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Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish can upset Ohio State

By Brad Weiss

SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 11: Newly hired Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman is introduced during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Purcell Pavilion on December 11, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 11: Newly hired Notre Dame Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman is introduced during the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Purcell Pavilion on December 11, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson could be the first wide receiver selected in April’s draft.Syndication The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson could be the first wide receiver selected in April’s draft.Syndication The Columbus Dispatch /

Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish can upset Ohio State

Ohio State lost Wilson and Olave

Staying with C.J. Stroud, the young signal-caller had a tremendous group of weapons this past season, including three standout wide receivers. The group was led, statistically, by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who not only set the Buckeyes’ single-game record with 15 catches against Nebraska but also hauled in nearly 350 receiving yards during the team’s bowl game.

He is going to be trouble for whoever the Buckeyes play last season, but it remains to be seen whether he can have the same kind of production as the No. 1 guy in Columbus this season. Both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave played alongside Smith-Njigba last season, and both are expected to be first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Losing that kind of talent on the outside is going to hurt, I do not care how prestigious your program is, so Ohio State is going to need players to step up alongside Smith-Njigba this season. Ohio State also has a star at running back in TreVeyon Henderson, who rushed for 15 touchdowns as a freshman last season, so while the offense has elite talent returning, losing two first-round wideouts could spell trouble for them against this Irish defense.

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