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Notre Dame football at Ohio State: Game preview and prediction

By Ryan Shanko

Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Michael Mayer (87) jumps over Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jammie Robinson (10). The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeat the Florida State Seminoles 41-38 at Doak Campbell Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021.Fsu V Notre Dame1988
Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Michael Mayer (87) jumps over Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jammie Robinson (10). The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeat the Florida State Seminoles 41-38 at Doak Campbell Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021.Fsu V Notre Dame1988 /
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The Notre Dame football team will battle it out against the No. 2 team in the country on Saturday night, and here is our game preview and prediction for the matchup.

Notre Dame football at Ohio State: Game preview and prediction

Notre Dame Vs. Ohio State Game Preview – A Monumental Matchup

Here at Slap the Sign, we’ve been talking about the upcoming matchup with Ohio State for what seems like eternity. We’ve talked about offensive keys, defensive musts, and everything in between while preparing to cover this matchup. Now, it is finally time to make the call. Do the Irish have what it takes to topple the mighty Buckeyes?

Vegas says no, as the Irish are 17-point underdogs right now.

That underdog mentality is nothing new in South Bend though. The Irish have been written off by almost every college football expert who has made mention of the matchup in Columbus this Saturday. The prevailing theory is that Ohio State will run the Irish out of the stadium before halftime, as if they aren’t a competent football team.

The way I see it, either Ohio State is being overrated or Notre Dame is being underrated, and the Buckeyes definitely aren’t an overrated team, so it’s fairly cut and dry what’s going on throughout the college football world. More than anything, this game is an opportunity for the Irish to earn back some respect and show everyone that they are a legitimate contender this season.

I’m going to predict the stat lines for the most important players on both sides of the ball, followed by my final score prediction and a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of the game. Get up, it’s almost gameday.

Impact Players: Notre Dame Offense

  • Tyler Buchner, QB: 18/33, 264 yds, 1 TD, 2 Ints; 10 rushes, 68 yds, TD
  • Chris Tyree/Logan Diggs, RBs: 34 rushes, 189 yds, TD
  • Michael Mayer, TE: 9 catches, 94 yds
  • Lorenzo Styles, WR: 5 catches, 102 yds, TD

Impact Players: Ohio State Offense

  • CJ Stroud, QB: 25/45, 303 yds, 3 TDs, 1 Int; 5 rushes, 32 yds
  • Treyveon Henderson, RB: 19 rushes, 53 yds, TD
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR: 8 catches, 122 yds, TD
  • Marvin Harrison Jr, WR: 6 catches, 62 yds, TD

The Prediction

819. 27. 812. Prediction. 30

Score by Quarter

  • 1st: ND 3, OSU 10
  • 2nd:  ND 13, OSU 17
  • 3rd: ND 23, OSU 20
  • 4th: ND 30, OSU 27

Final Thoughts

Football games are won in the trenches and in the fourth quarter, and the Irish have the advantage on the offensive and defensive lines. I think the Irish will wear down the Buckeye front seven and drive down the field for the deciding touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

If the Notre Dame can contain the Ohio State big play early on and play the game at a pace that allows the offense to dictate the flow of the game, the odds look pretty decent, despite what Vegas might be saying. Forcing a turnover or two would help the cause as well. It is my honest opinion that Notre Dame can win this football game.

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