Notre Dame coach says being 17.5-point underdogs to Ohio State will be a motivator this week

Notre Dame and coach Marcus Freeman are preparing for the first game of the season against Freeman's alma mater, Ohio State, and are looking for any advantage they can get.

When asked at his media availability about his team being a 17.5-point underdog, Freeman said he didn't know the stat but would use it for motivation this week.

«We'll use that in the team meeting today, it's good to know,» Freeman said. «I haven't paid much attention to the spread. But, I remember the one time we were on College GameDay, I said just keep making it go up and up.»

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Both teams are ranked as preseason top-five opponents with Ohio State at No. 2 and Notre Dame at No. 5, but the 17.5-point spread by Caesars Sportsbook is just the fourth time in the last 45 years a team has been favored by 17 or more points in an AP Top-5 matchup. Notre Dame faced Alabama in such an instance in the 2021 College Football Playoff semifinal when the Irish lost to the Crimson Tide 31-14.

The Buckeyes are favored to win this game with an 84% chance to win according to ESPN's FPI, and a big part of that outcome will be whether or not Notre Dame can stop Ohio State's high-powered offense.

Freeman said he watched film on the Buckeyes last season, but the offense is so versatile, there isn't one area you can focus on. Instead, he wants his team to make sure they stop the run, which will in turn help with shutting down the pass game.

«If you don't stop the run, they'll run it all day long, so the ability to stop the run is most important,» Freeman said. «We know they're very