Notre Dame football: Irish first half observations vs Ohio State
By Brad Weiss
![Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime (7) runs as he is tackled by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (44) during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime (7) runs as he is tackled by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau (44) during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2e16ebd4ac244d56bbd66a3b3222d8555947c465110f095160d2db1a5f4c7d6a.jpg)
The Notre Dame football team is more than hanging in against the Ohio State Buckeyes, and here are some observations from the first half.
We are officially at the half of the Notre Dame football vs Ohio State game, and the Irish are more than hanging in against the Buckeyes. In fact, going into halftime, the Irish hold a 10-7 lead against the Buckeyes, a team that was supposed to dominate Notre Dame in a big way in primetime.
Instead, the Irish have played a terrific half of football, and have 30 more minutes to complete an epic victory inside the Horsehoe. It has been a total team effort for this Notre Dame football team, as they have mostly kept possible Heisman Trophy candidate CJ Stroud in check, and have come up with timely plays.
While the announcers continue to state the Buckeyes are hurting themselves, it has been the Irish who have come to play, and they are rallying around their first-year head coach, Marcus Freeman. A former star for the Buckeyes, Freeman is looking to lead the Irish to their biggest win in recent memory and will have to avoid a second-half letdown like the one they suffered in the Fiesta Bowl.
Here are some observations from the first half.