Notre Dame vs Ohio State Score Predictions
The titanic matchup between the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) and the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) is almost here. It is a huge game for both teams, and the College Football Playoff will likely be impacted by the outcome of this game.
Location: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)
Date: Saturday - September 23rd
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Network: NBC/Peacock
Line: Ohio State -3.0, O/U: 55.5
Irish Breakdown spent all week breaking the game down and now it is time for us to make our predictions.
BRYAN DRISKELL, PUBLISHER
Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Ohio State 28
I have been back and forth on this one all week, but I'm settling in on 31-28 in favor of the Fighting Irish. My waffling hasn't been about who to pick as a winner, it's been about the score. Ultimately, I'm picking this score based on the fact this is a matchup between two excellent football teams that are evenly matched in many areas.
Notre Dame got dominated in the trenches in last year's game, and the quarterback play wasn't nearly good enough to compete with Ohio State and CJ Stroud for four quarters. Notre Dame is better prepared to play well in both areas in this contest, at least they need to if they are going to win this game. Ohio State's offense is going to make plays, and it's defense seems much improved. Notre Dame is also much improved, and it has an offense that should be able to move the ball on Ohio State.
At the end of the day, I see Notre Dame being the better team in the trenches, and when the game is on the line I see quarterback Sam Hartman making more plays than Kyle McCord. The presence of Hartman will allow the offense to make the big plays needed to move early, and it will soften Ohio State up enough for Audric Estime, Jadarian Price, Jeremiyah Love and the offensive line to put the game away in the fourth quarter.
So here's why I waffled on this one. A lot of times in games like this, with two really good and evenly matched teams, the game doesn't go as expected. Michigan wasn't three touchdowns better than Ohio State last year, but that's how the game broke open. Notre Dame wasn't three touchdowns better than Clemson last year, but that's how the game broke. Part of me, deep down, feels like things could go like this for Notre Dame on Saturday, but I didn't have the guts to make that kind of official prediction.
VINCE DEDARIO, FOOTBALL ANALYST
Prediction: Notre Dame 28, Ohio State 24
Well we finally made it to the game we have all been waiting for. Both teams are undefeated and both are ranked in the top 10. Sean Stires and I tried to come up with a list of "big games" on Wednesday's IB Nation Sports Talk and even not knowing the outcome this ranks somewhere in the top 5-6 in the last 25 years. If they win then it immediately vaults to be the best regular season game in the last 25 years for me.
Bryan and I always talk about how every game comes down to matchups. It is so true. The thing about this game is I feel like the "matchup game" is pretty even across the board. Who has the advantage on the lines? Who has the advantage at the skill positions on the outside? Who has the best QB in this game? To be honest I could make a case for both sides in most of the matchups.
Ohio State has the best WR corp in the country. That is undisputed. Are we really going to believe that Benjamin Morrison and Cam Hart are not drooling to show the country what they can do against the best? I would say ND has a clear advantage at QB and that will be the case in every game except one of the regular season. Even the coaching matchups are extremely appetizing. Hartline/Day vs Golden/Freeman. Parker vs Knowles. I get chills just thinking about it.
Bottom line, I could be talked into just about any outcome in this game. I think it really all depends on which team shows up for which university. I do think that home field advantage could be a real thing this time around. Notre Dame has done a great job with their night game festivities and in game fan experience. Fans have been looking forward to this one since about 11:00 PM on September 3, 2022, I know I have. I think it will be an awesome atmosphere and I just hope the Irish match that intensity on the field. Since I do feel this way I think there will be a bounce of the ball or a long ball that just goes ND's way and will be the difference in this game.
RYAN ROBERTS, RECRUITING DIRECTOR
Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Ohio State 21
Some seem to believe that this could be a bit of a shootout but I actually see the recipe for a lower scoring game. That’s partly due to a very good Ohio State defense, as well as a slightly disappointing offender for the Buckeyes. With Notre Dame having a good defense themselves, points could be at a premium.
The biggest difference in this football game will be quarterback play. Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord is getting better each week but he isn’t Sam Hartman right now. The former Wake Forest transfer turns in some money plays in this one, just doing enough to escape with a big victory.
SEAN STIRES, STAFF WRITER
Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Ohio State 24
It’s been 87 years since Notre Dame last beat Ohio State. Granted, the two midwestern schools which are separated by roughly four and a half hours have only played five times since that 7-2 Irish victory, but 87 years is 87 years.
Outside of quarterback, the biggest question Ohio State had coming into the season was its offensive line. The Buckeyes are a solid pass blocking unit, but whether they can run the ball against a team of Notre Dame’s caliber is a big question mark heading into this game, especially with quarterback Kyle McCord making just his fifth career start in what is the biggest game of his career to date. McCord has legit receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, who combined for 14 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown in last year’s OSU win over the Irish. Beating Ohio State’s questionable O-line, limiting the run game and putting McCord in obvious passing situations will be key for the Irish and for the first time in any of the more recent ND-OSU meetings, Notre Dame has the secondary to go toe to toe with Ohio State’s talented receiving corps.
Then there’s Sam Hartman, who also gives Notre Dame a clear advantage at quarterback. The Irish have to run the ball as well but Hartman’s savvy and experience puts Notre Dame is the best spot it’s been in at quarterback in a top 10 game in a long time.
ANDREW MCDONOUGH, IB CONTRIBUTOR
Prediction: Notre Dame 38, Ohio State 24
This is a program-defining game for Marcus Freeman, and he knows it. You can bet the team knows it. You know Fighting Irish nation knows it. This game is why Sam Hartman is at Notre Dame. It's why leaders like JD Bertrand, Cam Hart, and DJ Brown stuck around another year. It's why Freeman and Chad Bowden turned up the heat in recruiting, bringing in immediate playmakers like Jeremiyah Love and Jaden Greathouse. It's Notre Dame - it's about national championships.
But, before you can compete for a title, you need to win a game like this. You need to take down a fellow regional power. We rise - at their expense. It's at our house. It's in front of what will be the most raucous crowd since the Holtz years. And - we don't just believe we can win - we know we can win. We had them on the ropes last year without consistent QB play and they had the second overall pick. We held them to the fewest points they've ever scored under Ryan Day. The tables have turned now.
The analysis is done. The matchups will be great. They're talented, and we're talented. But - at the end of the night, when the helmets are on, the crowd is on their feet, and the bands are playing, the nation will see why Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman is different.
Wake up the echoes.
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