What ESPN's Stanford Steve said about Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

“Stanford” Steve Coughlin rode into Notre Dame’s campus on a bus with the legend himself, Lee Corso, and some of the other members of ESPN’s College GameDay crew Friday morning. Corso said what everyone else was thinking as they watched Fighting Irish fans scurry about on a beautiful, sun-filled morning in Northern Indiana.

“This is college football.”

Yes. Yes it is, Coach.

Coughlin, a SportsCenter commentator and a sports betting analyst on GameDay, caught up with some members of the media to share his thoughts on the weekend ahead and the matchup between No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0) and No. 6 Ohio State (3-0). Here is everything he said.

On his overall feelings before the game

“Well, on the Notre Dame side, this is why you brought Sam Hartman in. To win games like this, right? I look at the idea of what Notre Dame has been. They’ve had these opportunities, and it’s been bad in some of these circumstances. Ian Book is a great college football quarterback, got exposed against bigger teams. Sam Hartman has played against the best of the best, and this is why you got him. When you have this opportunity, you take advantage of this opportunity.

“Growing up, late 80s, early 90s, Notre Dame never lost these games. Whoever came in here, Reggie Brooks or Jerome Bettis were scoring touchdowns in the last minute no matter who it was. Florida State, Miami, Penn State.

“I watched the tape. You could see a sense of relief just watching him knowing that he was the starter. I think they did a great job of getting him loose too with some play calling. I look at who can disrupt the other team’s quarterback. I think that’s what it comes down to. And both teams are capable. [Michael] Hall up front is the biggest challenge for Notre Dame. Knowing how good their tackles and knowing what Hall brings to the table, that’s the challenge for me. Notre Dame, can they establish a run and keep them honest so Sam is not back there having to throw it 50 times. You don’t want that. The best passing game is when your running game opens it.

“I think the biggest matchup in the game is the Ohio State offensive line on the road. Good offensive lines always travel. We’ll see how good Ohio State’s is. I expect 60 minutes. I know both teams do. That’s what will be interesting.”

On College GameDay being at Notre Dame

“This is it. I get all the stories going around, but you talk about name brands. And being in front of [Touchdown Jesus]? I came on a visit here in ’96 and then I came back for coach [Tyrone] Willingham when Stanford came back and he was the head coach at Notre Dame but just the campus and how much more modern it is, it’s pretty cool.

“The name brands, when this series was announced you looked at the schedule and said, “We’ll be in South Bend.” And then things start happening and you’re like, oh man, really. It’s good. I’m glad both teams took care of business prior to this game and we’re here for it. The name brand, the history, the games they’ve had, the players who have played in this matchup are just insane.

“I was in high school and I remember when Eddie George won the Heisman and sort of his coming out party. Orlando Pace, all those guys. It’s really good that we’re here and these two brands are undefeated.”

On who he’s looking forward to seeing play in the game

“Marvin Harrison Jr., for sure. Being at the Peach Bowl last year, I thought he was incredible. [Cam] Hart, the corner for Notre Dame, is from Good Counsel where I live in Maryland. Excited to see what kind of matchup that secondary for Notre Dame, much improved, and they’re up against it. They know it, Ohio State knows it, everybody in the stadium knows it. That’s the matchup as far as the glitz and the glamor on the perimeter. That’s what everybody wants to watch. I’ll definitely have my eyes on that. But Ohio State and the defensive line against Notre Dame’s tackles, I love those two guys. I’ll be watching the line play while everyone is watching the perimeter.”

On a good bet for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame

“I believe that both defenses will dictate the game. So I look at under the total, maybe that. I honestly think 27 points wins this game. Ohio State now, getting that road game, people can say what they want but they still went on the road to Indiana in a conference game under everything, with a quarterback competition going on, now they have their feet underneath them.

“I love Ryan Day calling plays on the road. I think he does a great job. I’m interested to see what he does early. I think Ohio State, if they can jump out 7-0, I think that’s huge. Neutralize the crowd, playing to your advantages. It’s dangerous taking unders with Ohio State knowing their capability they have on offense, and Notre Dame the way they’ve thrown the ball with Hartman, but I would take the under.”

