This week’s top-10 showdown in South Bend, Indiana, went down to the wire.
Running back Chip Trayanum took the handoff and dove 1 yard across the goal line, and officials confirmed the touchdown that helped No. 6 Ohio State outlast No. 9 Notre Dame 16-14 on Saturday night.
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A defensive clash ensued in South Bend as the Buckeyes entered halftime ahead 3-0. Throughout much of the second half, however, Notre Dame possessed the football.
The Fighting Irish had possession for 20:29 in the second half compared to Ohio State’s 9:31. Both teams had the football for four drives in the second half, and both had two drives of at least seven plays and 3:38.
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Trailing 14-10, Ohio State had a previous chance at the goal line to take the lead with a little more than four minutes remaining. An end-around for receiver Emeka Egbuka didn’t work out, and the Fighting Irish stopped the Buckeyes with the lead behind them.
But Ohio State’s defense forced a punt after a pair of Notre Dame first downs, and the Buckeyes took the football down the field with 1:26 left to play.
Egbuka had two big catches on the game-winning drive: a 23-yarder to move the chains on 3rd and 10 and a 21-yard catch that brought the football to the Notre Dame 1-yard line setting up the score.
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Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord completed 57% of his passes and had 240 passing yards. TreVeyon Henderson had 104 rushing yards and a score and Trayanum finished with 13.
Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman totaled 175 yards and had a 2-yard touchdown pass to Rico Flores Jr.
