The Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame clash was nothing short of a classic chess match, but Chip Kelly’s offense quickly flipped the board. Freeman’s usually rock-solid defense seemed outclassed, as if they were taking on a grandmaster with no winning moves in sight. Kelly dialed up an array of dazzling, unpredictable plays, leaving the Irish defense chasing shadows. It was like watching a magician unveil one jaw-dropping trick after another—you knew brilliance was coming, but the “how” always kept you guessing.

Chip Kelly brought his NFL-level playbook to Ohio State this year, and it shows. His mastery of power running, spreading out defenses, and crafting unstoppable scoring drives put the Buckeyes in full control of the showdown.

Meanwhile, Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame was on shaky ground. Despite an early surge that earned them a 7-point lead in the first quarter with 5:15 left, they quickly fell behind, trailing 7-21. Riley Leonard, their star QB, struggled to find his groove, and the entire team seemed disconnected. Even Skip Bayless weighed in on X, voicing his frustration: “Disappointed in the Irish D. No pass rush. Too much confusion. Getting spun by Chip Kelly’s wizardry and weaponry.” It’s certainly not the finale Freeman had envisioned.

Let’s get this straight. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to maintain a rhythm against Chip Kelly’s offense. Remember their game against Oregon? Now talking about this game, well, Quinshon Judkins’s 1-yard rushing touchdown to open the second half of the game was enough to tell Notre Dame’s condition. With Kelly’s superior play calling, it’s clear that Notre Dame’s defense was being outmatched, allowing the Buckeyes to pull ahead.

Plus, the best part is Ohio State became the first team since Alabama in the 2013 BCS national championship game to score a touchdown on each of its first three drives in a championship game. Isn’t that a big deal for a team that almost lost their hopes of even entering the playoffs this season? See how the tables have turned since then.

Even though Notre Dame took an early lead, Ohio State swiftly responded with three successful scoring drives in the second quarter. Despite having only three possessions in the first half, the Buckeyes managed to score touchdowns on all of them, putting Freeman’s team in a tough position.

At least Notre Dame found some rhythm and closed the gap to 15-31 but couldn’t sustain it for long. However, let’s face it—can we really blame them? Chip Kelly is a genius with his offensive schemes, and that’s a difficult obstacle to overcome.

Chip Kelly’s path of redemption

Well, take a cue from the Michigan game, and you’ll quickly see why Chip Kelly’s offense is dominant. The Buckeyes boast one of the country’s most formidable running and receiving units, as evidenced by their strong performances against the Vols and Ducks. Their offense proved to be unstoppable, leaving no doubt that shutting down Ohio State is no easy task. However, it’s important to remember that things weren’t always this smooth.

Moreover, against Michigan, the Buckeyes faced difficulties in gaining ground, being outgained, and failing to score in three out of four quarters. Will Howard, their star quarterback, struggled to find his rhythm, completing only 19 out of 33 passes for 175 yards. This is where Chip Kelly comes in, taking note of these challenges and ensuring they don’t repeat themselves. With their impressive firepower and Kelly’s adjustments, Ohio State’s offense is now built to overpower any opponent in their path. And they’ve got some serious playmakers too.

Jeremiah Smith, the exceptional 19-year-old who had a breakout game against the Ducks, securing two touchdowns and seven catches—undoubtedly one of his best this season. Quite frankly, this kid is already playing at an NFL level. And he has already broken Cris Carter’s freshman receiving yards record for Ohio State! He surpassed Carter’s 172 yards with 187 of his own. If you haven’t been paying attention to him, now is the time to start. However, it’s important to note that Smith isn’t the only weapon in Ohio State’s arsenal, so don’t underestimate the rest of the team.

Speaking of which, Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson also made their presence known. Egbuka set the tone with a jaw-dropping 42-yard touchdown early on against the Ducks, and Henderson followed up with an incredible 66-yard touchdown run that had the crowd buzzing. When you have all these weapons lighting up the field, Ohio State’s offense becomes a nightmare for any defense to contain. Just ask Notre Dame—this team is firing on all cylinders.