Finally!

After being held scoreless since their first drive of the game, the Fighting Irish got back in the end zone. Notre Dame drove 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse. It was a solid drive that featured the Fighting Irish’s first third-down conversion since the opening possession. (It was aided by a pass interference penalty as well.)

The Irish also converted a two-point conversion, making this a two-score game.

The Buckeyes now lead 31-15.

For the first time all game, the Buckeyes’ offense failed to score a touchdown. Backed up by a holding penalty, Will Howard overthrew an open receiver in the end zone on 3rd-and-16.

Ohio State still added to its lead, though. Set up with a short field after a failed fake punt, the Buckeyes salvaged the drive with a field goal.

Ohio State leads 31-7.

The Fighting Irish, trying to inject some life into this game, attempted a fake punt on 4th-and-2 from their own 33. The pass by backup quarterback Steven Angeli was incomplete, however, and now the Buckeyes are set up deep in Notre Dame territory.

Notre Dame reached the College Football Playoff's national championship game behind an unyielding defense, the Irish allowing 133 yards rushing on average per game.

Plot twist: Only four drives into this game, Ohio State has already racked up 162 yards on the ground, on a per-carry average of 7.4 yards, while taking a 28-7 lead. Quinshon Judkins leads with 88 yards on six carries, including a 70-yarder on a third-quarter drive that led to its latest score. A small car could have fit in the hole opened by Ohio State's offensive line on the big run, and Notre Dame has shown no ability to stop that kind of line play.

And the second half picks up where the first left off.

The Buckeyes are back in the end zone. They’ve had four possessions, and each one has ended in a touchdown.

The only difference is Ohio State’s latest drive was a quick one. This time the offense needed only five plays to score. Quinshon Judkins had a 70-yard run to set the Buckeyes up inside the 10, then he finished the job with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Ohio State leads 28-7.

Ohio State's offense has scored a touchdown on all three of its possessions and doesn't appear as though it will hurt itself. It has nine "big" plays of either 10-plus yards rushing or 15-yards passing, to zero for Notre Dame.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day is 58-4 when leading at the half, and this 21-7 Buckeyes lead feels much bigger than two touchdowns given how steadily Ohio State answered Notre Dame's opening score, then seized control with two more touchdown drives. Notre Dame will need complementary football to win a comeback, and it starts with its defense getting off the field. Ohio State has faced an average third-down of 4.8 yards and converted all six third-down tries.

The Buckeyes are in full control of this game so far.

Ohio State has scored on every one of its possessions so far.

Notre Dame scored on its first drive, then posted two straight three-and-outs before kneeling on its final possession of the half.

The Buckeyes are dominating this game.

They just drove down the field for their third straight touchdown, this time going 80 yards in 12 plays. Quinshon Judkins just scored his second touchdown of the game, this time via a six-yard catch.

Every Ohio State drive so far has been at least 10 plays long, at least 75 yards long, and at least four minutes long.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard began tonight’s game completing his first 13 passes. He finally threw an incomplete pass on the Buckeyes’ third drive, on a throw that was very nearly picked off.

He did set a record with the 13 completions, however.