes' offense had a very manageable deficit to overcome in the second half.
In each of the Buckeyes' last three losses, they've given up over 100 yards on the ground. Against Michigan, a season ago, the Buckeyes' struggle to stop the Wolverines' running game forced them to commit more players to stop the run, which left their secondary exposed.
While the Irish have a quarterback in Sam Hartman, who is a much more capable and experienced passer than Tyler Buchner was for them in 2022, the offense will rely on its = run game boosted by running back Audric Estime.
By taking the run away, Ohio State can make Notre Dame's offense one-dimensional and reliant on creating explosive plays through the air. That pass-leaning offense will allow defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to dial up more blitzes and coverages to help stop the Irish.
Notre Dame Wins If...
... The Irish can create explosive plays in the passing game
Without the return of tight end Michael Mayer, the Notre Dame passing game will look much different than it did just a year ago. The Irish will have to find new playmakers out wide to compensate for the loss of production at tight end with Mayer now in the NFL.
After adding Hartman through the transfer portal this offseason, the Irish have a true pocket quarterback who excels in downfield throws, according to Pro Football Focus.
When the Irish struggled to run the football against the Buckeyes' defense last year, they could not make up for it in the passing game, as Buchner completed just 20 percent of his throws after starting the game with eight straight completions.