Buckeyes will play Notre Dame in Fiesta Bowl

Any season ending in a New Year’s bowl is a successful one, but when examined through the lens of expectation and potential it seems that this year will be a let-down for Buckeye faithful; even if Ohio State crushes Notre Dame.

Ohio State (11-1, Big Ten) vs Notre Dame (10-2, Independent), Jan. 1, 1 p.m. The last time these two faced off was in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl when the Buckeyes downed the Fighting Irish 34-20. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Meyer was an assistant at Notre Dame from 1996-2000, coaching wide receivers under Lou Holtz and then Bob Davie.

For Notre Dame it’s a 35th postseason bowl appearance (17-17 record).

It wasn’t the game Buckeye fans expected. Iowa will face Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

No. 1 Clemson will play No. 4 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Additional bowl appearances sent the Irish to the Gator Bowl (1976, 1998, 2002), Liberty Bowl (1983), Aloha/Hawaii Bowl (1984, 2008), Independence Bowl (1997), Insight Bowl (2004), Sun Bowl (2010), Champs Sports Bowl (2011), BCS Championship Game (2012), Pinstripe Bowl (2013) and Music City Bowl (2014). After a very close game against Michigan State resulted in their first loss of the year, the Iowa Hawkeyes fell just one spot to No. 5.

In another January 1 matchup, MS of the Southeastern Conference and Oklahoma State of the Big 12 will meet in the Sugar Bowl, while the December 31 Peach Bowl features a matchup between Florida State and Houston, the American Athletic Conference champion. The teams are scheduled to play a home-and-home series in 2022 and 2023.

Redshirt junior nose guard Jarron Jones (torn MCL) and redshirt sophomore tight end Durham Smythe (torn MCL, shoulder) will be cleared for practice this week and should play in Notre Dame’s New Year’s Day bowl game.