People in Ohio and Indiana like to talk about "The Game" or "The Holy War," but honestly, when it comes to ohio state notre dame football, we’re looking at one of the weirdest, most lopsided relationships in the history of the sport. You’ve got two programs that basically print money. They’re separated by about 250 miles of flat highway. Yet, they’ve played fewer times in a century than some teams play in a decade.
It’s weird.
If you grew up a Golden Domer, the stat line is basically a horror movie. Going into 2026, the Irish haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since 1936. Think about that. Franklin D. Roosevelt was in his first term. Television wasn't really a thing. The "Jeep" hadn't been invented yet. Since then, it has been a total scarlet and gray takeover.
The 2025 National Championship changed everything
Most folks remember the 2023 heartbreaker in South Bend—the one where Ohio State scored with a single second left on the clock. But the real shift happened in January 2025. For the first time ever, these two met with everything on the line in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff National Championship.
It wasn't just a game; it was a 16-game season marathon for both squads. Ohio State jumped out to a massive 31-7 lead. Notre Dame, led by Riley Leonard’s legs, actually made a furious comeback to make it 34-23, but the Buckeyes just had too many weapons. Will Howard was surgical, hitting 13 straight passes to open the game. Freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith proved he was exactly who we thought he was.
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Ohio State walked away with their ninth national title, and Marcus Freeman—an Ohio State alum himself—fell to 0-3 against his alma mater.
Why don't they play more often?
You’d think two blue bloods in bordering states would be natural rivals. They aren't. Not really. For decades, there was this unspoken rule about not "dividing loyalties." Ohio is packed with Catholic high schools that produce elite talent. Back in the day, legendary coaches like Woody Hayes reportedly didn't want to schedule the Irish because they didn't want to alienate those Catholic recruits or their families.
Basically, it was a business decision.
Then there’s the scheduling nightmare. Notre Dame is independent but essentially locked into an ACC scheduling agreement. Ohio State has a grueling nine-game Big Ten slate that now includes cross-country trips to play USC, Oregon, and Washington. Finding a Saturday that works for both is like trying to find a parking spot at the Horseshoe ten minutes before kickoff.
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Breaking down the lopsided "Rivalry"
- Total Games: 9
- Ohio State Wins: 7
- Notre Dame Wins: 2 (1935, 1936)
- Current Streak: Ohio State has won 7 straight.
- Last Irish Win: October 31, 1936 (Score: 7-2).
Notre Dame fans will point to the 1935 "Game of the Century." The Irish trailed 13-0 in the fourth quarter and stormed back to win 18-13. It’s legendary stuff, but it's also black-and-white footage stuff. In the modern era—starting with the 1995-1996 home-and-home—Ohio State has simply been more explosive.
The Freeman-Day dynamic is the new fuel
Marcus Freeman is probably tired of hearing about his Columbus roots. He played linebacker for the Buckeyes. He’s a "Buckeye for life" until he’s trying to beat them, and so far, Ryan Day has had his number.
The 2022 and 2023 games were tactical chess matches. In 2022, the Irish defense actually held the Buckeyes to their lowest point total of the year, but the offense just couldn't move the sticks. Then 2023 happened. The "ten men on the field" gaffe on the final play for Notre Dame is the kind of mistake that haunts a program for years.
Honestly, the gap isn't as big as the 7-game losing streak suggests. The games are getting closer. The talent gap in recruiting is shrinking. But until Notre Dame finds a way to stop the Buckeye "Death Machine" in the fourth quarter, the narrative stays the same.
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What to watch for in 2026 and beyond
If you're looking for the next scheduled regular-season meeting, you're going to be waiting a while. The 2022-2023 home-and-home is over. Ohio State’s future non-conference schedule is booked solid with Texas (2025/2026), Alabama (2027/2028), and Georgia (2030/2031).
Notre Dame’s schedule is equally packed with its traditional USC/Navy/Stanford rotation plus the ACC requirements. This means the next time we see ohio state notre dame football, it’ll likely be in the College Football Playoff.
With the 12-team (and potentially 14-team) format, the odds of these two meeting in a quarterfinal or semifinal are actually pretty high. They both recruit at a top-five level. They both have the NIL resources to keep their rosters loaded.
Actionable steps for fans and bettors
If you're following this matchup, stop looking at "all-time" stats. They’re misleading because the games are so sparse. Instead, focus on these three things:
- Check the Trench Depth: In the last four meetings, Ohio State won because their offensive line eventually wore down the Irish front seven in the fourth quarter. If the Irish don't have NFL-caliber depth at DT, don't bet on them.
- Monitor the "Transfer Portal" QB: Both programs have moved toward portal quarterbacks (Will Howard, Sam Hartman, Riley Leonard). Look for which system integrates the veteran faster during the first four weeks of the season.
- Watch the "Big Play" Ratio: In the 2006 and 2016 Fiesta Bowls, Ohio State didn't just win; they exploded. They had plays of 60+ yards in both. Notre Dame’s defense is built to be "bend but don't break," but that doesn't work against Buckeye speed.
The reality is that ohio state notre dame football is the biggest game that almost never happens. When it does, the world stops. Just don't expect the Irish to break the curse until they can prove they can play all 60 minutes—and keep 11 men on the field for every single one of them.
To stay ahead, keep an eye on the 2027 recruiting cycles for both schools. Many of the top targets in Ohio and Indiana are currently being fought over by these two staffs. Whoever wins the recruiting wars in the "Midwest Corridor" usually ends up winning the game, whenever it finally gets played.