Pregame observations from Ohio Stadium: Notre Dame football at Ohio State
Marcus Freeman makes his regular season debut as Notre Dame head coach Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) against his alma mater. The No. 5 Irish open the 2022 campaign at No. 2 Ohio State.
It’s their first meeting since the 2016 Fiesta Bowl and first regular season matchup since 1996. All told, it’s the seventh all-time meeting between the two programs. Ohio State has a 4-2 lead and has won four straight matchups. The Irish’s last win in the series came in 1936.
Follow along the BlueandGoold.com live blog for pregame and in-game updates all evening.
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Pregame
5:25 p.m.: Notre Dame arrives at Ohio Stadium, with many players and coaches making their way to midfield for a pregame prayer and meeting. They circle around the “O” at the 50-yard line. Freeman remains in a corner of the stadium to do interviews with ABC and Notre Dame’s radio network.
5:30 p.m.: A few walk-ons and deep reserve scholarship players emerge wearing their jerseys and sweat pants. They’re presumably not part of the travel squad and made their way to Columbus separately, but are allowed to be on the field. Kicker Josh Bryan is one of the scholarship players.
5:35 p.m.: Ohio State’s injury report is out. Wide receiver Julian Fleming, who’s expected to be a top-four receiver for the Buckeyes, is listed as a game-time decision.
5:40 p.m.: Junior defensive end Rylie Mills, senior defensive end Nana Osafo-Mensah and senior defensive tackle Jacob Lacey are among the first Irish players emerge for initial warmups.
5:50 p.m.: Most position groups have made their way to the field for stretching and light warmups. Quarterback Tyler Buchner comes out to start throwing.
5:55 p.m.: Ohio State arrives and strolls across the field to its locker room.
5:57 p.m.: Grad student left guard Jarrett Patterson jogs out on the field for light warmups and stretching. He’s wearing shorts and knee braces, like the rest of the offensive linemen. Patterson (foot sprain) is a game-time decision, Freeman told ESPN earlier on Saturday.
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6:05 p.m.: Kicker Blake Grupe emerges and starts field goal warmups in the south end zone. He attempts a few from 38 yards.
6:19 p.m.: Most of Notre Dame’s players have gone back into the locker room to get fully suited for the more intensive warmup period.
6:35 p.m. ET: Notre Dame’s specialists take the field in uniform. Freeman follows on his own moments later.
7:00 p.m: All Notre Dame players are out for more warmups and full team stretching in uniform. Patterson is dressed for the game, though there remains no official word from Notre Dame other than game-time decision.
7:02 p.m.: Ohio State’s full team emerges in uniform for its own warmups.
7:10 p.m.: Notre Dame splits into position group drills. Patterson does not participate with the other linemen, instead standing off to the side. Senior Andrew Kristofic lines up at left guard with the rest of the starters.
7:16 p.m.: Notre Dame goes through 11-on-11 warmups. Once again, Kristofic replaces Patterson with the first team. The first linebackers out are Jack Kiser, JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau. Brandon Joseph and Houston Griffith are the safeties.
7:20 p.m.: The Irish leave the field and head to the locker room.
7:38 p.m.: Notre Dame runs onto the field for the final time.