On what he expects the atmosphere to be like Saturday morning for College GameDay

“I’m going to guess Coach Freeman won’t have as many camera people as Coach Prime and The Rock did last week coming on the stage. But it will be good. It is a night game, but these fan bases, it’s hard to be in it or explain it until you’ve seen it. Ohio State will travel anywhere. I remember being at the Big Ten title game a few years ago when Justin Fields was there and I was in Indianapolis trying to grab some lunch and every bar was sold out. I was like, ‘What the heck is going on here?’ Ohio State had a basketball game that day. So they were all watching that. So they will show out tomorrow for sure. I do feel a little competition of the fan bases. But I expect this place to be packed. Both of these fan bases know when they got something good, and they got something good this year for sure.”

“Seamless. I look at what they did in the big games last year, they were in every game. To finally get over the hump and beat Clemson with fans in the stadium I thought was a huge hurtle. I say seamless because of what Tommy [Rees] did being up against it at the quarterback position last year. New offensive coordinator, new quarterback coming in, and that offense was better. So I can’t say enough about it. I love his mentality, his composure, the ways he rallies the guys around the team. I couldn’t be happier for him. It goes back to them bringing Hartman in and this opportunity. Look at the opportunity Marcus has. He’s taken it and run with it. Here they are with GameDay and Ohio State coming in, top 10 matchup.”

On Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman

“I just look at the accuracy. He’s played a ton of football. What is it, 49 starts? This will be his 50th. I don’t know the next guy who is going to have that in the sport when you talk about starting 50 games at the Power Five level. There is a common sense. You saw it over in Ireland watching the game. You don’t know what the heck Navy is going to come out in. New surroundings. And he comes out and what did he go, 7-for-7 to start that game I believe? The way he’s started games you just see how calm he is because he’s seen it all.

“Look tomorrow at all the quarterbacks. There are still quarterbacks who don’t have a road start. And then you got a guy who’s going to have 50 starts. Experience, man. He’s gotten himself better. He overcame the deal last year before the season. It’s just a true character of what he is. It’s been really impressive. Huge fan of him.”

On if Marvin Harrison Jr. is the X-factor

“No, I think the other guys are. You got to game plan for Harrison Jr., but last week, the shots they took early on to get everybody involved, I think it’s the other guys. I think Ryan Day knows that. Those guys are dangerous, man. Look how deep that room is. It feels like it’s new Alabama from a couple years ago with all those first round draft picks. Now you look at what Ohio State has and what those guys are doing at the next level already.

“It’ll be interesting for sure. Seeing TreVeyon Henderson healthy. I think the X-factor for both teams is running the football. Running the football opens up the pass game. It makes throws for your quarterback easier. It makes the coverage a lot harder. Now they got their eyes in the backfield. Both offensive game plans will have that involved for sure.”

On GameDay being at Notre Dame 30 years after the original show aired from South Bend

“I grew up with this show. I remember Coach Corso here for that show for that Florida State game. It’s kind of sad because it makes you feel old that I remember something from 30 years ago. I don’t remember everything from 30 years ago. That’s a perfect example. No. 1 coming in, Notre Dame found a way. They won that game. I don’t want to talk about the following week, but that’s what I grew up on. I grew up on Notre Dame winning these games, and it feels like with Hartman they’re more ready than ever for this opportunity to take advantage of it.”

On what it means to be a part of GameDay

“It’s been an absolute whirlwind. To travel, just knowing what’s coming, what’s at stake, and then I traveled for College GameDay radio back 10 years ago. We didn’t start til noon Eastern. I would just come over and stand in the crowd for the energy. Just walking around there for five minutes, you see it. There is nothing like the energy of a college campus. To be able to bring something to the table for that and what this show brings, it’s a lot of energy. There is nothing bad about that. It’s all good. It’s all why we love it. Again, I go back to what Coach Corso said coming in today. This is college football. This campus. These two brands. The names. The coaches. It’s everything. The history. It’s why we love it. I couldn’t be having more fun.”