Ezekiel Elliott tied a Fiesta Bowl record with four rushing touchdowns, as Ohio State dominated Notre Dame 44-28 in a game more defined by who it was lacking than who it featured.
Ohio State immediately put to rest speculation that it would lack motivation for the non-playoff bowl with an up-tempo 80-yard scoring drive that ended in junior running back Elliott steamrolling Jaylon Smith at the goal line.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, looked impotent early on offense – managing just eight yards in its first two series. Ohio State’s defensive line, anchored by future top NFL draft pick Joey Bosa, dominated the Irish in the repeated fight for hard yards on the ground.