Ohio State enters the national championship game as favorites over Notre Dame, who haven’t defeated the Buckeyes since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.
The Fighting Irish last beat Ohio State on Oct. 31, 1936, securing a 7-2 victory in South Bend. That win came during a 6-2-1 season for Notre Dame, while Ohio State finished 5-3.
A pass to McCormick was good on the two yard line, and on the next play McCormick started swiftly to the left, cut in sharply over tackle, and dashed into the end zone for a touchdown. Wojcihovski was rushed in to hold the ball for Danbom, who booted a perfect placement to make the score 7-2
That account from Scholastic Magazine describes what remains Notre Dame’s most recent touchdown in a win over the Buckeyes.
The teams have met eight times, with Ohio State holding a 6-2 series advantage. The Buckeyes’ dominance includes six straight wins dating back to 1995.
Their most recent matchup came in 2023, when Ohio State scored in the final seconds to secure a 17-14 victory in South Bend.
The programs went 59 years without playing after their 1936 meeting. Since resuming the series in 1995, Ohio State has controlled the rivalry.
Two of those wins came in Fiesta Bowl matchups – a 34-20 victory in 2005 and a 44-28 win in 2015.
Complete Series History
1935: Notre Dame 18, Ohio State 13
1936: Notre Dame 7, Ohio State 2
1995: Ohio State 45, Notre Dame 26
1996: Ohio State 29, Notre Dame 16
2005: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 20
2015: Ohio State 44, Notre Dame 28
2022: Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10
2023: Ohio State 17, Notre Dame 14
The championship matchup gives Notre Dame its first opportunity to end the 88-year drought against the Buckeyes in a game with national title implications.
