Just call them Notre Doink!
The Fighting Irish had a chance to further cut into Ohio State’s 31-15 lead and build off their momentum in the fourth quarter but instead got stopped in the red zone. Then kicker Mitch Jeter’s 27-yard field goal attempt hit the uprights to keep Notre Dame off the board entirely.
It proved to be a pivotal moment for an Irish squad that couldn’t complete its rally in the 34-23 loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday.
Notre Dame collected its first turnover of the game with 27 seconds left in the third quarter, a sign that the tide may be turning in its favor, instead it became a drive with an unfortunate ending — and a decision that will likely be analyzed in the days to come as the Buckeyes controlled the national championship game for the better part of the night.
The Irish showed some fight in the second half as they scored touchdowns late in the third quarter and again in the fourth to give themselves a chance.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard connected on a 34-yard pass with Jaden Greathouse to end Ohio State’s 31-point run, with Leonard throwing a pass to Jeremiyah Love for a two-point conversion.
Coach Marcus Freeman opted to go for the three points at the 9-yard line on fourth down with his team down 16 and needing two touchdowns with a pair of two-point conversions. Instead, it remained down a pair of massive scores.
Leonard found Greathouse again following Jeter’s miss for a 30-yard TD — with a two-point conversion to make it a 31-23 score with 4:15 left.
The effort proved to be too little, too late as Ohio State held on for the win after Jeremiah Smith’s 56-yard grabe led to a 33-yard Jayden Fielding field goal to seal it.
It left the Irish to rue the points they left on the field — or off the upright.
