Then, for the biggest play of the game, Notre Dame decided to leave Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on an island. It was third and 12 and the Fighting Irish would get the ball back with a stop with a chance to tie the game. Smith completely burned his defender and he was wide open for a huge gain, and he iced the game.

Cornerback Benjamin Morrison was one of the many stars on Notre Dame's roster who helped drive the resurgence. Following the season, Morrison declared for the 2025 NFL Draft , per Inside the Irish .