COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 6 Ohio State and No. 9 Notre Dame, two of college football’s great programs and both saturated in nostalgia and tradition, meet Saturday in primetime (7:30 p.m.) on NBC at Notre Dame Stadium.

A HISTORICAL CONTEXT

• While Ohio State and Notre Dame have been among the best programs over the last 11 years, they stack up against anyone in any decade … ever. Consider:
• Ohio State ranks second in all-time wins (956); Notre Dame is fourth (942)
• Ohio State is first in all-time winning percentage (.733); Notre Dame is fourth (.730)
• The Buckeyes and Fighting Irish are tied for first all-time (along with Oklahoma) with seven Heisman Trophy winners apiece.
• Notre Dame’s 107 all-time consensus All-Americans ranks first; Ohio State’s 92 is second.
• Notre Dame’s 525 NFL Draft picks ranks No. 1; Ohio State has 485, which is third.
• Ohio State has spent 970 weeks ranked in the Associated Press poll, which is No. 1 all-time; Notre Dame is fourth at 861 weeks.

Marcus Freeman Notre Dame football coach Ohio State Week 5 Part 1 9 18 2023 (2).mp3

Marcus Freeman attended Ohio State University (2004–08), appearing in 51 games (37 starts) over the course of his career. He started 26 games at weak-side linebacker and 11 games at strong-side linebacker and was a two-time Second-team All-Big Ten selection. He finished his career 19th on the school’s all-time tackle list with 268 stops (140 solo) and was credited with 21.5 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, 15 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

In 2008, he started all 13 games at linebacker. He was a Second-team All-Big Ten selection, finishing with 84 tackles (39 solo) and added 9.5 TFLs, 4 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery and 3.5 sacks. Also named Academic All-Big Ten. In 2007, he was a second-year starting linebacker and a part of three special units and was Second-team All-Big Ten after he totaled 109 tackles 9.5 TFL, 5 PBU. In 2006, he made 71 stops, played 13 games and started 11 at linebacker and was second on the team with six pass break-ups and two interceptions. In 2005, he redshirted. In 2004, he finished his rookie season with four tackles, recording one solo stop and three assists, in 13 games.

COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS, NOTRE DAME ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS & WIKIPEDIA COMMONS