In a thrilling matchup, Ohio State pulled off an incredible last-second win against Notre Dame with a final score of 17-14. The game’s defining moment came when Chip Trayanum rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with just one second remaining on the clock, securing the Buckeyes’ victory. This dramatic finish marked the first time Ohio State had won a game with less than three seconds to play since 2004 when Mike Nugent kicked a game-winning 55-yard field goal against Marshall.
The first half of the game saw both teams struggling to find the end zone, with the only points coming from a 31-yard field goal by Ohio State’s Jayden Fielding just before halftime.
Notable moments included Ohio State’s successful fourth-down stop when Notre Dame opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 instead of attempting a field goal. Additionally, TreVeyon Henderson’s 61-yard touchdown run in the second half gave the Buckeyes a 10-0 lead.
Notre Dame fought back, scoring its first points with a 1-yard Wildcat touchdown run by Gi’Bran Payne. They took the lead with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Sam Hartman to Rico Flores Jr.
In a nail-biting sequence, Ohio State faced 4th-and-1 at the 11-yard line but failed to convert, allowing Notre Dame to maintain their lead.
With just over a minute left, Ohio State had one last opportunity to score. They advanced downfield, with Kyle McCord’s crucial pass to Emeka Egbuka and a successful conversion on 4th-and-7. Ohio State reached the red zone with a 19-yard pass from McCord to Marvin Harrison Jr. Finally, with three seconds left, Ohio State decided to run the ball, and Trayanum’s 1-yard touchdown sealed the dramatic victory.
This win marked Ohio State’s sixth consecutive victory against Notre Dame dating back to 1995. The Buckeyes now head into their bye week with a perfect 4-0 record and will face Maryland at home on October 7 for their fifth game of the season.
Game Notes:
- Ohio State traveled with 78 players, with safety Cameron Martinez being the only injured player unavailable for the game.
- The Buckeyes scored only three points in the first half, their fewest in a first half since 2018.
- Ohio State’s first-half shutout was its first since 2021.
- This game had the lowest-scoring first half between top-10 teams since 2006.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. suffered an apparent ankle injury but returned to the game.
- This was Ohio State’s first game with fewer than 20 points since 2017.