You know those games that just feel different? The ones where the air in the stadium is so thick with tension you could basically cut it with a knife? That’s exactly what happens whenever Notre Dame and Ohio State share a field. It doesn’t happen often. Honestly, for two schools that sit only 250 miles apart and fight over the same recruits every single February, they’ve been surprisingly good at avoiding each other for most of the last century.
But when they do play? It's chaos.
Just look at what happened on January 20, 2025. The College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta. It was the first year of the new 12-team format, and of course, it ended with these two blue-bloods staring each other down. Ohio State took it, 34-23, securing their ninth national title and leaving South Bend in a state of "what if." It was a classic Ryan Day vs. Marcus Freeman chess match that eventually came down to Will Howard making plays and Quinshon Judkins being, well, Quinshon Judkins.
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The Notre Dame vs Ohio State Record Nobody Wants to Admit
If you’re a Fighting Irish fan, looking at the all-time series history is a bit like looking at a car wreck. You want to look away, but you can’t. After that 2025 title game, the Buckeyes now lead the series 7-2.
But here’s the kicker: Notre Dame won the first two games back in 1935 and 1936. Since then? It has been a total scarlet and gray takeover. Ohio State has won seven straight meetings.
The 1935 game was actually voted the "Game of the Century" back in 1950. Notre Dame was down 13-0 in the fourth quarter—back when scoring 13 points felt like 50— and they roared back to win 18-13. That game essentially built the legend of the "Fighting Irish." But since 1995, the Buckeyes have basically owned the deed to this rivalry. Whether it’s the Fiesta Bowl beatdowns in 2006 and 2016 or the soul-crushing last-second touchdown by Chip Trayanum in South Bend in 2023, Ohio State always seems to find a way to break Irish hearts.
Marcus Freeman and the Ohio State Connection
It’s impossible to talk about this matchup without mentioning Marcus Freeman. The man is a Buckeye through and through—or at least he was. He played linebacker for Ohio State from 2004 to 2008. He was a graduate assistant there.
Now, he’s the face of Notre Dame.
People always ask if his history gives him an "in" when playing his alma mater. Honestly? Probably not. If anything, it just makes the losses sting more. Losing to Ohio State in the 2022 opener was tough. Losing that heartbreaker in 2023 because the Irish only had 10 men on the field for the final play? That was a disaster. But leading his team to the 2025 National Championship against them showed he’s finally closed the gap, even if the scoreboard didn't favor him that night.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 National Championship
A lot of the national media narrative after the 2025 title game was that Ohio State just had "more dudes." While the Buckeyes’ roster was loaded with NFL talent like Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, the game was actually much closer than the 34-23 score looked.
Notre Dame actually led 7-0 after an 18-play opening drive. Riley Leonard was playing like a man possessed, running the ball nine times on that first possession alone. The Irish defense, led by Xavier Watts and Howard Cross III, actually kept the Buckeyes’ explosive offense in check for most of the first half.
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The real turning point? It wasn't a talent gap. It was a 70-yard burst by Quinshon Judkins at the start of the third quarter. That one play shifted the momentum so violently that the Irish never truly recovered. Notre Dame mounted a late comeback—shoutout to Jaden Greathouse for those two late touchdowns—but a missed field goal and a clutch 56-yard bomb from Will Howard to Jeremiah Smith finally iced it.
Why the Gap is Shrinking
For years, the knock on Notre Dame was that they couldn't compete with the "speed" of programs like Ohio State or Alabama. That’s kinda becoming an old-school take.
- Recruiting philosophy: Freeman has leaned into the "Midwest grit" but added elite speed at the skill positions.
- The Portal: Both teams have mastered the transfer portal. Ohio State getting Will Howard (Kansas State) and Notre Dame getting Riley Leonard (Duke) changed the ceiling for both programs in 2024 and 2025.
- The Trenches: In the 90s, Ohio State’s line would just bully Notre Dame. In the last three meetings, the line play has been a total stalemate.
The Recruiting War Behind the Scenes
The "Notre Dame vs Ohio State" battle isn't just a Saturday thing. It's a 365-day-a-year war for the best kids in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. When a five-star defensive end from Cincinnati pops up, you can bet your house both Day and Freeman are on his doorstep.
Ohio State usually wins the battle for the pure athletes—the guys who want to be first-round wide receivers. Notre Dame wins the battle for the "high floor" guys—the offensive tackles and tight ends who want a 40-year degree. But lately, those lines are blurring. Notre Dame is starting to land the track-star cornerbacks, and Ohio State is landing the bruising interior linemen.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Matchup
If you’re looking ahead to future meetings or just trying to win an argument at the bar, here’s the real deal on how this rivalry is trending:
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- Watch the Red Zone: In the last three meetings, the winner was the team that didn't settle for field goals. Notre Dame’s habit of stalling inside the 20 has cost them dearly against the Buckeyes.
- Quarterback Mobility Matters: Ohio State used to be a pure pocket-passing team. Seeing Will Howard run for 57 yards in the 2025 title game showed that Ryan Day has evolved. If Notre Dame wants to win, their defense has to account for the QB as a runner, not just a thrower.
- The "Ten Men" Curse: Ever since that 2023 blunder, Notre Dame fans have been obsessed with substitution patterns. It sounds silly, but game management has been the difference between these two.
The rivalry is currently at a fever pitch. With the 12-team playoff now the norm, we don’t have to wait 50 years between games anymore. We might see them play every single January.
For Ohio State, it’s about maintaining dominance. For Notre Dame, it’s about finally getting that monkey off their back and proving they can beat the Buckeyes when the lights are brightest.
To stay ahead of the next big clash, keep an eye on the 2026 recruiting rankings for both schools. Look specifically at who is winning the battles for "swing state" recruits in the Midwest. Those kids usually decide who wins this game two years before they ever step onto the field.