Believe it or not, Ohio State and Notre Dame have only played each other six times leading up to this Week 1 showdown.
Over those six meetings, the Fighting Irish haven't won since the 1930s, and these clubs haven't played each other in the regular season since 1996.
In what is more than likely C.J. Stroud's final season as the quarterback for the team as he looks to cement himself as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, how will his Buckeyes hold up against the Irish?
Let's dive in.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame: A Week 1 Matchup with Playoff Implications
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Favored by more than two touchdowns, there doesn't appear to be a scenario where this game ends with Notre Dame on top.
Starting for the Irish is Tyler Buchner, a sophomore who threw just 35 passes during his freshman campaign. The Irish and Buchner will have a dependable receiving option in Michael Mayer at tight end, but that's where the weapons start and end. Thankfully, the offensive line is pretty good, with Josh Lugg at guard and Joe Alt playing a solid left tackle.
The defensive side of the ball has some intriguing talent, including Isaiah Foskey off the edge, Jack Kiser at linebacker, and top safety prospect Brandon Joseph who transferred in from Northwestern.
Buchner will face an Ohio State defense that doesn't have a ton of all-world-level talent, but the most notable positions come along the defensive line, led by edge rusher Zach Harrison. The Buckeyes will look to take care of Mayer in the passing attack leaving Buchner to utilize his legs (46 rushes last season) and depend more on a receiving core and backfield that aren't exactly anything exciting.
For the Buckeyes, this offense should cruise up and down the field, with Stroud targeting Jaxon Smith-Njiba early on and getting running back TreVeyon Henderson some run. The Fighting Irish just won't have any answers.
Best Bets For OSU vs. ND
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This will be Buchner's biggest game of his life, and it's against one of the best offenses in all of college football. Notre Dame has some talent on defense, but there isn't enough to contain the Stroud/Smith-Njigba connection. The only way the Irish make a dent here is if Mayer can get in space and Buchner utilizes his legs well.
Even if both of those click, it will take a lot more to keep up with the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Prediction: Ohio State 42, Notre Dame 14
Best Bets: Ohio State -17 (-110) and Under 60 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook
