It’s about the geography, sure. But mostly, it’s about the ego. When Ohio State and Notre Dame line up on a football field, you aren't just watching two of the winningest programs in NCAA history trade blows. You're watching a clash of cultures that sits right on the border of Columbus and South Bend, two places that honestly feel worlds apart despite being a four-hour drive down US-30.
The tension is real.
For decades, these two giants basically ignored each other. It’s one of the weirdest quirks in college football history. They’re regional neighbors, they recruit the same high school kids, and their fanbases overlap in every sports bar from Toledo to Indianapolis. Yet, until recently, they’d played fewer times than some teams play in a single decade.
The Weird History of the Buckeyes and the Irish
Most people assume this is some ancient, storied rivalry like Michigan-Ohio State or Notre Dame-USC. It isn't. Not even close. Before the mid-90s, they had barely spoken. The "Game of the Century" in 1935 is the one everyone points to—Notre Dame clawing back for an 18-13 win in a game so big it literally changed how people viewed national college football. But then? Silence. For nearly sixty years, they just... didn't play.
Why? Scheduling in the mid-20th century was a different beast. Notre Dame was the independent darling, barnstorming across the country to build a national brand. Ohio State was the Big Ten powerhouse, locked into a rigid conference schedule that ended at the Rose Bowl. They didn't need each other. Or maybe, they were both a little too proud to risk the "Best in the Midwest" title on a non-conference whim.
Then came 1995.
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Eddie George. Lou Holtz. That two-year home-and-home series changed everything. If you talk to any Buckeyes fan over the age of 40, they’ll tell you about George’s 207-yard performance against the Irish like it happened yesterday. It wasn't just a win; it was Ohio State asserting dominance over a program that many felt looked down on the Big Ten.
Recruiting is the Real Battleground
The actual games are rare, but the recruiting trail is a 365-day war. Think about it. If you’re a five-star offensive lineman in Chicago or a lockdown corner in Cincinnati, your top two hats on the table are almost certainly the Buckeyes and the Irish.
Marcus Freeman’s move from Ohio State (where he played) to Notre Dame (where he now leads) added a massive layer of drama. He knows the Columbus blueprint. He lived it. When he took the job at South Bend, he didn't shy away from the comparison. He leaned into it. That's why the 2022 and 2023 matchups felt so heavy. It wasn't just about the scoreboard; it was about Freeman trying to prove that the Notre Dame "way" could out-tough the Ohio State "machine."
The Physicality Factor
If you watched the 2023 game in South Bend, you saw exactly what this matchup has become. It was ugly. It was brutal. It was exactly what Midwestern football is supposed to be.
Ohio State has spent the last decade trying to shake the "soft" label that comes with having high-flying wide receivers and Heisman-contender quarterbacks. Notre Dame, meanwhile, prides itself on being a "tight end and tackle" factory. When they met at Notre Dame Stadium, it wasn't a track meet. It was a trench war.
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- The Final Drive: Ryan Day’s 2023 victory wasn't won on a 50-yard bomb. It was won on a gutsy, one-yard run with one second left.
- The Aftermath: Remember Day’s post-game interview? He was heated. He called out Lou Holtz by name.
- The Stakes: That game proved that even in the era of the Transfer Portal and NIL, "toughness" is still the primary currency in this rivalry.
Honestly, the beef between Day and Holtz was the most human moment we’ve seen in college football in years. It showed that despite the corporate feel of modern sports, these guys actually care about the perception of their programs. Holtz questioned Ohio State's grit. Day took it personally. That kind of friction is what makes Ohio State vs Notre Dame a "Big Event" game every single time it happens.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Matchup
A common misconception is that Notre Dame can't compete with Ohio State's speed. People look at guys like Marvin Harrison Jr. or Emeka Egbuka and think the Irish secondary will just get torched. But look at the stats from the last two meetings.
The Irish defense actually held Ohio State to some of their lowest scoring outputs in years. In 2022, the Buckeyes only put up 21 points. In 2023, it was 17. For a Ryan Day offense, that’s basically a drought. The gap isn't as wide as the recruiting rankings might suggest. Notre Dame has figured out how to slow down the Buckeyes' tempo; they just haven't quite figured out how to close the door in the fourth quarter.
The talent is there on both sides. The coaching is elite. But the difference usually comes down to one or two plays in the red zone. That’s the margin.
The Cultural Divide
You've got the "Silver Bullets" versus the "Golden Domers." One is a massive state university with over 60,000 students and a stadium that looks like a concrete cathedral. The other is a private, Catholic institution with a smaller, cult-like following and a "Play Like a Champion Today" sign that players touch before hitting the field.
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Ohio State fans are loud, numerous, and—let’s be real—a little obsessed. They travel in packs. They turn neutral sites into home games. Notre Dame fans carry a sense of tradition that feels almost liturgical. To them, football is a Saturday afternoon mass. When these two worlds collide, the atmosphere is suffocating.
Looking Ahead: Will We See This More Often?
With the Big Ten expanding and the College Football Playoff moving to 12 teams, the future of Ohio State vs Notre Dame is a bit of a question mark. Notre Dame desperately wants to keep its independence. Ohio State now has to navigate a schedule that includes Oregon, USC, and Washington alongside their traditional rivals.
But here is the reality: TV networks crave this game. The ratings for the 2023 matchup were astronomical, peaking at over 10 million viewers. In a world driven by revenue, these two will find a way to play, whether it’s a scheduled non-conference series or a high-stakes playoff bracket.
We don't have a confirmed date for the next regular-season meeting yet, but the ripples of their last encounter are still being felt. Every time a recruit chooses Columbus over South Bend, the fire gets stoked. Every time Marcus Freeman makes a comment about "the city up north" (not that one, the other one), the fans notice.
Actions for the Dedicated Fan
If you're trying to keep up with this specific rivalry or understand where these two programs are headed, you need to look beyond the box scores.
- Monitor the Trenches: Don't just watch the highlight reels of the QBs. Look at where the top offensive line recruits are committing. The team that wins the battle for the 300-pounders in Ohio and Indiana usually wins the game.
- Follow the Schedule Shifts: Keep an eye on the Big Ten's scheduling pods. As the conference grows, Ohio State's "out-of-conference" slots will become more valuable. If they book Notre Dame, it means they are confident in their playoff path.
- Check the Betting Lines Early: Vegas usually treats this game as a pick'em or a very slim margin. If you see a spread larger than a touchdown, the "experts" are likely overvaluing a recent blowout against a lesser opponent.
- Visit Both Campuses: If you ever get the chance, go to a game at the Shoe and a game at Notre Dame Stadium. You can't understand the weight of this rivalry until you've seen the contrast in person.
The rivalry between Ohio State and Notre Dame is a slow burn. It isn't the constant fireworks of the Iron Bowl or the pure hatred of the Egg Bowl. It’s a sophisticated, high-stakes chess match between two neighbors who secretly respect each other but would never, ever admit it out loud.
It’s about being the king of the Midwest. And in that battle, there is only room for one.