In a game of inches and statistics, every second and play matters, especially for the Notre Dame football team which open up as an 9.5 point underdog to the Ohio State Buckeyes' 20 million dollar roster. These two programs have been dominant their entire season, but both have had hiccups along the way.
However, those hiccups have led to a Notre Dame 13 game winning streak, and an OSU three game dominant winning streak in these playoffs. When squaring up all the statistics, you will see both teams in the top five for the most part, but one stat has flown under the radar, and it will undoubtedly decide the outcome of the National Championship game.
X-factor that will make or break Notre Dame football
Notre Dame won their first two game pretty handily and by double digits, and followed those two wins with one of the grittiest performance and victories of the season over Penn State. Notre Dame has demonstrated time and time again that no matter what, they will believe in Marcus Freeman and win together as a team.
However, they are now going up against the Goliath in Ohio State Buckeyes that has spent over 20 million dollars on this roster. A team that was picked by most to win the national championship before the season started.
Ohio State has been dominant this postseason, as they took down Tennessee 42-17, and then the no.1 seed in Oregon 41-21, and then Texas 28-14. OSU lacks weaknesses, as they have been on cruise control all playoff long, and there is a number the Irish must be aware of that leads to Buckeye's blowout wins and it is Ohio State dominant first half numbers in this postseason run.
Ohio State First Half Numbers | |
|---|---|
PPG | 23.0 |
PPG Differential | +14.7 |
Total YPG | 307.3 |
YPG Differential23.0 | +153.0 |
Ohio State plays fast and like to play with momentum. A key blueprint for Notre Dame to win this game is to contain Jeremiah Smith and their explosive offense.
Jeremiah Smith in the first half vs Tennessee, broke out for 81 receiving yards and a touchdown and against Oregon he had 161 receiving yards and two touchdowns in just the first half. The Longhorns shut him down and he had one catch for just three yards all game. Al Golden will need to scheme up a way to limit Smith like the Longhorns, but keep pressure on Howard and that rushing attack OSU has.
Ohio State has jumped early in the playoffs, and causes team to play from behind, a recipe that would end in a disaster for Notre Dame. OSU at half has led 21-10, 34-8 and 14-7. The Longhorns had the best first half against Ohio State and it was due to the limit of their skill players. Texas put Will Howard in tough spots and long 3rd downs that has been a key weakness for Ohio State.
Another key player on this Ohio State offense is TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson has made explosive plays throughout the entire playoffs. Henderson found the end zone on a 29 yard run against Tennessee in the first half, 66 yard run in the first half against Oregon, and a 75 yard reception TD against Texas to end the first half.
Notre Dame in the first half has struggled a little bit, but has found ways to win in the second half. The Irish are going to want to run the ball, but if they fall early they will be forced to throw, which is not how they are built to win. Greathouse, Faison, Collins and Evans will all need big games if Irish can not run the ball.
The Irish have been led by offseason addition, Riley Leonard, as they have scored a total of 33 points in the first half, which averages about 11 points per game and they have led going into half twice by 10 and 14 and were down by seven in the Sugar Bowl. Marcus Freeman has won 28 straight games when he is winning at half time. The Irish defense has given up just a total of 16 points in the first half and has forced three turnovers.
The Irish first half for Notre Dame football against Ohio State will make or break this National Championship game, and they need to contain the first half like the Longhorns, or it could be a long night like in 2013.