Holtz Revisits Ohio Stadium, But Outcome Sure To Change

In 1968, when Lou Holtz was an assistant coach at Ohio State, he sat in the press box at Ohio Stadium and watched the Buckeyes beat arch-rival Michigan 50-14.

“After our last touchdown, we scored on a 2-point conversion,” Holtz recalled. “After the game, they asked coach (Woody) Hayes why he went for two and he said, ‘Because they wouldn’t let me go for three.”’

Holtz will return to that press box Saturday when No. 15 Notre Dame (3-1) visits No. 7 Ohio State (3-0). The Fighting Irish coach is still recovering from spinal surgery but - as he did last week against Texas - he will call plays from his seat above the field.

The game has special significance for Holtz because he’s an Ohio native who played at Kent State and was on Hayes’ staff when the Buckeyes won the 1968 national championship.

However, the main reason for the big buildup is that the teams haven’t played in 59 years. Notre Dame won their only two meetings, in 1935 and 1936. In their 1935 “Game of the Century” at Columbus, the Irish trailed 13-0 in the fourth quarter before rallying to win on a last-minute touchdown pass by Bill Shakespeare.

No current Notre Dame player has such a memorable name (receiver Cikai Champion comes close), and Saturday’s contest won’t be such a memorable game.

Although the Irish have won three straight since losing their opener to Northwestern, they haven’t played a team as talented and versatile as Ohio State.

Quarterback Bobby Hoying, tailback Eddie George and receiver Terry Glenn give the Buckeyes one of the best offensive trios in the country, and the defense is led by All-Big 10 ends Matt Finkes and Mike Vrabel.

The Buckeyes are favored by 6-1/2 points … OHIO ST. 31-21.

Today

No. 17 Maryland (minus 1-1/2) at Georgia Tech.

Terps 4-0 for first time since 1978 … MARYLAND 28-24.

Saturday

Washington St. (plus 29) at No. 2 Nebraska.

Huskers have won 29 straight regular-season games … NEBRASKA 38-10.

Mississippi (plus 28) at No. 3 Florida.

Gators averaging 50 points and 578 yards … FLORIDA 50-21.

No. 4 Colorado (minus 2-1/2) at No. 10 Oklahoma.

Injured Detmer won’t play for Buffs … COLORADO 24-21.

Arizona St. (plus 21) at No. 5 Southern Cal.

Sun Devils have won last three at Coliseum … SOUTHERN CAL 41-17.

Wisconsin (plus 15) at No. 6 Penn St..

Close call for the Lions … PENN ST. 31-28.

Miami, Ohio (plus 30) at No. 8 Michigan.

Wolverines should be 10-0 going into Penn State … MICHIGAN 35-7.

Wake Forest (plus 32) at No. 11 Virginia.

Cavs have won 11 straight against Wake … VIRGINIA 48-7.

Oklahoma St. (plus 31) at No. 12 Tennessee.

Vols and Cowboys meet for first time … TENNESSEE 51-14.

No. 13 Auburn (minus 16-1/2) at Kentucky.

Tigers end Wildcats’ two-game win streak … AUBURN 35-14.

No. 14 LSU (minus 7-1/2) at South Carolina.

Gamecocks have horrible defense … LSU 28-24.

Northern Illinois (plus 27) at No. 16 Kansas St..

Wildcats coming off 67-0 win over Akron … KANSAS ST. 44-10.

No. 18 Washington (minus 7) at Oregon St..

Huskies have won 17 of last 18 in series … WASHINGTON 24-14.

No. 20 Alabama (minus 3) at Georgia.

Two struggling teams … GEORGIA 20-17.

No. 21 Texas (no line) at SMU.

Longhorns rebound from loss to Notre Dame … TEXAS 34-21.

No. 23 Arkansas (minus 8) at Vanderbilt.

Vandy scored 3 points in last two games … ARKANSAS 24-10.

No. 24 Texas Tech (plus 1-1/2) at Baylor.

Tech nearly beat Penn State … TEXAS TECH 21-17.

Last week: 13-5 (straight); 6-11 (spread).

Season: 57-17 (straight); 32-35 (spread).