ATLANTA (AP) — As an alternative of crying over one other collapse, Ohio State can have a good time one other nationwide title after holding off a Notre Dame comeback bid Monday evening to stroll away with a nailbiter of a 34-23 victory over the Combating Irish.
Will Howard hit big-play receiver Jeremiah Smith for 56 yards on a late third-and-11 to lock down a recreation that had been a laugher, then changed into one thing else.
Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make it a one-score recreation late within the fourth quarter.
The Irish stopped Ohio State on the primary two performs of the subsequent drive and used their timeouts. However on third down, Howard discovered Smith in single protection on the proper sideline and dropped his finest cross of the season into the palms of the second-team All-American.
It arrange a discipline aim that began the celebration in earnest (and helped Ohio State cowl the 8 1/2-point unfold on BetMGM Sportsbook), closing out a seven-week climb from the depths of a loss to 20-point underdog Michigan to the highest of faculty soccer. Ohio State will deliver its sixth “natty” and first for the reason that 2014 season again to the Horseshoe in Columbus.
Howard, a transfer-portal success story from Kansas State, threw for 231 yards and two scores, however nothing will beat the cross to Smith with the whole lot on the road.
The receiver, who had been bottled up by Texas within the semifinals then pretty quiet for many of this recreation, lastly bought free for the type of play he’s been making all yr. He completed with 5 catches for 88 yards.
Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first 4 possessions, then added a discipline aim on its fifth.
When Quinshon Judkins (100 yards, 11 carries, three TDs), a switch from Mississippi who highlighted Ohio State’s even handed use of the ever-growing portal, busted a 70-yard run to arrange the rating that made it 28-7, this recreation appeared over.
It wasn’t, and now Irish coach Marcus Freeman must reply a couple of powerful questions — one concerning the failed faux punt within the third quarter that changed into a discipline aim for a 31-7 lead, the opposite about sending Mitch Jeter in for a brief discipline aim try whereas down 16 and dealing with fourth-and-goal from the 9. It might need appeared like a greater name had Jeter’s kick not clanged off the left upright.
Actually, although, Ohio State was the higher crew. The Buckeyes outgained Notre Dame 445 yards to 308. Howard accomplished his first 13 passes and by no means actually bought stopped. The proof: Ohio State punted a grand complete of as soon as.
The Buckeyes rolled via 4 video games within the new, 12-team playoff — what nice timing for Ohio State — by a mixed rating of 145-85.
Ohio State was seeded eighth within the event, however the seedings had been just about meaningless. The more severe seed gained each recreation within the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, and the Buckeyes dominated on this title-game showdown of No. 7 vs. No. 8.
It places to relaxation, for now, any angst concerning the 13-10 Michigan loss in November — Ohio State’s fourth straight within the collection — that left a variety of people, each out and in of Buckeye circles, pondering Day, in his sixth season, had outlived his usefulness on a campus that hadn’t tasted a title in a decade.
As an alternative, he’s on a listing of title-winning coaches with City Meyer, Jim Tressel, Woody Hayes and Paul Brown. Additionally, Day’s .873 profitable share is third all-time amongst coaches with 50-plus video games — one spot behind none apart from the Notre Dame legend Knute Rockne himself.
Faculty soccer nonetheless has by no means had a Black coach win the nationwide title. Freeman was trying to develop into the primary.
As an alternative, one other type of historical past. This marked the primary time the Large Ten has taken back-to-back titles since 1942. Final yr’s champion was Michigan, which was sitting residence watching this one, however nonetheless performed a particular position in a Buckeyes redemption story hardly anybody noticed coming.
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