Elliott leads Ohio State to Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for four touchdowns as Ohio State overpowered Notre Dame 44-28 to win the Fiesta Bowl.

The Buckeyes did it without defensive end Joey Bosa, who was ejected for targeting in the first half. The Fighting Irish also lost star linebacker Jaylon Smith, who ended up on crutches after a non-contact knee injury early in the game.

Either way, the Buckeyes will lose a lot of players to the NFL draft, but ending the season on a high note against a very good team is a tremendous way to go out.

Here's what you need to know:

• From the get go, both teams lost their top defensive players. Notre Dame's Smith was forced to leave the game in the first quarter after suffering a Nick Chubb-like knee injury. The Butkus Award winner is a projected top-10 pick, so the severity of his injury will be critical.
• Across the gridiron, Bosa was ejected for targeting quarterback DeShone Kizer early in the first half, signalling the end of his collegiate career.
• Speaking of the end, Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott did everything to up his stock prior to the NFL draft. Elliott rushed for 55 yards and three touchdowns - in the first half.
• Elliott finished the game with 149 yards and four scores on 27 carries
• Quarterback J.T. Barrett was great down the stretch, throwing for 211 yards and a score, finding seven separate receivers, while rushing for 96 yards.
• For Notre Dame, this was the Kizer show. The quarterback threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 21 yards and a score.
• Wide receiver Will Fuller went off late, keeping the game close with an 81-yard touchdown. He finished the day with 113 yards and one touchdown on six receptions.

Play of the Game

After Ohio State coughed up the ball on a pick, Notre Dame marched up field and brought the game within a score with a touchdown. On its next possession, the Buckeyes handed the ball to Elliott, who exploded for his fourth touchdown of the game with a 47-yarder. He added the Bosa shrug to his list of celebrations, just for kicks.