2022 Begins With A Top-Five Match Up At Ohio State

SERIES HISTORY

Ohio State leads the all-time series 4-2-0. Notre Dame won the first two meetings in the series, including what was touted as the original college football ‘Game of the Century’ in 1935 when Bill Shakespeare connected with Wayne Millner for a 19-yard game-winning touchdown pass for the Irish with 32 seconds remaining. 

Saturday will mark the first regular-season meeting between Notre Dame and Ohio State since 1996. The two more recent meetings between the two schools occurred in the Fiesta Bowl 10 years apart (2006, 2016) and in two different venues (Sun Devil Stadium, University of Phoenix Stadium). 

STORYLINES

• Notre Dame’s Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman, the 30th head coach in schooll history, begins his first full season with the Irish by taking on his alma mater, Ohio State. Freeman was a linebacker for the Buckeyes (2004-08) and has coached against his alma mater in Ohio Stadium previously – in 2019 as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati. 
• Tyler Buchner will make his first career start at quarterback for the Irish in Ohio Stadium. The sophomore signal caller appeared in 10 games in 2021, finishing with six total touchdowns (three rushing, three passing), 298 passing yards and 368 rushing yards (7.0 ypc).
• The 2022 season opener marks the first time Notre Dame is kicking off the season in a top five matchup since 1990, when the top-ranked Irish defeated No. 4 Michigan 28-24 in Notre Dame Stadium. 

NOTRE DAME VS. NUMBER TWO

• All-time: 8-9-2
• On Opponent’s Field: 4-2-2
• Last win vs. No. 2: October 20, 1990 – No. 10 Notre Dame 29, Miami 20
• Last game vs. No. 2: December 29, 2018 – No. 3 Notre Dame 3, No. 2 Clemson 30

NOTRE DAME SEASON OPENERS

• All-time: 109-17-5 (.851)
• On Opponent’s Field: 26-5-2 (.818)
• Notre Dame has won its last five season openers. 
• In the 109 seasons Notre Dame has won its opener, the Irish have gone on to post a winning record 93.5 percent of those campaigns (102). 
• In 10 of the last 12 seasons, the Irish have scored the first points in the season’s opening game. Since 1958, Notre Dame is 38-4 (.904) in the season opener when scoring first, while they are 14-6 when the opponent registers the first score. 
• Notre Dame began the 2021 season on the road as well, marking the 2022 season as the first time the Irish have started on the road in back-to-back years since 2005 and 2006 (wins at Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech, respectively). 

IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS

* – includes 20 victories in 2012 & 2013 and two postseason were later vacated by an NCAA discretionary penalty. 

THE TWO DEEP – OFFENSE

The last time out, Styles set career highs for catches (9) and yards (136) in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Oklahoma State • Style’s father, Lorenzo Sr., played at Ohio State (1992-94) and was selected in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft, his brother, Sonny, is a freshman at Ohio State • Colzie played 11 games as a true freshman in 2021, finishing with four catches for 64 yards.

Thomas appeared in three games last season but did not catch a pass • bolstered by a great spring camp, Thomas is expected to be a playmaker for the Irish receiving corps • Salerno is a former walk on who has a set of the most dependable hands on the team and has returned punts for the Irish the past two years.

Alt started 2021 as a blocking TE, then took over the left tackle position for the final eight games of the season, putting together an impressive rookie campaign • Alt was a Pro Football Focus Freshman All-American last season • Baker saw action in 11 games last season with two starts.

Patterson, widely regarded as one of the top centers in the country, has shifted to guard due to the emergence of Zeke Correll at center throughout the spring and fall • Patterson has never allowed a sack in his 37 career games played with 34 starts • Spindler is one of the most talented young OL on the team, appeared in two games during his rookie season in 2021.

Correll’s development during the spring of 2022 provided the OL the opportunity for Jarrett Patterson to move to guard and strengthen the entire group • Correll played in nine games in 2021 with six starts and is remembered for his solid effort in his second carerer start vs. Alabama in the 2020 CFP playoff • Coogan is one of the biggest offensive lineman on the team at 309, he did not play as a true freshman in 2021.

Lugg started all 12 games in 2021, owns 20 career starts across the offensive line and is third on the team in career games played with 48 • Kristofic appeared in 13 games last season and started the final seven at guard.

Fisher was the first true freshman to start on the OL since 2006 (Sam Young) in 2021 when he manned the left tackle position at Florida State • Fisher was injured against FSU, missed the next 11 games but returned to start at right tackle in the Fiesta Bowl • Carmody played in 10 games last season with two starts and his older brother, Robby, plays basketball at Notre Dame.

