Notre Dame wasted no time in making its statement in the College Football Playoff title game.
Entering the game as seventh-seeded underdogs against eighth-seeded Ohio State, the Fighting Irish went on a frantic 18-play, 75-yard drive that ended with quarterback Riley Leonard He ran a yard into the end zone and exhausted his energy. Off at 9:45.
And before Ohio State's Will Howard and star wideout Jeremiah Smith even touched the ball, the Buckeyes were already up 7-0 and had lost more than half of the opening frame.
Leonard appeared exhausted by the end of the drive, as he rushed the ball nine times for 34 yards and completed 3-of-5 passes for 31 yards.
The Fighting Irish, who are on a 13-game winning streak after a heartbreaking loss to Northern Illinois earlier in the season, continue to move the ball efficiently against Ohio State's defense, creating manageable third downs when needed and heading the ball. allowed coach Marcus Freeman to create a second down. -Both down gambles were successful.
And of course, Leonard ended up rushing in each of those situations, helping extend a drive in which star running back Jeremiah Love only gained one yard on three carries.
Ohio State entered the game with the nation's best defense in yards allowed per game (251.1), and never allowed more than 21 yards in three College Football Playoff games, including in the semifinals. That included just 14 yards in a win over No. 5 seed Texas on Jan. 10.
But based on the Buckeyes' first defensive possession on Monday, that trajectory could change against Leonard and the Fighting Irish.
