Ohio State handles Notre Dame in Fiesta Bowl

He flashed his speed in the second, becoming the show stopper as he raced up the middle for a long run.

“With all due respect to all the other running backs in Ohio State history, my first-round draft pick, I’d pick Zeke Elliott”, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said, per John Marshall of the Associated Press (via FOX Sports).

But the spirit of a team that fought its way to a 10-win season could be summed up in the way Notre Dame responded to the devastating blow to Smith in the early going, another issue when his replacement, Te’von Coney, was banged up and standout defensive tackle Sheldon Day’s battling through a foot injury and an illness he came down with late in the week. “I’m honored to continue the running back pedigree at Ohio State”. – Ohio State DE Joey Bosa kicked out of the game for a targeting penalty, Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith knocked out of the game – Notre Dame WR Will Fuller caught six passes for 113 yards and a score. The sophomore signal caller threw for 211 yards and ran for 96 in Ohio State’s 44-28 win over the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to give the Buckeyes a 12th win on the year. Not really. I think our mindset was that we are going to play a really good team in Notre Dame and we have to play hard and play together in order to win this game, and I think that was the mindset coming into the game. The Irish’s other losses were to Clemson and Stanford, both by two points.

Notre Dame trailed 21-7 but cut the deficit to 14 with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback DeShone Kizer with 29 seconds left in the half.

“That was a kidney shot”, Meyer said, referring to his morale, not Kizer’s torso.

After play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough noted that former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano would be taking over for Ash as Ohio State’s defensive playcaller, Spielman noted how Ash and Fickell countered Notre Dame’s second-half adjustment by bringing cornerback Eli Apple off the corner to thwart plays from exploding off the backside.

Junior running back Ezekiel Elliott, who will declare for the National Football League draft, said good-bye to Ohio State by rushing for 149 yards and tying the Fiesta Bowl record for touchdowns with four. They certainly worked out for the Buckeyes over the past three seasons.

In a game billed as a battle of two of the top defenses in the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, the Wolverines’ offense shined brightly in their first bowl victory since 2012.

The dream of defending their 2014 national championship was dashed by a November loss to Michigan State.

“Ohio State is a great team”.

MI played without safety Jabrill Peppers, who sat out with an undisclosed injury.

Kizer connected with Chris Brown on a 4-yard touchdown pass to open the second half, pulling the Irish within a touchdown.

TAMPA, Fla. – The Volunteers turned to Jalen Hurd to seal a Outback Bowl victory over the Wildcats at Raymond James Stadium.

MS 48, Oklahoma State 20: Chad Kelly threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns – three to Laquon Treadwell – and the No. 16 Rebels routed the No. 13 Cowboys in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The score was set up by linebacker Joe Schmidt’s interception of a Barrett pass tipped at the line and returned 21 yards.

Northwestern had its winning streak snapped at five game to finish 10-3, which ties the school record for most wins in a season.

Dobbs completed 14 of 25 passes.

In the end he was right.

Hurd scored on 3-yard run in the third quarter and became the first Tennessee player to top 100 yards rushing in two bowl games.