Mayer is among the top tight ends in the nation and has his eyes set on breaking all of Notre Dame’s tight end season and career records • Bauman is a skilled pass catcher and blocker who will also play a key role in Notre Dame’s offensive attack.

Lenzy is poised for a breakout season and is one of the fastest players on the team • Lenzy hauled in 32 passes with three touchdowns in 2021 • Wilkins Jr. has worked hard to return from a foot injury and is on pace to play against Ohio State.

Buchner will be making his first career start at Ohio State hoping to extend Noter Dame’s streak of eight consecutive victories when a quarterback makes his first career start • In 2021, Buchner was the first true freshman in Notre Dame history to throw and rush for a touchdown in the same game (Virginia Tech) • Pyne threw two touchdown passes in relief last season, including his first career TD toss in a win over Wisconsin at Soldier Field.

The Irish backfield has three talented options, all of whom could start against Ohio State • Tyree finished 2021 with the best game of his career with six catches for 115 receiving yards • Tyree finished the season with 827 all-purpose yards • Diggs emerged in the final eight games of 2021 as a true freshman, logging 230 yards on 52 carries (4.4 avg) and he both ran for and caught a touchdown pass against Georgia Tech • Estime is expected to see a highly increased role in the rushing attack after appearing in 12 games last season, but posting just seven carries.

McPherson won the kickoff job quickly in camp and is expected to be among the national leaders in touchbacks • Grupe graduate transferred from Arkansas State and provides an experienced and steady option for the Irish placekicking game • Sot also is a graduate transfer and won the punting job with a consistent effort tin the fall • Vinson is one of the best long snappers in the nation.

THE TWO DEEP – DEFENSE

Foskey led the Irish with 11 sacks in 2021, the third-most in a single season in program history • a ballhawk in the trenches, Foskey forced six of Notre Dame’s 13 forced fumbles in 2021 • Justin Ademilola finished second on the team in sacks last year with five while appearing in all 13 games • Botelho has all the tools to become a game wrecker on the outside of the defense, he posted two sacks and 18 tackles last season.

The Irish defensive tackle position is deep, talented and experienced • Jayson Ademilola started all 13 games in 2021 and posted 49 tackles from the defensive line with 3.5 sacks • Lacey is ready to assume a greater role on the Irish front and has appeared in 33 career games • Smith is a graduate transfer from Harvard, where he earned first-team All-Ivy League honors in 2021 with 40 tackles (five for a loss) and 3.5 sacks • Smith has established himself as one of the strongest players on the Irish roster.

Cross played in 11 games last season with two starts and has developed into one of the most consistent interior defensive linemen on the team • Rubio is poised to make his mark after appearing in just one contest last season as a true freshman – the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State.

Mills has shown all the signs of having a breakout campaign for the Irish • logging 22 games in his first two season with the Irish, Mills had three sacks as a sophomore in 2021 • after missing 2020 with an injury, Osafo-Mensah played in 12 games with one start in 2021, which was his first full season of action   • Ehrensberger is also ready to make his mark after developing the last two sesasons – the native German appeared in 10 games in 2021.

Liufau saw what would be his break out year in 2021 derailed by a preseason injury • one of the most athletic defenders on the roster, Liufau is ready to build off his 10 games and three starts from 2020 • Kiser has a knack for big plays, which include a 66-yard interception return against Wisconsin and a 43-yard interception return versus Georgia Tech • Kiser played all 13 games last year with 45 tackles, 26 of them unassisted • Kollie will play a larger role than during his rookie campaign in 2021, when he appeared in 10 games with 14 tackles.

It would be difficult to find a duo of linebackers with a higher football IQ and more experience than Bertrand and Bauer • Bertrand led the team with 101 tackles in 2021 and was the first player since Courtney Watson in 2001 to start the year with three games of 10 tackles or more • Bauer will log game 52 in his Notre Dame career against Ohio State and is a special teams all star • Tuihalamaka has impressed since his arrival on campus and will be a special teams regular.

The flexibility and football IQ of the linebacker corps is reflected in the two deep, as Kiser could log time at the Will and Rover spots, while Bertrand will appear at Mike and Rover. 

Hart was listed among Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’  – he started 10 games for the Irish last season and finished eighth on the team in tackles with 42 • Bracy is one of the leading contenders for the nickle defensive back position and has appeared in 44 career games • Mickey has impressed the coaching staff since arriving on campus for spring practice and will see as many snaps as any true freshman on the roster.

Experience will be the key word for the Irish strong safeties, as Griffith will play his 50th game at Notre Dame against Ohio State • Brown picked off three passes last season along with 42 tackles.

