One day after the Michigan State Spartans’ heavy College Football Playoff semifinal defeat to the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Ohio State Buckeyes defended the Big Ten’s honor, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 44-28 in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Ezekiel Elliott put an exclamation point on his college career, rushing for 149 yards and four touchdowns, which tied the Fiesta Bowl record, per Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch. The junior running back has been huge for Ohio State in the last two postseasons, per ESPN Stats & Info: 4+ rush TD in bowl gm has been done 18 times in past 20 seasons (inc today). Ezekiel Elliott: only FBS player to do it multiple times. â ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 1, 2016 J.T. Barrett was also a dynamic presence in the OSU backfield, throwing for 211 yards and a touchdown while running for another 96 yards. Fox Sports’ Stewart Mandel reflected on what could’ve been for the Buckeyes this year: If Ohio State had figured out its offense prior to the 12th game of the season, it’d be playing somewhere better than the Fiesta. â Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 1, 2016 DeShone Kizer did his best to try to keep pace with Elliott and the Ohio State offense, throwing for 284 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 22-of-37 passing. C.J. Prosise dressed for the game but didn’t receive a carry, so his injured ankle must have been a bigger problem than Notre Dame expected it to be. Although the Fighting Irish had their moments, they were outclassed by a better team. Ohio State wasted little time in jumping out to a 14-0 lead with 7:41 left in the first quarter after an Elliott touchdown run and a Michael Thomas touchdown reception…
Continue Reading: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: Score and Reaction for 2016 Fiesta Bowl
