Skip to main content
ohio-state logo

Kyle McCord breaks down final sequence against short-handed Notre Dame defense

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•09/27/23•

SpencerHolbrook

Kyle McCord by Matt Parker -- Lettermen Row --
(Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State simply ran where Notre Dame wasn’t.

It’s all well-documented by now: on the final two plays of the final Ohio State drive that ended in a game-winning touchdown run, the Buckeyes were facing a 10-man Notre Dame defense. The Fighting Irish came out of a timeout with just 10 men on the field — and kept just 10 out there for both of the final plays.

The first was a rollout throw to Marvin Harrison Jr. It fell incomplete. But the Buckeyes then subbed in running back Chip Trayanum, calling a play that would run directly at the soft spot of the Notre Dame defense — where the 11th man should have been.

They scored a touchdown and won 17-14. It’s not something the Buckeyes are going to apologize for, either.

“When we got down to the 1, we called a sprint out, and I kind of took a look at the defense, I noticed that soft spot, but obviously we already called the sprint out,” junior quarterback Kyle McCord said Wednesday. “And I’m sure they saw that up in the box. I was thinking the next play had to be a run to the left. And when I got the call, and they obviously saw it up in the box. Coach Day saw it, I’m sure.

“And, you know, it was I think the perfect call.”

McCord is right. The defensive blunder happened on the first play, and Ohio State was too deep in its play call to take advantage. And both teams recognized the problem.

The difference: Ohio State capitalized, even after sending Trayanum in for TreVeyon Henderson, which gave the Fighting Irish a chance to bring an 11th player on. They didn’t, and Ohio State attacked. It was a heads-up call from the Buckeyes. And it sent them home with a win in the instant classic of a game.

“We were trying to get a fourth D-Lineman on the field, and I told him just stay off because we can’t afford a penalty,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said after the game. “I didn’t have any timeouts. So we couldn’t afford a penalty there. You know — yeah, it’s on us. We got to be better.”

For Notre Dame, the game will forever by marred by a ‘what if’ that comes with such a massive mistake in a big moment of a huge game. For Ohio State, it’ll be remembered for the Buckeyes willingness and ability to identify the error and take advantage of it all.

“It’s not our problem they only had 10 guys on the field,” McCord said. “I think we took advantage of it, obviously.”

The Buckeyes did take full advantage of it. That’s how they gained the critical yard in the biggest moment. It’s how they’re 4-0 and Notre Dame is 4-1.

You may also like