Ohio State vs Notre Dame 2022

Ohio State vs Notre Dame is the headline game of week one of college football. Preseason ranked three and five respectively, this is an early clash between teams who are expected to be contenders at the end of the season. There are several storylines and players to watch during Ohio State vs Notre Dame.

Coaches in the Spotlight

Marcus Freeman enters his first season as head coach of Notre Dame. The former Ohio State linebacker was the defensive coordinator for the Irish last season but now takes over the team with the departure of Brian Kelly. Freeman led Notre Dame against Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. They lost a close game to begin his head coaching career.

As for Ohio State, Ryan Day enters his fifth season as head coach of the Buckeyes. Day has amassed an impressive record of 34-4. Last season, he was well on his way to another playoff berth before Michigan finally showed up in their big annual contest. Ohio State had to settle for a win in the Rose Bowl which ended their season with a rank of six.

Players to Watch

While the coaching unknowns of Freeman plays a part, the talent on the field is clearly skewed towards Ohio State with three preseason All-American selections (RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, OT Paris Johnson). Plus, they return quarterback C.J. Stroud who put together a phenomenal season last year with 4435 yards, 44 touchdown passes, and a completion percentage of 71.9%.

Tyler Buchner is a first year starter at quarterback has big shoes to fill. Jack Coan put together a strong season that helped lead the team to an 11-2 record. Coan graduated and was recently waived by the Indianapolis Colts. There are returning offensive leaders to help Buchner with TE Michael Mayer, OL Jarrett Patterson, and Braden Lenzy. They will need a solid performance from the defense led by Isaiah Foskey, J.D. Bertrand, and Jack Kiser. Al Golden, who replaces Freeman as defensive coordinator, needs to have the troops ready to perform.

Ohio State Heavy Favorites

Day and Buckeyes come into this game as heavy favorites. Most lines list Notre Dame as 17.5 point underdogs. Freeman will need to get the most out of his players to compete in this game. There are simply too many unknowns for Notre Dame to keep the line close. Ohio State will look to make a statement with a big win against a top five opponent which will help propel them up the board early in the season.

Game Tickets

While there are still tickets available for Ohio State vs Notre Dame on third party sites, you will pay heavily for the chance to watch the game live. Tickets in the "cheap seats" are topping $250. If you are in Ohio this weekend, you can make the game if you are willing to spend the money.