Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State is only 68 days away
To preview one of the most anticipated games for Notre Dame this century and the official start of the Marcus Freeman era, BlueandGold.com is counting down the days to the matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 3.
This daily series of 99 stories celebrates by the numbers some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football.
With 68 days left until kickoff, we look back at an important 68-yard touchdown.
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All Notre Dame needed to do was survive and advance in November 2012.
The heavy lifting had already been done. The Fighting Irish beat four ranked opponents in the first two months of the season. They didn’t drop any games to unranked opposition and wouldn’t play another team with a number next to its name until bowl season.
So if Notre Dame won out, bowl season would likely entail the national championship game.
That being the case, it was imperative to not give anyone early signs of life in the stretch run of the season. The last thing Notre Dame needed was an inferior foe hanging around in the second half thinking it could spoil the Irish’s perfect season.
Cierre Wood took that to heart against Wake Forest.
The Irish ran a speed option with quarterback Everett Golson on the fourth play of the game. He ran right with the running back Wood flanking his right hip. A Demon Deacon linebacker met Golson on the edge and made the Notre Dame signal caller’s choice a simple one; pitch it to Wood.
Wide receiver TJ Jones chipped his man enough to seal the edge. Wood went inside of the block. Wideout Daniel Smith made a mockery of his man and turned him around. By that point, all Wood needed was some straight line speed. He had plenty of it. He scored from 68 yards out. Notre Dame won, 38-0. Wood’s touchdown was the catalyst for the blowout.
“They jumped on us quick, got momentum, kept momentum rolling, and when the defense can’t stop them, it’s hard for the offense to really play hard,” Wake Forest nose guard Nikita Whitlock said.
Beating a middling USC 22-14 in Los Angeles was more difficult the next week, but with an undefeated regular season so plainly in sight that shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Notre Dame got to the finish line, and Wood’s 68-yard touchdown the week prior boosted the Irish there.
