By the Numbers: Comparing Ohio State and Notre Dame

COLUMBUS — Notre Dame hit the ground running this season with a runaway victory over Navy in Dublin, Ireland. Since, the Fighting Irish haven’t stumbled. Ohio State, meanwhile, needed two weeks to figure out its quarterback situation and gets settled offensively.

Last week, however, the Buckeyes of old were back. Newly-named, full-time QB1 Kyle McCord eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark, the defense forced four Western Kentucky turnovers and a pair of true freshmen had reservations for six, vaulting Ohio State to a 63-10 win.

Both Ohio State and Notre Dame have faced a Power Five team already. The No. 9 Fighting Irish (4-0) pulled away from North Carolina State in Week 2 for a 45-24 victory. The No. 6 Buckeyes (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten) opened the season with a 23-3 win at Indiana.

Saturday night is the first marquee matchup for either team, though. It’s a rematch of last year’s opener, and it’s the first time the historic programs have played each other in South Bend since 1996.

Lettermen Row dove into how they stack up on paper entering Week 4.

Scoring Offense

Buckeyes: 40.3 points per game (T-20th nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 46.0 points per game (9th nationally in FBS)

Total Offense

Buckeyes: 474.7 yards per game (24th nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 508.8 yards per game (16th nationally in FBS)

Passing Offense

Buckeyes: 318.0 yards per game (17th nationally in FBS, 1st in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 304.3 yards per game (21st nationally in FBS)

Rushing Offense

Buckeyes: 156.7 yards per game (T-70th nationally in FBS, T-7th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 204.5 yards per game (28th nationally in FBS)

Scoring Defense

Buckeyes: 6.7 points per game allowed (2nd nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 11.8 points per game allowed (T-14th nationally in FBS)

Total Defense

Buckeyes: 223.7 yards per game allowed (3rd nationally in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 234.3 yards per game allowed (4th nationally in FBS)

Passing Defense

Buckeyes: 140.3 yards per game allowed (7th nationally in FBS, 1st in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 126.8 yards per game allowed (4th nationally in FBS)

Rushing Defense

Buckeyes: 83.3 yards per game allowed (T-20th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 107.5 yards per game allowed (42nd nationally in FBS)

3rd Down Conversion

Buckeyes: 36.36% (T-94th nationally in FBS, T-11th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 54.55% (10th nationally in FBS)

Opponent 3rd Down Conversion

Buckeyes: 32.61% (T-37th nationally in FBS, T-5th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 31.67% (30th nationally in FBS)

Red Zone TD Percentage

Buckeyes: 66.67% (T-52nd nationally in FBS, T-9th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 86.67% (10th nationally in FBS)

Opponent Red Zone TD Percentage

Buckeyes: 66.67% (T-81st nationally in FBS, T-11th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 33.33% (T-9th nationally in FBS)

Sacks Per Game

Buckeyes: 1.67 (T-93rd nationally in FBS, 12th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 1.50 (T-106th nationally in FBS)

Sacks Allowed Per Game

Buckeyes: 1.00 (T-20th nationally in FBS, T-5th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 1.00 (T-20th nationally in FBS)

Turnover Margin Per Game

Buckeyes: 0.67 (T-30th nationally in FBS, T-4th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 0.75 (29th nationally in FBS)

Time of Possession

Buckeyes: 28:27.33 (95th nationally in FBS, 11th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 30:17.75 (66th nationally in FBS)

Penalties Per Game

Buckeyes: 5.3 (T-49th nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 5.8 (T-68th nationally in FBS)

Punt Average

Buckeyes: 42.75 (57th nationally in FBS, 6th in Big Ten)
Notre Dame: 48.80 (6th nationally in FBS)