Meet the Notre Dame football team, the first game of Ohio State football schedule in 2022
The Ohio State football team opens the season against one of college football's most historic programs. And one who has a former Buckeye leading the team as a rookie head coach.
The Buckeyes face Notre Dame in Week 1 of the college football season inside Ohio Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The matchup is also the first ESPN "College GameDay" host location, something Ohio State has done more times than any program since the show went on the road in 1996.
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Notre Dame went 11-2 in 2021 and lost to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State, meanwhile, beat Utah in the Rose Bowl to cap off an 11-2 season.
Here's what we know about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame all-time record
Ohio State leads the all-time series with the team from South Bend, Indiana. The Buckeyes are 4-2 all-time and haven't lost to the Fighting Irish since 1936. The Buckeyes last beat Notre Dame in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl.
Marcus Freeman is the new Notre Dame coach. He's a Buckeye.
Marcus Freeman became the head coach when Brian Kelly, who has the most wins in Notre Dame history, left the program for LSU in December. Kelly departed Notre Dame despite the Fighting Irish being in contention for the College Football Playoff.
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His replacement was first-year defensive coordinator Freeman, who had left Luke Fickell's staff at University of Cincinnati the year before to take the same position in South Bend.
Freeman led the Notre Dame defense to a strong season and was hired as the interim coach. Notre Dame gave him the permanent job later that month.
Freeman played for Ohio State from 2004-2008 and appeared in 51 games. He was twice named to the All-Big Ten second team in 2007 and 2008. He had 109 tackles in 2007 and 84 in 2008.
What did Notre Dame football do in 2021?
The Irish went 11-2 in 2021, including 11-1 in the regular season. Notre Dame lost 37-35 to Oklahoma State, who at the time employed new Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, in the Fiesta Bowl.
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What is the Notre Dame 2022 schedule look like?
Here is who Notre Dame plays this season.
Sept. 3: at Ohio State
Sept. 10: Marshall
Sept. 19: California
Sept. 24: at North Carolina
Oct. 8: vs. BYU in Las Vegas
Oct. 15: Stanford
Oct. 22: UNLV
Oct. 29: at Syracuse
Nov. 5: Clemson
Nov. 12: At Navy
Nov. 19: Boston College
Nov. 26: at USC
Tyler Buchner expected to take over for Jack Coan as Notre Dame QB
Tyler Buchner played in 10 games for the Irish, backing up Jack Coan. Buchner finished with 298 yards on 21-of-35 passing. He threw three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Another possible quarterback is Drew Pyne, who played in two games last year.
Coan, a Wisconsin transfer, passed for 3,150 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
Al Golden, former Miami Hurricane coach is new defensive coordinator
Al Golden replaces Freeman as the defensive coordinator for the Irish. Golden is the former head coach of the Miami Hurricanes and Temple Owls. He spent the 2021 season as the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker coach.
Tommy Rees, a former Notre Dame starting quarterback, is still the offensive coordinator for the Irish. He has been on the Notre Dame staff since 2017 and the offensive coordinator since 2020.
Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer is one of the best players in the country
Michael Mayer is a 6-foot-4, 251-pound tight end. He caught 71 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The junior is No. 7 on ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's Big Board.
Who are the best NFL 2023 Draft prospects on Notre Dame?
Mayer is No. 7 seven, but Kiper has more Fighting Irish players on his list.
Linebacker Isaiah Foskey is at No. 19 ranked player and Kiper has him as the second-best linebacker in the class.
Center Jarrett Patterson is Kiper's No. 2 center, Brandon Joseph the No. 2 safety.
Ohio State has three players in Kiper's top 25, including quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Ohio State football schedule 2022
Week 1: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3, in Columbus, Ohio
Week 2: Ohio State vs. Arkansas State, Sept. 10, in Columbus, Ohio
Week 3: Ohio State vs. Toledo, Sept. 17, in Columbus, Ohio
Week 4: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Sept. 24, Columbus, Ohio
Week 5: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, Oct. 1, Columbus Ohio
Week 6: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Oct. 8, East Lansing, Mich.
Week 7: Ohio State vs. Iowa, Oct. 22, Columbus, Ohio
Week 8: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Oct. 29, State College, Pa.
Week 9: Ohio State vs. Northwestern, Nov. 5, Evanston, Ill.
Week 10: Ohio State vs Indiana, Nov. 12, Columbus, Ohio
Week 11: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Nov. 19, College Park, MD.
Week 12: Ohio State vs. Michigan, at noon Nov. 26, Columbus, Ohio
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State vs Notre Dame: Buckeyes football schedule 2022