Another good thing for the Buckeyes coming out of the ND game:
They only really had one RB run that "failed" in such a way as to cost tOSU anything.
Of Williams' and Henderson's 29 combined carries only four went for less than three yards. Of those four, however, one was a two yard run for a TD on 2nd and goal and another was a one yard run for a first down on 2nd and one. Another was a run for no gain against a goal-line D on 1st and goal from the 2 that immediately preceeded the aforementioned two yard TD run so that didn't cost them anything.
The only really costly failure was a one yard run on 3rd and 2 late in the first quarter but it was quite costly.
The set-up:
After Notre Dame's big gain on the first play of the game, their offense managed only negligible yards and zero first downs on the ensuing series and their next two possessions. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes had picked up multiple first downs, a considerable amount of yards, and a TD to take a 7-3 lead.
Notre Dame went three-and-out after tOSU's TD and the Buckeyes got the ball on their own 28 with about three minutes to go in the first quarter. This was the first time that Ohio State had the ball with the opportunity to take a two-posession lead and, as it turned out, the Buckeyes would not have that opportunity again until the fourth quarter.
The drive started out great! On 1st and 10 from the 28 Williams ran for eight to set up 2nd and 2 from the 36. Stroud threw an incomplete pass which set up a 3rd and 2. That should be converted but in this case, it wasn't. Williams was held to one yard on 3rd and 2 and the Buckeyes punted to ND who promptly went 87 yards to take a 10-7 lead that they would hold until late in the third quarter.