The final game of the 2015 season and another team gets its stats stuffed.NOTRE DAME'S OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
Notre Dame entered the game with top 25 offense that was capable of running and throwing the ball. Before playing Ohio State the Irish averaged 34.8 points (31st) 214.8 yards rushing and 256.7 yards passing per game. With Joey Bosa on the field the Buckeyes defense held a strangle hold on Notre Dame's offense. After Bosa's ejection the Irish offense found some life and finished the Fiesta Bowl with 28 points. However they gained were held to just over 66 yards under their season total average and scored 6.8 less points than their average.
NOTRE DAME'S DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Notre Dame came into the game ranked 38th in total defense. However, the Irish were without several players in the secondary and lost star linebacker Jaylon Smith early in the first quarter. Did the Buckeyes take advantage? You bet your sweet ass they did.
Ohio State gained more yards than Notre Dame's defense normally allowed in each category. The Buckeyes rushed for 285 yards, passed for 211 and gained 496 total yards. Most importantly the Buckeyes scored 44 points which is 21.6 more than the Irish's average.
Ohio State's offensive leaders were Ezekiel Elliott with 149 yards rushing (5.5 ypc) and Michael Thomas with 72 yards receiving and a touchdown. J.T. Barrett finished the game 19/31 (.613) for 211 yards and a touchdown. He also added 96 yards on the ground.
NOTRE DAME'S SPECIAL TEAMS
The Irish came into the game with a decent kickoff return game. Notre Dame's longest kickoff return against the Buckeyes was 17 yards. Ohio State's coverage team was spectacular as they held the Irish to a 12.0 yards per return. C.J. Sanders did not get a return past the 20 as the Irish routinely started around between their own 10 and 15 yard line.
Tyler Newsome, Notre Dame's punter, averaged 32.7 yards of net punting. That is 6.1 yards shorter than his average. Jalin Marshall's 18.3 yard punt return average put a big hurt on Newsome's average. Justin Yoon was 4/4 on XPs, but his line drive kickoffs allowed Curtis Samuel and Jalin Marshall to average 29.3 yards on kickoff returns.
THE MOST IMPORTANT STAT
Ohio State 44, Notre Dame 28
Ohio State is now 13-14 on January 1st. The Buckeyes are 4-2 against Notre Dame, have won four-straight in the series and have outscored the Irish 167-115.
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| 2015 STATS | OFFENSE | AGAINST OHIO STATE | STAT DIFFERENCE |
| 34.8 | POINTS FOR | 28 | -6.8 |
| 214.8 | RUSHING OFFENSE | 121 | -93.8 |
| 256.7 | PASSING OFFENSE | 284 | +27.3 |
| 471.5 | TOTAL OFFENSE | 405 | -66.5 |
| .429 | 3rd DOWNS | .385 | -.044 |
| .800 | RED ZONE | 1.000 | +.200 |
| 2015 STATS | DEFENSE | AGAINST OHIO STATE | STAT DIFFERENCE |
| 22.4 | POINTS ALLOWED | 44 | -21.6 |
| 166.5 | RUSH DEFENSE | 285 | -118.5 |
| 195.9 | PASS DEFENSE | 211 | -15.1 |
| 124.1 | PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE | 122.3 | +1.8 |
| 362.4 | TOTAL DEFENSE | 496 | -133.6 |
| .329 | 3rd DOWNS | .556 | -.227 |
| .765 | RED ZONE | 1.000 | -.235 |
| 2015 STATS | SPECIAL TEAMS | AGAINST OHIO STATE | STAT DIFFERENCE |
| 8.0 | PUNT RETURN | ----- | ----- |
| 23.2 | KICKOFF RETURN | 12.0 | -11.2 |
| 38.8 | NET PUNTING | 32.7 | -6.1 |
| 2015 STATS | MISCELLANEOUS | AGAINST OHIO STATE | STAT DIFFERENCE |
| -0.4 | TURNOVER MARGIN | -1.0 | -0.6 |
| 5.3 | PENALTIES | 3.0 | +2.3 |
| 13 | EDGE | 4 |
Ezekiel Elliott finished the game with 149 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. He finishes his Ohio State career second on the all-time rushing list. Zeke also has the second and third most rushing yards in a single season.
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| 2015 STATS BEFORE OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | OFFENSE | 2015 STATS AFTER OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | DIFFERENCE |
| 34.8 | 31st | POINTS FOR | 34.2 | 34th | -0.6 |
| 214.8 | 25th | RUSHING OFFENSE | 207.6 | 28th | -7.2 |
| 256.7 | 37th | PASSING OFFENSE | 258.8 | 35th | +2.1 |
| 471.5 | 25th | TOTAL OFFENSE | 466.4 | 27th | -5.1 |
| .429 | 37th | 3rd DOWNS | .425 | 39th | -.004 |
| .800 | 89th | RED ZONE | .811 | 88th | +.011 |
| DEFENSE | |||||
| 22.4 | 34th | POINTS ALLOWED | 24.1 | 39th | -1.7 |
| 166.5 | 65th | RUSH DEFENSE | 175.6 | 72nd | -9.1 |
| 195.9 | 28th | PASS DEFENSE | 197.1 | 28th | -1.2 |
| 124.1 | 61st | PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE | 124.0 | 57th | +0.1 |
| 362.4 | 38th | TOTAL DEFENSE | 372.7 | 45th | -10.3 |
| .329 | 18th | 3rd DOWNS | .351 | 32nd | -.022 |
| .765 | 22nd | RED ZONE | .805 | 44th | -.040 |
| SPECIAL TEAMS | |||||
| 8.0 | 68th | PUNT RETURN | 8.0 | 70th | ----- |
| 23.2 | 30th | KICKOFF RETURN | 21.7 | 49th | -1.5 |
| 38.8 | 35th | NET PUNTING | 38.1 | 48th | -0.7 |
| MISCELLANEOUS | |||||
| -0.4 | 97th | TURNOVER MARGIN | -0.5 | 102nd | -0.1 |
| 5.3 | 2nd | PENALTIES | 5.2 | 24th | +0.1 |
| 13 | EDGE | 4 |
Urban Meyer is now 50-4 as Ohio State's head coach. He has led the Buckeyes to four straight 12-win seasons and a national championship.
