Go-ahead TD with :01 left caps Ohio State comeback win over Notre Dame

It seemed, with mere minutes on the clock and holding a 14-10 lead and the ball at home, Notre Dame was ready to put the finishing touches on a signature win over visiting Ohio State. A few first downs and Notre Dame could bleed out the clock and the game.

Then the Ohio State defense made a few stops, giving the offense life with less than two minutes to play. After converting high-leverage down after high-leverage down — and surviving an intentional grounding penalty in the red zone with less than 30 seconds to play — Ohio State had three seconds from the goal line.

Quarterback Kyle McCord took the under center snap, turned, and handed to transfer running back and former linebacker Chip Trayanum, who scored a go-ahead touchdown with :01 on the clock.

A walkoff TD for Ohio State pic.twitter.com/uA3DkVggdb

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 24, 2023

After a lengthy review to confirm the score and the time, and following a Notre Dame hook-and-lateral play that went awry, Ohio State escaped with an improbable 17-14 win.

Notre Dame only had 10 defenders on the field in the final moments

Notre Dame was missing a player on defense as it lined up to try to stop Ohio State at the goal line in Saturday evening’s contest. For both of the final two plays, including the game-winning touchdown from Trayanum, the Fighting Irish had just 10 men on the field.

That lapse in judgment ultimately ended up costing them the game as they lost 17-14. With one less tackler to worry about Trayanum was able to easily push his way up the middle and across the goal line for the score. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman took ownership for the costly mistake postgame.

“It’s on us,” he said. “We gotta be better.”

Notre Dame had 10 guys on the field for the Ohio State TD, missing a lineman. Right where OSU ran the ball. pic.twitter.com/nz7YsFYhsu

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 24, 2023

The win had Ryan Day beyond fired up

During his postgame interview with NBC’s Kathryn Tappen, Day called out former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz, somebody who had comments of his own on Ohio State. Day passionately exclaimed how he could not believe what Holtz said about the Buckeyes and wanted his thoughts following the win.

“Toughness,” Day said. “That’s it. Physicality across the board, finish it off, having guts. I’d like to know where Lou Holtz is right now. What he said about our team — I cannot believe. This is a tough team right here. We’re proud to be from Ohio. It’s always been Ohio against the world. It will continue to be Ohio against the world.

“But I will tell you what. I love those kids and we’ve got a tough team.”

Holtz made his remarks during Friday’s episode of the Pat McAfee show, questioning the toughness of Ohio State.