Gimme Five: Looking back at the last five Notre Dame-Ohio State games
Look through the Winsipedia page for Notre Dame and Ohio State and you’ll quickly confirm that they’re two of the most accomplished college football programs of all time.
Between the two schools, they own or share the lead in six of the 12 statistical categories on the website. Ohio State has all-time record, first-round NFL Draft picks and weeks in the Associated Press Top 25. Notre Dame has consensus All-Americans and total NFL Draft picks. They’re tied for the all-time lead in Heisman Trophy winners with 7.
Seven is also the number of all-time matchups between the two storied programs. Notre Dame came out on top in 1935 and 1936, but Ohio State enters this week’s matchup with a five-game winning streak.
John Cooper’s Buckeyes beat Lou Holtz’s Irish in 1995 and 1996, by scores of 45-26 and 29-16, respectively. Eventual Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, who visited Notre Dame as Tennessee State’s head coach Sept. 2, gained 210 rushing yards and ran for 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the 1995 win.
Ohio State beat Notre Dame in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl (shortly after the 2005 season). In a marquee quarterback matchup, the Buckeyes’ Troy Smith outplayed Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn. The Ohio State wide receiver duo of Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes combined for 13 receptions, 291 receiving yards and 2 scores.
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One day short of a decade later, Notre Dame and Ohio State met in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, and the Buckeyes came out on top again. Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott ran 27 times for 149 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Finally, in the 2022 season opener, Ohio State beat Notre Dame 21-10 in a defensive battle. In his first career start, Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner was limited to 10 completions for 177 yards.
Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. (1 sack, 2 tackles for loss) and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss) starred on defense for the Buckeyes, while running back TreVeyon Henderson, fellow RB Miyan Williams and slot receiver Emeka Egbuka carried the load on offense. The Irish led 10-7 at halftime, but Ohio State outscored them 14-0 after the break.
Notre Dame will look to break this streak at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in South Bend.
The Last Five Notre Dame-Ohio State Games
- 2022: Buckeyes 21, Fighting Irish 10
- 2016 Buckeyes 44, Fighting Irish 28
- 2006 Buckeyes 34, Fighting Irish 20
- 1996 Buckeyes 29, Fighting Irish 16
- 1995 Buckeyes 45, Fighting Irish 26
