The Football Fever: Gene Smith reacts to Notre Dame game under the lights in South Bend
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio State leads the series, 5-2 but the teams haven't met in South Bend since 1996.
"It's a prime time type of game," Ohio State Athletics Director Gene Smith told ABC-6. "So we anticipated it would be a night game, we're happy with it. The Big Ten has already announced our Michigan State game is going to be at night so as we look at our schedule we try to project as best we could on which games might be at night. We knew that one would be at night and I think it deserves that. It's going to be highly watched, no doubt."
Smith played defensive end for Notre Dame in the mid-70's but has been back to South Bend very infrequently, traveling for a women's basketball game a few years ago. The iconic match up is why Smith says Ohio State took the hit.
"Normally we wouldn't play a six-game home schedule which is what we're doing this particular year but to get them (Notre Dame) and to work for them home and away so that's why we ended up with eight games and six this year. Normally it would be flipped and because of what you just said it's an iconic match up. We hadn't played them in years and I just felt like we needed to make that sacrifice and accept it and get that game on our schedule. Our fans certainly enjoyed it last year."
The Buckeyes won in the Shoe, 21-10 last season. The 2023 showdown will kick at 7:30 on NBC.
