Ohio State's Ryan Day: 'Ugly' win over Notre Dame just what Buckeyes needed

COLUMBUS, Ohio — While many outside the program were waiting to see No. 2 Ohio State unveil yet another potent offense against an overmatched opponent, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day was waiting for this — the game when the passes weren't sailing through the air with precision and ease to future NFL draft picks, when the offense had to grind it out with the running game, and the defense made the difference.

Day got the ugly 21-10 win against No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday night, and in spite of the sluggish offense, he got something else he was looking for.

«That was something we spent a lot of time in the offseason saying, 'We have to be able to win ugly on offense, we have to stop the run on defense,'» Day said. «They all count the same. And you have to figure out based on who you're going against, how do you want to win that game? When you have that versatility, man, it's going to pay off down the road.»

Ohio State's offense, which was No. 1 in the country last year in offensive efficiency, underwhelmed compared to the lofty preseason expectations that pegged the Buckeyes as a strong favorite to finish in the College Football Playoff. With leading receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba sidelined from an injury he suffered in the first quarter, Ohio State struggled early against a gritty Notre Dame defense.

The Irish, led by popular first-year head coach Marcus Freeman, a former Ohio State linebacker, came into Ohio Stadium and before an announced crowd of 106,594 gave the Buckeyes all they could handle until late in the fourth quarter. Ohio State, which won games last season by an average margin of 29.1 points, was held scoreless in the second quarter and trailed 10-7 at the half.

It wasn't until less than five minutes remaining in the