OHIO STATE MIRACLE COMEBACK!
The Buckeyes stun the Irish in South Bend on a last-second touchdown run! Kyle McCord leads a heroic comeback drive, and Ohio State’s defense comes up big when it matters most. This is a huge win for the Buckeyes, who are now considered to be one of the favorites to win the national championship.
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No. 6 Ohio State pulled off a miracle comeback on Saturday, defeating No. 9 Notre Dame in South Bend on a one-yard touchdown run with one second left in the game.
The Buckeyes trailed 14-11 with just over two minutes to play, but quarterback Kyle McCord led them on a 73-yard game-winning drive, completing five passes along the way. McCord finished the game with 240 yards passing and one touchdown.
Ohio State’s defense also played a key role in the victory, holding Notre Dame to a season-low 14 points. The Buckeyes made two crucial fourth-down stops inside their own territory, including one in the final minute of the game that gave them the ball back with a chance to win.
The Buckeyes’ victory was their first in South Bend since 1996 and extended their winning streak over Notre Dame to four games. It was also a huge statement win for Ohio State, who is now considered to be one of the favorites to win the national championship.
Buckeyes, Irish Trade Punts in Defensive First Quarter
In a defensive first quarter, Ohio State and Notre Dame traded punts three times, with the Irish turning the ball over on downs once. Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman was efficient under pressure, completing 9 of 10 passes for 88 yards, but the Irish were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Notre Dame kicker Spencer Shrader missed a 47-yard field goal attempt with 26 seconds left in the quarter, leaving the game scoreless heading into the second.
Buckeyes Stall at Goal Line, Lead 3-0
Ohio State failed to convert on 4th and 1 at the Notre Dame 1-yard line after Kyle McCord’s pass was deflected and Miyan Williams was stopped for no gain on 3rd and goal. The Buckeyes’ 13-play, 70-yard drive took over seven minutes. OSU forced Notre Dame to punt after a tackle in space and pass breakup by safety Josh Proctor with 3:46 remaining in the first half. Emeka Egbuka dropped a would-be 15-yard touchdown pass after hauling in back-to-back catches. Jayden Fielding made a 31-yard field goal with 26 seconds left in the first half to give Ohio State a 3-0 lead.
Buckeyes Surge Ahead on Henderson TD Run
Notre Dame turned the ball over on downs for a second time, giving Ohio State the ball at their own 39-yard line. TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 61 yards for the first touchdown of the game, giving the Buckeyes a 10-0 lead with 11:14 left in the third quarter. Marvin Harrison Jr. was injured on the play, but he returned to the game. Notre Dame responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that took over seven minutes and ended in a one-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead to 10-7. The Buckeyes were forced to punt at the end of the quarter.
Notre Dame Takes Lead, Buckeyes Respond
Notre Dame started the fourth quarter on their own 4-yard line and scored on a short touchdown pass from Hartman to cap off an 11-play, 96-yard drive, giving them a 14-10 lead. Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord completed a 40-yard pass to Xavier Johnson to the Notre Dame 30-yard line, but the Buckeyes turned the ball over on downs on a jet sweep to Emeka Egbuka that gained no yards on 4th and 1 from the Notre Dame 11-yard line. Ohio State forced Notre Dame to punt and got the ball back at their own 27-yard line with 1:26 left in the game. Several completions have taken Ohio State inside the red zone.
The Ohio State Buckeyes pulled off a miracle comeback on Saturday, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 17-14 on a one-yard touchdown run with one second left in the game. The Buckeyes trailed 14-11 with just over two minutes to play, but quarterback Kyle McCord led them on a 73-yard game-winning drive, completing five passes along the way. McCord finished the game with 240 yards passing and one touchdown. Ohio State’s defense also played a key role in the victory, holding Notre Dame to a season-low 14 points. The Buckeyes made two crucial fourth-down stops inside their own territory, including one in the final minute of the game that gave them the ball back with a chance to win.
The Buckeyes’ victory was their first in South Bend since 1996 and extended their winning streak over Notre Dame to four games. It was also a huge statement win for Ohio State, who is now considered to be one of the favorites to win the national championship. The Buckeyes’ comeback was truly remarkable, and it showed that they have the heart and determination to win even when things look bleak. They will need to continue to play at a high level in the weeks to come if they want to achieve their goal of winning the national championship.