Given that OSU was the most complete offensive team in the country, I am certainly not sure of my first factor ever being successful....but we needed to be able to play their receivers to a draw. I am far from certain anyone could do that when the stakes are high.
The second factor to me was not being able to move the ball consistently with passes of 7+ yards. The three and outs in the first half allowed them to gain confidence while tanking the ND defense in that regard.
Replies to: "Re: Hypothetical: what would it have taken for ND to beat OSU in the NC?"
- Hypothetical: what would it have taken for ND to beat OSU in the NC? - iairishcheeks - 12:47am 7/16/25
(30) [View All]
- Pound the run, control the clock, keep OSU O off the field - KWIRISH - 11:49pm 7/16/25
- Re: Hypothetical: what would it have taken for ND to beat OSU in the NC? - IrishChristopher - 11:07pm 7/16/25
- A more balanced offense. A much better passing attack. OSUs DBs were on ice skates but we waited too - oldirish - 9:24pm 7/16/25
- First forced punt before the 4th quarter - Turkish - 6:42pm 7/16/25
- Truth be told, they've had ND's number for a long time - humbaba - 2:13pm 7/16/25
- If we would have played them in 1988 through 1993 we would have beaten them every year. Our talent - THEISMANCARR - 6:18pm 7/16/25
- For sure! But that was 36 years ago! Hoping for another shot at them in the playoffs! [NT] - irishslovak - 12:16am 7/17/25
- The programs were on opposite trajectories in 1995 and 1996. - jakers - 5:07pm 7/16/25
- Lou 1988-1993 would have beaten them. - AlbanyIRISH - 3:23pm 7/16/25
- They are ND's kryptonite! Hate to say it! You are correct! [NT] - irishslovak - 2:55pm 7/16/25
- If we would have played them in 1988 through 1993 we would have beaten them every year. Our talent - THEISMANCARR - 6:18pm 7/16/25
- Simple: Start throwing the ball sooner. Their DB's were their achilles heal and we didn't start - BaronVonZemo - 1:52pm 7/16/25
- Until we get some WRs who can run past their DBs and open up the field, OSU isn't afraid - Rocketman84 - 6:28pm 7/16/25
- If botn teams played their normal games, they were going to beat us because of their speed at the - THEISMANCARR - 12:42pm 7/16/25
- Corners who could play physical press and still cover and a healthy O.L. - jakers - 11:00am 7/16/25
- I think people underestimate how tired the team was at that point in the season - wrdomerson - 11:18am 7/16/25
- OSU wasn't tired too? - AlbanyIRISH - 3:25pm 7/16/25
- Did you see the injury reports for the two teams? - wrdomerson - 5:01pm 7/17/25
- They had far, far fewer injuries, not greater depth. [NT] - BaronVonZemo - 11:25pm 7/16/25
- OSU wasn't tired too? - AlbanyIRISH - 3:25pm 7/16/25
- I think people underestimate how tired the team was at that point in the season - wrdomerson - 11:18am 7/16/25
- More talent. I read that OSU had 18 5-stars, ND had 1. Note sure if exactly correct [NT]
- irishone - 10:35am 7/16/25
- I mean that would be the obvious one, but also more a dream than reality - Rocketman84 - 12:35pm 7/16/25
- Several things - ndunabomber - 10:21am 7/16/25
- We would have stolen it if we won. But as Herb Brooks said, one game. Not 3 out of 4 or 9 out of 10 - Frank L - 10:45am 7/16/25
- Lack of a vertical passing game, among others. [NT]
- faircatchcorby - 9:35am 7/16/25
- This was the glaring issue. And we waited to late to try it. [NT] - oldirish - 9:26pm 7/16/25
- A great QB. - AlbanyIRISH - 6:23am 7/16/25
- Honestly, be healthy which led to abysmal running game and poor 3rd down efficiency [NT]
- Rocketman84 - 6:12am 7/16/25
- This. The difference in the first drive in the second third and fourth was - Quest4twelve - 7:11am 7/16/25
- Fair point. Given the comeback maybe less than we all thought. Those are critical points though. [NT] - Frank L - 10:40am 7/16/25
- This. The difference in the first drive in the second third and fourth was - Quest4twelve - 7:11am 7/16/25
- One point more [NT] - LanceManion - 5:53am 7/16/25
- Re: Hypothetical: what would it have taken for ND to beat OSU in the NC? - nddad98 - 1:04am 7/16/25