I was at the game Saturday night and, from my vantage point, Notre Dame was running at will in the second half. 

But, contrary to what I thought I saw, I charted ND's second half drives in terms of rushing YPC:

• First Drive: 6 carries for 29 yads (4.8 YPC)
• Second Drive: 10 carries for 54 yards (5.4 YPC)
• Third Drive: 7 carries for 31 yards (4.3 YPC)
• Fourth Drive: 3 carries for 9 yards (3 YPC)

That's 4.7 YPC, which is honestly better than I thought it was. If you look at the 26 carries total, Ohio State held ND to 2 yards or less 10 times (I'm not counting the one yard TD). In other words, OSU held ND to 2 yards or less on 40% of carries in the second half.

On the negative side, ND had five rushes for 10+ yards in the second half, and further, the fact that they had 17 rushes on two drives indicates we couldn't get them off the field.

It's hard to figure it out at the game but it seems to me like we are rotating way less on the defensive line. I don't think 33 or 44 missed a single snap. Same with 22 and 35. That's four of our front six playing every snap. That's asking a lot against one of the best offensive lines in the country.

But, upon further review, we seemed to have held up just enough. On its first drive ND had 2nd and 3 in plus territory, tried to run in three times, and didn't get it. On their last drive, 44 forced a negative play that turned the sticks in our favor. So, we made plays to win the game on half of their second half possessions.

All in all it was a gutsy performance. I think the defense has to get even better as the season goes along, and we have to develop some depth on the defensive line to beat the likes of Penn State and Michigan.

But my God what a win!

Go Bucks!