Notre Dame at Ohio State 9/3/22 - College Football Picks & Predictions

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and Ohio State Buckeyes open the 2022 season at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sept. 3. The Buckeyes enter the season ranked No. 2 in both the AP Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Poll. Notre Dame is fifth in both polls.

Notre Dame (11-2 in 2021) is in its first regular season under head coach Marcus Freeman. Freeman took over as head coach for the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State after Brian Kelly left for LSU. Notre Dame’s defense is expected to be stout with its former defensive coordinator now at the top and Al Golden returning to college coaching after six NFL seasons to assume Freeman’s previous role.

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner was named the Notre Dame starter Saturday. The bad news for Buchner is he lost a top target for the season when starting slot receiver Avery Davis tore the ACL in his right knee during practice Friday. The loss of Davis leaves Braden Lenzy as the only wideout with starting experience. Buchner will have a big target to look for though in third-year tight end Michael Mayer who caught 71 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago.

Ryan Day is in his fourth year leading Ohio State and is 34-4 after an 11-2 record in 2021. A 48-45 Rose Bowl win over Utah was little consolation for the Buckeyes after a 42-27 loss at Michigan ended the regular season and any playoff hopes.

Leading the Ohio State offense is quarterback CJ Stroud. Now a junior, Stroud completed 71.9% of his passes for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and just six interceptions a year ago. Sophomore TreVeyon Henderson returns as the Buckeyes’ top running back after running for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns. Henderson also caught 27 passes for 312 yards and four more TDs. Stroud lost two of his top three receivers to the NFL, but junior wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back after leading the team in receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606).