Notre Dame football: Ohio State is a winnable game for the Irish
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team may be big underdogs against Ohio State in Week 1, but it is certainly a game they can win.
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the Notre Dame football team will kick off their 2022 schedule against the Ohio State Buckeyes. In a game that could be one of the best of the entire college football season, the Irish will be looking to make a statement in front of a national audience.
For years, Notre Dame football has struggled to win on the big stage, and that narrative reared its ugly head last season when they blew a big lead against Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. New head coach Marcus Freeman, an Ohio State alum, will be looking to change all of that, and he can do so against his alma mater in Week 1.
Notre Dame football is opening up as a big underdog in this one, and rightfully so, as Ohio State is a favorite to win it all this season. They have a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback in CJ Stroud, and for the Irish, that position has not even been settled yet, as Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner fight it out for the starting job.
However, that does not mean the Irish cannot win this game, and, if they do one thing well, they could come away victorious.
Notre Dame football must control the line of scrimmage
That one thing is to control the line of scrimmage, and luckily for Freeman and his staff, they have more than enough talent to do so. The offensive line could be the best in the country this season, led by Jarrett Patterson, an elite center who has not allowed a sack in his entire career.
On defense, the veteran players up front are going to make an impact no matter who the Irish play in 2022, and they can stuff the run, but also wreak havoc in the backfield. Isaiah Foskey has a chance to set the Irish all-time sack record this season, though getting after Stroud is going to be a tall task in Week 1.
Football games are won and lost up front, and the Irish are going to be deep and talented on both sides of the ball in that area. Sure, Ohio State is a fantastic football team, but the Week 1 matchup inside Ohio Stadium is a winnable game for Notre Dame football and would be a shocking first win as a head coach for a former son of the Buckeyes.