Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes highly-anticipated clash at Notre Dame announced as sellout
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Buckeyes highly-anticipated clash at Notre Dame announced as sellout
Notre Dame announced Wednesday that its Sept. 23 home game against Ohio State will be a sellout. The Fighting Irish sold out four of six homes games last season, averaging an attendance of 76,192 fans, or 98.2% of the Notre Dame Stadium’s 77,622-seat capacity.
Notre Dame revealed on St. Patrick’s Day that the Irish will be wearing their green jerseys for the back half of the home-and-home series with the Buckeyes. Head coach Marcus Freeman’s team also pulled out the alternate jerseys last September for a 24-17 win over California.
Notre Dame is 10-6 when wearing any sort of green in its jerseys the last 40 years, according to Tyler Horka of On3’s Blue and Gold Illustrated. Actually, the Irish have won five straight games of that category. To make it six in a row, though, they’ll have to beat Ohio State for the first time since 1936.
The Buckeyes hold a 5-2 edge in the all-time series, and Notre Dame’s two victories came in the 1930s. Ohio State has played at Notre Dame only twice before: first when the Buckeyes lost, 7-2, in 1936 and then when they topped the Irish, 29-16, in 1996.
Ohio State opened the 2022 season with a 21-10 win against Notre Dame in the Horseshoe. Wide receiver Xavier Johnson‘s go-ahead touchdown reception late in the third quarter was the highlight of that meeting. The last time the Buckeyes played Notre Dame back-to-back years was 1995-96.
Ohio State reveals themes for home games in upcoming season
Well, you heard about Ohio State’s first pivotal road game of the 2023 season above. But what about the Buckeyes’ home games this year?
The headliner of the six-game slate is an Oct. 21 contest against Penn State. The Big Ten East foes have put on some classics in Columbus and State College. This time, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions will be playing in front of an all-scarlet crowd in the Shoe.
The “Scarlet the ‘Shoe” is one of six Ohio State game themes in 2023.
To find out when the Homecoming game is, plus more about the other themes, go here.
Jack Sawyer feeling ‘at home’ after switch back to full-time defensive end for Buckeyes
Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer has his hand in the dirt full-time again. After alternating between the “JACK” — a standup, hybrid D-End/linebacker position — and defensive end last season, he’s playing solely defensive end this time around.
Sawyer doesn’t regret playing the JACK in 2022. He still managed 6.5 TFLs and tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks.
But the former five-star recruit has yet to break out in a Buckeyes uniform. Playing all his snaps at his natural position could give him the best chance to achieve that feat during his junior season.
For the full story on Sawyer and his return to full-time defensive end, go here.
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Analyzing where Ohio State stands with remaining offensive targets
Ohio State currently has the No. 2 class in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry. That’s in large part because of 12 offensive commits, including a pair of five-star wide receivers and, per On3, the No. 4 quarterback in the class.
Not counting the current Buckeyes commits, there are just five other offensive prospects the Buckeyes hosted on official visits.
Which of those five could Ohio State land? How many do the Buckeyes need?
Lettermen Row tackles those questions here.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 65 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 149 days
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The post Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes highly-anticipated clash at Notre Dame announced as sellout appeared first on On3.
