Despite being two of the oldest programs in the NCAA, Ohio State has faced Notre Dame only a few times. The clashes between these two college football powerhouses have been few but intense, and their rivalry came to a head again when they meet for the National Championship on January 20.
These teams’ paths to the Natty were very different. The Buckeyes entered the postseason with their confidence in tatters after a loss to Michigan in the final game of the regular season. However, the team shook off the loss to score three convincing wins on their way to Atlanta.
The Fighting Irish, on the other hand, came in with a dominant run. With physical football that overwhelmed their opponents, Notre Dame made its way through the CFP with little to no sweat, confident of shaking off Ohio State’s dominance in past matchups.
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History favors the Buckeyes
In nearly 130 years of history, Ohio State and Notre Dame have met just nine times. The balance favors the Buckeyes with seven wins, compared to just two for the Fighting Irish. Of those matchups, only three have been in playoff games, all resulting in Ohio State victories.
List of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame games:
- 1935 – Notre Dame 18, Ohio State 13
- 1936 – Notre Dame 7, Ohio State 2
- 1995 – Ohio State 45, Notre Dame 26
- 1996 – Ohio State 29, Notre Dame 16
- 2006 – Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20 (2005 season Fiesta Bowl)
- 2016 – Ohio State 44, Notre Dame 28 (2015 season Fiesta Bowl)
- 2022 – Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10
- 2023 – Ohio State 17, Notre Dame 14
- 2024 – Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23
Ohio State is the favorite
With the weight of history behind them, the Buckeyes are the oddsmakers’ favorites by 8.5 points. The money line for Ohio State is -360, while for Notre Dame it is +283.
However, at game time, the past takes a backseat, and victory depends exclusively on the players. Will Ohio State make history count, or will Notre Dame open a new chapter in this long-standing rivalry?