Ezekiel Elliott carries the Buckeyes to a 44-28 win over Notre Dame in Fiesta Bowl

Outside of the College Football Playoff games, the Ohio State-Notre Dame matchup was by far the most hyped contest heading into bowl season. With the team’s best defensive players leaving the game in the first quarter — Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith left with a knee injury and Ohio State’s Joey Bosa was ejected — the two teams still brought plenty of NFL talent to the table and it showed.

In the end, the Buckeyes were able to outlast the Irish, and Urban Meyer’s men, led by running back Ezekiel Elliott, took the lead early and didn’t give it up, to beat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, 44-28.

Quarter by Quarter

First Quarter

• 11:54 – Second-and-1 – Braxton Miller AND Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield together as running backs? Although we didn’t see that much during the season, Miller runs for an easy 27-yard gain off tackle to put the Buckeyes just inside the 30-yard line.
• 9:53 – Third-and-goal – Ezekiel Elliott and company make it look way too easy on their first drive of the game that was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Zeke. Was an easy 9-play, 80-yard opening drive for the Buckeyes. (7-0)

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• 7:41 – Second-and-9 – Way. Too. Easy. J.T. Barrett connects with Michael Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown. (14-0)

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• 5:40 – Second-and-6 – On a very controversial play, Joey Bosa is ejected for targeting on a hit to Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer. According to the rule book, the helmet-to-chest hit was technically a targeting hit, but for it to lead to an ejection is a horrible call.

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First Quarter Analysis

The Buckeyes offense started fast and didn’t let up against the Irish. With two quick touchdowns on their first two drives of the game, Ohio State seems to be trying to prove a point against Notre Dame.

And the Joey Bosa targeting call…yes, it was targeting according to the rule book, but it wasn’t ejection worthy, especially on such a big stage. It’s sad to see that No. 97’s last game in the scarlet and gray will end like that.

Second Quarter

• 7:34 – First-and-goal – Running back Josh Adams gives the Irish their first score of the game with a 3-yard touchdown run. (14-7)
• 4:55 – First-and-goal – When you feed Zeke, good things happen. Ezekiel Elliott scores his second touchdown of the game with an easy 1-yard touchdown run. (21-7)
• 1:48 – Second-and-10 – Notre Dame just simply can’t stop Zeke. He scores his third touchdown of the first half, with another 1-yard touchdown run. (28-7)
• 0:29 – First-and-goal – Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer  cuts the Ohio State lead to 14 just before halftime with a 1-yard touchdown on a quarterback keeper. (28-14)

Second Quarter Analysis

Just keep feeding Zeke. He not only had two touchdowns in the second quarter, but also had some tremendous blocks as well.

Following Joey Bosa’s ejection, Ohio State didn’t put as much pressure on Notre Dame’s backfield, which made it much easier for the Irish to move the ball.

Either way, the Bucks still took a 14-point lead into the half and get the ball to start the second half.

Third Quarter

• 12:05 – Second-and-5 – J.T. Barrett’s pass gets tipped coming out of his hand and is intercepted by Notre Dame’s Joe Schmidt. The first turnover of the game for the Buckeyes.
• 8:58 – Third-and-3 – Notre Dame cuts the lead to seven with a DeShone Kizer 4-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak. (28-21)
• 6:37 – First-and-10 – When it comes to the postseason, Ezekiel Elliott is full Beast Mode. Zeke runs for an easy 47-yard touchdown for his fourth touchdown of the game. Elliott made sure to hit the “Bosa Shrug” as his touchdown celebration as well. (35-14)

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• 5:09 – Third-and-10 – Tyvis Powell picks off Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer to give the Bucks the ball back near midfield.

Third Quarter Analysis

With two turnovers and two touchdowns in the quarter, there was a lot of action from both teams, but one thing was clear: Ezekiel Elliott is really, really good, especially in the postseason.

Although the defense clearly misses Joey Bosa, they have done enough to keep the Buckeyes ahead by double-digits, and have even forced Notre Dame to throw an interception.

Fourth Quarter

• 12:10 – Fourth-and-11 – Sean Nuernberger gives the Bucks three points with a 37-yard field goal to make it a three-possession game. (38-21)
• 11:27 – Second-and-8 – Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer answers right back and finds his best receiver, Will Fuller for an 81-yard touchdown. (38-28)
• 6:09 – Fourth-and-12 – Sean Nuernberger makes his second field goal of the quarter, this time it’s a 38-yarder. (41-28)
• 2:42 – Fourth-and-5 – Sean Nuernberger makes yet another field goal, a 35-yarder this go-round. (44-28)
• 1:35 – First-and-10 – Darron Lee clinches the Fiesta Bowl victory for the Buckeyes with a forced fumble on a sack. Tracy Sprinkle recovered the fumble for Ohio State.

Fourth Quarter Analysis

In the quarter of Sean Nuernberger, the kicker and the rest of the Bucks offense did all they had to do to put the game away for the Buckeyes. Whether it was Zeke, J.T. Barrett, or the Silver Bullets, they made not have scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but they bent and didn’t break, and that’s all that matters.

Top Performers

J.T. Barrett – 19-of-31, 211 yards, one touchdown, one interception; 23 carries, 96 yards

Ezekiel Elliott – 27 carries, 149 yards, four touchdowns; one catch, 30 yards

Michael Thomas – seven catches, 72 yards, one touchdown

Jalin Marshall – seven returns, 109 yards; five catches, 29 yards

Gareon Conley – seven tackles, one pass breakup

Darron Lee – seven tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble

Joshua Perry – seven tackles, one pass breakup

Tyvis Powell – five tackles, one interception

Sam Hubbard – four tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss

Sean Nuernberger- made all three field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards

Final Thoughts

In a game that featured plenty of future 2016 NFL Draft picks, the Buckeyes had one of their best overall games of the season. The seniors — who won 50 games in their four years at Ohio State — and also many of the juniors that will be foregoing their season year to enter the draft proved why, even with one loss this season, should have been in the College Football Playoff.

Ezekiel Elliott proved, yet again, that when you feed him, only good things will happen. The running back was full-on Beast Mode in yet another postseason game, with an impressive four touchdowns and almost 180 yards from scrimmage.

Even without their best defensive player and arguably the best player on the defensive side of the ball in the country, Joey Bosa, the Silver Bullets did all they had to do against the Irish. The youngsters on the defensive line also played very well too, forcing turnovers and putting pressure on the Notre Dame backfield.

With the season officially over, it’s hard to realize that we will no longer see Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, and the rest of the seniors (and a lot of juniors) play again for the scarlet and gray.

And now starts an eight-month drought without Ohio State football.