Live updates, score, analysis: Notre Dame football vs. Ohio State

Sam Hartman and No. 9 Notre Dame take on No. 9 Ohio State tonight in the game of the year in College Football. The Irish are 4-0, and they’re going up against the 3-0 Buckeyes.

Follow along for BlueandGold.com‘s live updates, scoring summary and real-time analysis.

First quarter

• Notre Dame has won the toss and elected to defer. Ohio State starts with the ball.

• Ohio State’s first drive results in a punt. The Buckeyes picked up two first downs and reached midfield, but Notre Dame — led by nickelback Thomas Harper’s coverage on star slot receiver Emeka Egbuka — forced an incompletion on third-and-long and a punt. The Irish will start just outside their own 10-yard line.

• The Irish drove down all the way to the red zone and went for it on fourth-and-1, but Hartman’s scramble for a first down was overturned on video review. Tight end Mitchell Evans was the player of the drive for Notre Dame, with 2 catches including a one-hander in coverage. Ohio State ball at its own 18.

• Notre Dame got it right back, forcing a three-and-out. A five-man rush put just enough pressure on Ohio State QB Kyle McCord to force a punt on third down. Credit LB Marist Liufau with blowing up an interior OL and Vyper Jordan Botelho with the tackle.

• The first quarter comes to an end. Notre Dame is driving, thanks to big plays from freshman WR Jaden Greathouse and freshman RB Jeremiyah Love. Notre Dame 0, Ohio State 0.

Second quarter

• Hartman gets away with one. OSU drew up a blitz, the Irish didn’t pick it up and he threw a pass over the middle that should have been picked. Spencer Sharder’s 47-yard field goal has plenty of distance but misses wide left. He hooked it. Buckeyes take over, still 0-0.

• The Irish and Buckeyes are still tied at 0. ND defensive coordinator Al Golden correctly surmised that Ohio State would go play action on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line, and sophomore linebacker Jaylen Sneed broke up the pass. Notre Dame takes over at its own 1.

• Audric Estimé came alive, running for 22 yards to get Notre Dame out of the danger zone. But the Ohio State defense gets the stop on the next series as Hartman’s short pass to Jayden Thomas falls incomplete.

• Ohio State gets on the board first. Slot receiver Emeka Egbuka led the Buckeyes down the field, but he dropped a touchdown that would have been his third reception of the drive. Notre Dame held, and OSU kicker Jayden Fielding’s 31-yard field goal is good. Ohio State 3, Notre Dame 0.

• That’s the way the first half ends.

Third quarter

• As a reminder, Notre Dame gets the ball after halftime. The Irish will start at their own 25.

• Again, the Irish drove past midfield and got stuffed on fourth down. Hartman had nowhere to go, tried to bounce it outside on a quarterback sneak and got run over by Ohio State safeties Sonny Styles and Lathan Ransom. Buckeyes football.

• On the first play of the drive, Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson ran 61 yards for a touchdown. But the bigger concern: Star Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had to be helped off the field after Xavier Watts accidentally dove into his lower leg on a missed tackling attempt. Ohio State 10, Notre Dame 0.

• Notre Dame answers right back. 13-play drive, mostly with runs to Jadarian Price, Jeremiyah Love and Gi’Bran Payne. Payne finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown out of the wildcat formation. Ohio State 10, Notre Dame 7.

Fourth quarter

• Notre Dame forces a punt on Ohio State’s drive after the touchdown. A great punt by OSU punter Jesse Mirco pins the Irish at their own 4-yard line.

• Jaden Greathouse. Jeremiyah Love. Rico Flores Jr. Three true freshmen just gave the Irish the lead, and it’s Flores with the 2-yard touchdown from Hartman. Whatever happens in the next 8:22, this team is resilient. Notre Dame 14, Ohio State 10

• On fourth and a foot in the red zone, Egbuka gets stuffed by Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Jack Kiser. Notre Dame comes up with a huge stop and takes over on downs, leading 14-10.