CFP Showdown: Will Notre Dame’s Underdog Spirit Topple Ohio State’s Empire?
To get those precious yards, Smith had to catch the ball 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage and dart forward. To say Texas gave Smith no space down the field would not be an overstatement. The Longhorns gave him no space.
Texas probably gave Golden, the Notre Dame defensive coordinator, a blueprint. Only rarely did Smith go anywhere in the Cotton Bowl without one of Texas’ talented safeties, often the Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba, shading in his direction.
That approach left single coverage for other Ohio State receivers, and Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate combined to catch 12 passes for 138 yards. Tate would have scored a touchdown if he didn’t drop a ball on his chest in the end zone on a slant route.

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