Desmond Howard reveals how Notre Dame can upset No. 2 Ohio State

Desmond Howard believes Notre Dame has a shot to upset No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus on Saturday, even if the Fighting Irish are more than a two-touchdown underdog according to Las Vegas.

Ahead of the supremely anticipated matchup, the former Michigan star and College GameDay analyst revealed how Marcus Freeman and company can hand the Buckeyes a shocking loss.

“It’s a big hill to climb for Notre Dame and Coach Freeman, to go into The Shoe and beat Ohio State,” stated Howard, via ESPN’s Get Up. “Especially against CJ Stroud. I mean, at this point Vegas has him penciled in as the favorite to win the Heisman. You have [Jaxon] Smith-Njigba at receiver, who’s one of the best receivers in the country. TreVeyon Henderson. You have an explosive offense. If Notre Dame is going to pull off the impossible, they’re going to have to slow down that offense.

“The one thing that Michigan was able to do a year ago, when they played a year ago when they played Ohio State was they were able to slow down the offense. Make them sustain ten, twelve, fourteen-play drives. This is a high octane, explosive offense that scores quick. Big play ability. I think if you make them methodically drive the ball down the field, play after play, series after series, that’s going to play into Notre Dame’s hands. It takes Ohio State and Ryan Day, it takes them out of their rhythm. So the defense of Notre Dame is going to have to play a monster game if they’re going to pull off this victory.”

While many are counting Notre Dame out, Howard isn’t ready to do just that. However, he believes the Fighting Irish’s chances at the College Football Playoff will become slim to none if they can’t find victory.

“I would have to say Ohio State. A year ago — don’t forget, Ohio State was a highly ranked team — they played Oregon at home early in the season. The Oregon Ducks beat Ohio State in Columbus on that Saturday afternoon. People were like, ‘Okay. It’s over for Ohio State. They have no chance of making the College Football Playoff.’ But it came down to the last game of the season, when they traveled to Ann Arbor. They took on Michigan, they were still a top ranked team. Had Ohio State beat Michigan in Ann Arbor that Saturday afternoon, they would’ve went on to play in the Big Ten Championship, and probably the College Football Playoff,” stated Howard. “So I think that Ohio State, even if they lose this game, they have a shot to get back into the College Football Playoff.

“Notre Dame, I don’t think so. If Notre Dame loses Saturday, I think their College Football Playoff hopes are shot. So I think the Buckeyes will still be in an okay position, even if they lose to Notre Dame at home.”

When one of the biggest matchups starts the season, it sets the tone for everyone. It doesn’t get bigger than Notre Dame and Ohio State, and Desmond Howard and company are ready for a historic showdown.