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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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Notre Dame football Jarrett Patterson
SOUTH BEND, IN – NOVEMBER 23: Jarrett Patterson #55 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish snaps the ball during a game against the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium on November 23, 2019, in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 40-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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

The Trenches

No matter what level of football you play, the game is won and lost in the trenches, and in 2022, the Irish could have the best offensive line in all of college football. The team found its groove down the stretch in 2021, and this season, the entire starting unit is back, including Jarrett Patterson, who goes into the 2022 campaign as the best center in the country.

On defense, a veteran group returns, including Vyper Isaiah Foskey, who is on pace to break the Notre Dame football all-time record for sacks with another strong season in South Bend. He was expected to be a Day 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and with so much talent across the defensive line, you have to like the Irish’s chances of pushing Ohio State around a bit upfront.

The truth is, if the Irish can somehow come away with the victory in Columbus to kick off their 2022 season, they put themselves in the driver’s seat to get to the College Football Playoff. Even if both teams finish with one loss, this would be the tiebreaker they need to push the Buckeyes out of the CFP, especially if it is another close race in the SEC this season.

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