Numbers don't always tell the whole story. But when you look at an Ohio State Notre Dame box score, one specific number usually jumps off the page: ten. That’s how many defenders Notre Dame had on the field for the final two plays of their 2023 heartbreaker. It’s the kind of detail that turns a regular stat sheet into a piece of folklore.
Honestly, it’s rare for two programs this massive to play so few times. Since their first meeting in 1935, they’ve only met nine times. That’s it. For context, Notre Dame has played Purdue nearly 90 times. When these two Midwest titans actually do collide, the box score becomes a historical document.
Most recently, they met in the 2025 CFP National Championship. Ohio State took that one 34-23. But for most fans, the "box score" they’re still obsessed with is that 2023 clash in South Bend. It was a 17-14 defensive slog that ended with a literal goal-line stand—or a failure of one, depending on which side of the state line you live on.
The 2023 Heartbreaker: Breaking Down the Stats
If you just glanced at the final score, you’d think it was a boring game. You’d be wrong. It was a heavyweight fight where both teams spent three quarters punching the air.
Looking at the Ohio State Notre Dame box score from September 23, 2023, the first thing you notice is the lack of scoring early on. It was 3-0 at halftime. In modern college football, that’s basically a soccer score. Ohio State’s Kyle McCord was making his first real "big boy" start. He finished 21-of-37 for 240 yards. Not flashy. But he was efficient when it mattered.
Key Individual Performances
- TreVeyon Henderson (OSU): 14 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD. He had a 61-yard burst that accounted for more than half his production.
- Audric Estime (ND): 14 carries, 70 yards. He was the hammer for the Irish, but the Buckeyes kept him from breaking the big one.
- Sam Hartman (ND): 17-of-25 for 175 yards and a touchdown. He looked like the veteran leader Notre Dame needed until that final drive.
- Emeka Egbuka (OSU): 7 catches for 96 yards. With Marvin Harrison Jr. drawing double teams, Egbuka was the chain-mover.
The real story was the third-down conversions. Ohio State went 10-of-17. That’s incredible. They kept drives alive just long enough to wear out a very good Irish defense. Notre Dame, conversely, was 5-of-10. They were efficient, but they couldn't stay on the field.
The Final Drive by the Numbers
The last 1:26 of that game is a masterclass in tension.
- 65 yards: The distance McCord had to travel.
- 15 plays: How long the drive took.
- 1 second: The time remaining when Chip Trayanum crossed the goal line.
Basically, Notre Dame had them dead to rights. On a 3rd-and-19, McCord found Egbuka for 21 yards. That play alone changed the win probability by about 40%. Then came the 10-man mistake. On the final two plays, including the game-winning touchdown, Notre Dame only had 10 players on the field. They were missing a defensive lineman on the right side. Trayanum ran exactly where that missing player should have been.
The 2025 National Championship Rematch
Fast forward to January 2025. The stakes were higher—the first-ever 12-team playoff finale. This Ohio State Notre Dame box score looked a lot different. The offenses had caught up.
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Ohio State won 34-23. Will Howard, the Kansas State transfer who took over after McCord left, was clinical. He went 17-of-21 for 231 yards. That’s an 81% completion rate on the biggest stage imaginable.
Why the 2025 Box Score Diverged
Notre Dame actually out-rushed the Buckeyes in this one. Riley Leonard, the Duke transfer, ran the ball 9 times on the opening drive alone. He ended up scoring but literally went to the sideline to vomit because he was run so ragged.
The difference-maker? Quinshon Judkins. The Buckeyes' star back had 100 yards on 11 carries and a receiving touchdown. He was the explosive element the Irish couldn't contain. While Notre Dame fought back from a 31-7 deficit to make it 31-23, a late field goal by Jayden Fielding iced it.
Historical Context: A Series of "Games of the Century"
We can't talk about the box score without looking at the 1935 game. It was the first time they ever played. People called it the "Game of the Century" before the kickoff even happened.
Notre Dame won 18-13. They were down 13-0 in the fourth quarter. It was the original "miracle." Looking back at those old stats is wild. Bill Shakespeare—yes, that was his name—threw the winning touchdown with 32 seconds left. No overtime. No headsets. Just raw football.
Since then, Ohio State has dominated. They've won the last six meetings.
- 1995: 45-26 OSU (Eddie George went for 207 yards).
- 1996: 29-16 OSU.
- 2006: 34-20 OSU (Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. were too fast).
- 2016: 44-28 OSU (Ezekiel Elliott scored four times).
- 2022: 21-10 OSU.
- 2023: 17-14 OSU.
- 2025: 34-23 OSU.
The trend is pretty clear. Even when Notre Dame out-gains them or controls the clock, Ohio State finds a way to win the "big play" battle. In the 2022 game, for instance, Notre Dame led 10-7 going into the fourth quarter. Then Ohio State put together a 14-play, 95-yard drive that took 7 minutes off the clock. It broke the Irish defense's spirit.
What the Numbers Don't Show: The "Toughness" Factor
After the 2023 game, Ohio State coach Ryan Day went on a legendary rant against Lou Holtz. Holtz had questioned Ohio State's toughness on a pre-game show. That context matters because it explains why Ohio State played so conservatively in the first half. They weren't just trying to win; they were trying to prove a point.
In the Ohio State Notre Dame box score, "toughness" shows up in the rushing yards per attempt. In 2023, OSU averaged 4.7 yards per carry. In 2022, they were grinding out similar numbers. They aren't just a "finesse" team anymore, and the box scores reflect that shift toward a more balanced, physical attack.
Lessons from the Box Score for Future Matchups
If you're betting on this game or just trying to sound smart at the bar, look at the "Yards Per Play." In almost every matchup since 1995, the team that averages more than 5.5 yards per play wins.
Also, watch the red zone. In the 2023 game, Notre Dame had multiple chances to put the game away but settled for field goals or turned it over on downs. Efficiency inside the 20-yard line is usually where the Irish stumble against the Buckeyes' high-end talent.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check the Substitution Patterns: As we saw in 2023, a single substitution error can negate an entire game of elite defensive play.
- Monitor the "explosive play" count: Ohio State almost always has more 20+ yard plays. If Notre Dame keeps that number under three, they usually have a chance to win.
- Third Down is King: Ohio State’s ability to convert at 50% or higher against the Irish has been the consistent thorn in Marcus Freeman’s side.
The series is currently 7-2 in favor of Ohio State. The Buckeyes have established a psychological edge that transcends the stats. Until Notre Dame can prove they can finish a four-quarter game without a late-game lapse, the box score will likely continue to favor the Scarlet and Gray.
For anyone looking to dig deeper into the specific play-by-play, sites like Sports-Reference or the official NCAA database provide the full drive charts. But remember: the stats tell you what happened; the 10-man defensive line tells you why it happened.
Next Steps for Analysis:
To get a full picture of the rivalry's evolution, compare the 2023 defensive stats against the 2025 playoff numbers. You'll see a massive jump in "Success Rate" for Ohio State's passing game, which suggests that the gap in quarterback play is currently the biggest hurdle for Notre Dame to overcome in this series.