Joseph transferred from Northwestern after two All-America seasons for the Wildcats and gives the Irish a playmaker and leader in the defense’s back line • Joseph has nine career interceptions, including a Big Ten Conference-leading six in 2020 • Henderson saw action in all 13 games last season and started the final four games, including appearing at both cornerback and safety

Lewis has been a steady performer at cornerback since starting six games during his freshman season in 2020 • Lewis posted 53 tackles in 2021, 44 of them solo • Morrison arrived on campus in June and has performed well enough to appear on the team’s two deep as a true freshman. 

Sot’s experience holding at Harvard has helped lend a steading influence to the Irish place kicking operation • Joseph will be the playmaking option at punt returner, while Salerno will be called upon after serving as the Irish punt returner on and off the past two seasons • Tyree’s kick return at Wisconsin last year sparked Notre Dame’s rally in the contest.

A NOTEWORTHY SEASON OPENER

Notre Dame will open the season at Ohio State ranked fifth in the Associated Press poll, while the Buckeyes are the second-ranked team entering the season. Some historical comparison notes on the season-opening matchup: 

• It is the first season-opening top-five matchup for Notre Dame since September 15 1990, when the top-ranked Irish defeated No. 4 Michigan in Notre Dame Stadium.
• It will be the first time the Irish have opened the season on the road against at top-five opponent since September 8, 2001, when No. 5 Nebraska defeated No. 23 Notre Dame 27-10 in Memorial Stadium. 
• It is the first time a top-five ranked Notre Dame team has opened the season on the road against any opponent since September 2, 2006, when the second-ranked Irish defeated unranked Georgia Tech 14-10. 
• The last time the Irish opened the season in a ranked matchup, regardless of top-25 positioning or venue? A 24-17 victory by the 12th-ranked Irish over No. 14 Michigan on September 1, 2018. 
• The last time Notre Dame defeated a top-10 team on the road – in its first true road game of the season – was 2012 when No. 20 Notre Dame defeated No. 10 Michigan State 20-3 in Spartan Stadium. The Irish did begin the season on the road that year in a neutral site game in Dublin, Ireland, against Navy. 
• Notre Dame’s last road victory over a top-five ranked team occurred in 2005, when No. 20 Notre Dame defeated No. 3 Michigan 17-10 on September 10 in Michigan Stadium. 
• The most recent road victory against a top-10 ranked team was October 27, 2012, when the fifth-ranked Irish defeated No. 8 Oklahoma 30-13 in Memorial Stadium. 

MAYER MAKING HISTORY

Tight end Michael Mayer already owns the school records for tight end receptions in a season (71) and tight end touchdowns in a campaign (7) and has his eyes set on more season and career records as one of the top weapons in the Irish offensive arsenal this season. 

An overview on where Mayer stands on the game, single season and career ranking lists for tight ends at Notre Dame: 

Tight End Receptions – Game

Tight End Receiving Yards – Game

Tight End Receptions – Season

Tight End Receiving Yards – Season

Tight End Touchdown Receptions – Season

Tight End Receptions – Career

Tight End Receiving Yards – Career

Tight End Touchdown Receptions – Career

FOSKEY THE SACK ARTIST

Defensive end Isaiah Foskey enters the season with 15.5 career sacks in 29 games played. As he eyes the all-time sack record of 24.5 by Justin Tuck (2002-04), it also is noteworthy that Tuck is averaging over 1/2 a sack per game played (.53). 

That average is fourth-best for an Irish defensive player who has recorded at least 15 sacks in their career. 

SACKS PER GAME AVERAGE – CAREER 

GAMES PLAYED RECORD

Last season, fifth-year defensive lineman Kurt Hinish set the mark for career games played at Notre Dame with 61. With the extra year provided to student-athletes for the COVID 19 season, there are a hand full of Irish players who could challenge Hinish’s mark this season. 

CAREER GAMES PLAYED (minimum 50 for inactive players)

FIRST QUARTERBACK START HISTORY

The challenge for Tyler Buchner, starting his first career game on the road at No. 2 Ohio State, is something no other Irish quarterback has faced since the Associated Press poll came into existence. 

The closest similar challenge – a top-five opponent on its field – was Sandy Bovenchio in 1963 when the Irish lost 12-7 at No. 4 Michigan State. Johnny Lujack made his first start against No. 3 Army in Yankee Stadium on November 6, 1943 (a 26-0 Irish victory). 

Buchner will be looking to extend Notre Dame’s streak of eight victories in a quarterback’s first career start dating back to Dayne Crist against Purdue in 2010. 

A breakdown of Irish quarterback first career start victories, regardless of venue, against ranked teams – 

Since Paul Hornung started his first career game against SMU in the 1955 season opener in Notre Dame Stadium, Irish quarterbacks are 42-16 (.724) in their first career starts.

SEASON OPENER INDIVIDUAL RECORDS