GAME THREAD | No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State

No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Ohio Stadium | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Ohio State -16.0 | O/U: 59

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FREEMAN ERA

Hello, football. 

If you’re looking for storylines and overblown storylines, Columbus, Ohio is the place to be on Saturday night. Marcus Freeman returns to his alma mater. Ohio State enters the game with three Heisman candidates. Tyler Buchner will make his first start at quarterback for the Fighting Irish. And the game will feature two teams that have had a chip on the shoulder for the entire offseason. 

There is no secret Notre Dame needs a signature win to continue the momentum since the hiring of Freeman and he has pushed his team in various ways over the eight months. Freeman has maintained the culture Brian Kelly built over last the five years, which was based on the brotherhood inside The Gug, but he also has emphasized competition and physicality. 

The Irish barely had time to adjust to Freeman’s hiring in the Fiesta Bowl, so this will truly be the first look at what the first-time head coach has done with the program. 

Freeman has checked boxes on the recruiting trail and the summer speaking tours. It’s now time for him to check the next box and on Thursday, he let some of his ultra-competitive personality that’s rarely shown come out during his final press conference of the week when a reporter from Columbus asked if Saturday would be emotional for him. Freeman’s response, “No.” 

NOTRE DAME-OHIO STATE TIES

- Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith (Notre Dame graduate) 
- Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman (Ohio State graduate) 
- Ohio State Director of Player Personnel Zach Grant (Notre Dame graduate) 
- Ohio State assistant Tony Alford (Former Notre Dame assistant) 
- Notre Dame assistant Al Washington (Former Ohio State assistant) 
- Notre Dame assistant Brian Mason (Former Ohio State GA)
- Notre Dame graduate assistant Nick Sebastian (Former Ohio State GA)
- Notre Dame graduate assistant James Laurinaitis (Ohio State graduate) 
- Ohio State assistant athletic director for sports performance Mickey Marotti (Former Notre Dame S&C coach) 
- Ohio State senior advisor (to Ryan Day) Keenan Bailey (Notre Dame graduate)
- Notre Dame assistant Art Director Boston Logan (Ohio State graduate) 
- Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (Brother of former Notre Dame OL Liam Eichenberg)
- Notre Dame receiver Lorenzo Styles and Ohio State safety Sonny Styles (Sons of former Ohio State LB Lorenzo Styles) 
- Ohio State program assistant Reilly Jeffers (Son of the late Notre Dame broadcast legend Jeff Jeffers)

A FEW FACTS

- Notre Dame has only played three times in its history on September 3 and are 2-1 on the date, which includes Charlie Weis’ first game for the Irish on the road at No. 23 Pittsburgh (a 42-21 Notre Dame victory).

- Over the past two seasons with Tommy Rees as the offensive coordinator, Notre Dame is one of only eight FBS schools to pass for over 6,500 yards and rush for over 4,000 yards (North Carolina, Ole Miss, BYU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida and Clemson).

- Notre Dame tied the school record for sacks in a season last year with 41, matching the total from the 1996 season. Of those 41 sacks, only 6.5 were recorded by players who graduated and left the program at the end of the 2021 season.

- Since 1980, Notre Dame is 213-24 (.899) when it scores 30 or more points.

- Over the last 10 seasons, Ohio State has a 36-9 record vs. ranked opponents for a .800 winning percentage. Ohio State is 14-3 (.824) vs. ranked opponents at home during this decade.

- Ohio State will face a top-five ranked opponent in its season opener for just the third time in program history on Saturday.

- Never before have the Buckeyes opened a season in a game when both teams are ranked in the top five.

- Ohio State and Notre Dame have been two of the elite – and winningest – programs over the last 10 seasons. In that span, Ohio State is third with 117 wins; Notre Dame is sixth with 97.

Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner
Buchner gets his first start at quarterback in The Shoe. It's difficult to recall any new starter having a more difficult challenge than this to kick off his time as QB1. The Irish don't need him to be All-World in this game, but if he can continue to make big plays with his legs and be efficient as a passer, then it will give Notre Dame a chance to come out with a win.

Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
What else can be added that hasn't already been said about the All-American receiver in the lead up to this game? He's a threat to produce a big play at any moment out of the slot and led the Power 5 in yards after the catch last season. Notre Dame won't stop him, but has to hope to contain him. 

Notre Dame DL Jayson Ademilola
The fifth-year defensive tackle came in talking a big game and now he has to back it up. Notre Dame needs him to be a disruptor against the run and get into CJ Stroud's face as much as possible. We'll see if Ademilola can step up in a big spot. 

Ohio State OL Paris Johnson
After starting at right guard last year, the former 5-star offensive tackle prospect is back at his natural position protecting CJ Stroud's blindside. Johnson struggled a bit in pass protection last season and OSU has to hope that was more of a feature of him playing guard than a predictor of how he'll handle Isaiah Foskey and company.

Notre Dame LB Marist Liufau
Notre Dame fans have been anticipating this comeback for over a year and Liufau is slated to start at Will for the Irish. They're going to need him to be a Havoc producer at the second level to help put the loaded Buckeyes' offense behind the sticks

Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman:
"If you don't stop the run, they'll run it all day long. The ability to stop the run is most important. We know they're very talented at throwing the ball. It's the mindset, that if you can't stop the run, they can throw it, they can run and do whatever they want to do. We have to be able to stop the run and be able to give different looks defensively. I'm not going to say we're trying to confuse them, but give them different looks in terms of the pass game." 

Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner:
“I think there’s a lot of emotions,” said Buchner. “It’s my first start playing at Ohio State - a night game. I think I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a little bit of nerves. I think that’s pretty normal and human. I’m definitely really excited. I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to my family coming out and watching me play - some relatives who haven’t seen me play in a while. 

“I’m looking forward to our offense going out there and playing.” 

Notre Dame DL Jayson Ademilola:
”We’re on the same page. We’re all communicating. We understand we all play different positions, but our jobs are just as important. We all need to be on the same page. Communication has been higher. We all know our strengths. We’re going to play to our strengths. We feel like we’re the toughest, stronger, badass motherf*ckers in the country and that’s just going to be our strength. We’re going to use that as our strength.”

Laverna Styles (Mother of Lorenzo and Sonny Styles):
“Mom will be nervous. I'm always nervous because you don't want anyone to get hurt. I'm always cheering for their team. This situation, I'm not really cheering for a team, but I'm cheering for my sons. That's my approach. I will be a nervous wreck regardless.

“They're living their dreams, but also getting a great education and the connections and friendships they will make from this - we always stress football doesn't last long. Use these experiences to grow. You're not going to be a football player and retire at 50. There's going to be another career after football."

For Your Nerves 

Under Armour 2022 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Sideline Pullover Hoodie