By Aminat Notre Dame’s got a tough task ahead of them, thanks to their reliance on QB Riley Leonard and RB Jeremiyah Love to drive their rushing offense. Leonard’s a mobile QB who can make plays with his legs, having racked up 866 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. The Buckeyes might try to counter this by stacking the box and forcing Notre Dame into passing situations.
However, the Buckeyes’ secondary is a different beast compared to other Big Ten teams. Leonard’s had success exploiting coverage mistakes in the past, but he can’t afford to throw picks like he did in the Orange Bowl. The problem for Notre Dame is that they don’t have a go-to receiver who can keep the Buckeyes honest and make them pay for loading up against the run. Sophomore Jaden Greathouse had a breakout game against Penn State, but it’s a lot to ask him to repeat that performance on the biggest stage.
All this means that Ohio State’s defense has a unique opportunity to shut down Notre Dame’s rushing attack and put the pressure on Leonard to make plays with his arm. It’s a tough ask for the Fighting Irish, and it’s why they’re considered underdogs heading into Monday’s game.