Notre Dame picked up 6 first downs on their opening drive and they still have 6 at the half.

Halftime Stats:

First Downs: 15 Ohio State 6 Notre Dame 

Passing Yards: 144 Ohio State 46 Notre Dame

Rushing Yards: 87 Ohio State 47 Notre Dame

Total Yards; 231 Ohio State 93 Notre Dame

 

I think we all agreed ND needed to do something on the drive when they were down 14-7, they didn't, and now the game looks nearly out of reach at 21-7 and OSU getting the ball to start the second half. 

As I said over on the Bengals thread so far tonight Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden has done nothing to make him look good for a pro job. They have continued to play mostly man-to-man and did not have anyone spying on the QB and Howard has picked up 3 big first downs on 3rd down plays.

Notre Dame put themselves in the danger zone on Ohio State’s last score. For a chance, Notre Dame must stop the Buckeyes after halftime and score immediately after.

Notre Dame definitely used a lot of energy on their first drive and was non-existent offensively after it. 

24 minutes ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Howard is on fire for the Buckeyes! Ohio State has another long drive this one 12 plays for 80 yards and now led 21-7.

Sitting in a rocking chair with match up winners all around him. There are a lot of FBS QB's that would have scored 21 points on ND in that half. 

Duplicate

On the 2nd play of the half Judkins breaks one for 70 yards and the Buckeyes has it now 1st and goal from the 5.

Touchdown Judkins on a 1-yard run. He had 72 of the of the 75 yards. Judkin the transfer from Ole Miss has scored 3 of the Buckeyes touchdowns as they now are in complete control of this one as they led 28-7. 

16 minutes ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

As I said over on the Bengals thread so far tonight Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden has done nothing to make him look good for a pro job. They have continued to play mostly man-to-man and did not have anyone spying on the QB and Howard has picked up 3 big first downs on 3rd down plays.

They have played man. They have played zone. No QB pressure. Can't stop the run. Totally outmanned. I am not sure what Golden, Spagnuolo, Belichick, Parcells, et al could do to stop this.

I have rooted for ND two times in my life.

1. When Gerry Faust was the coach.

2. Tonight.

All the more reason for me to continue to root against them going forward.

The Irish go for it on 4th and 2 and do not convert the Buckeyes take over at the Irish 33 yard line.

I liked the fake punt call but now I am worried about a "running clock."

The Irish defense finally get a stop and Ohio State kicks a 46 yard FG to now lead 31-7 with 7:52 left in the 3rd quarter.

Using mute between plays. The band noise is obnoxious. Maybe not as bad as the old vuvuzela noise at soccer matches, but close.