The Fighting Irish are reeling right now. They’re punting for the second drive in a row, and for the second time in a row, it was also a three-and-out.

The Buckeyes have a 14-7 lead and the ball on their own 20.

Another possession, another long drive for Ohio State.

This time the Buckeyes go 76 yards in 10 plays, once again nearly taking six minutes off the clock in the process. Quinshon Judkins got the touchdown with a nine-yard run.

Notre Dame needs to find some answers on defense. Ohio State’s dominating right now, particularly at the line of scrimmage.

Notre Dame allowed opponents to convert just 29% of its third-down attempts this season, the fifth-best mark in the 134-team Football Bowl Subdivision. Ohio State, however, has found no issue — a perfect 4-for-4 thus far while taking a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Those conversions have allowed Ohio State to average 7.4 yards per play, nearly three yards higher than Notre Dame's season average.

Since November, Ohio State has alternated between running its offense through All-America freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and not being able to use him at all. In a November loss to Michigan, Smith was targeted for passes just two times. Then, in the playoff's first round against Tennessee and quarterfinal against Oregon, he caught 13 passes for a combined 290 yards and four touchdowns.

The pendulum swung the other way against Texas in the semifinal, when the Longhorns found a way to shut down Smith through double coverage, limiting him to just one catch for three yards. So far against Notre Dame, Smith has already exceeded that total, with two catches, including a touchdown off this tricky play design called by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Getting Smith the ball has portended good things for the Buckeyes. Can they keep it up tonight?

Two penalties — a false start and a holding — forced a Notre Dame punt on the offense’s second drive. The Fighting Irish weren’t able to convert a 3rd-and-23.

The Buckeyes have the ball back in a 7-7 game. They’ll start on their own 24.

Ohio State had to watch Notre Dame march down the field so the Buckeyes did the same thing when they got a chance.

Ohio State drove 75 yards in 11 plays, taking nearly six minutes off the clock before getting into the end zone. Jeremiah Smith caught an eight-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.

We’re knotted at 7-7. Both offenses have held serve so far.

It took only 26 minutes of real time to finish the opening, 15-minute quarter of the national title game. That is blazing fast, and is notable because if Notre Dame can grind away clock as it did on its nearly 10-minute first drive, it will reduce how many opportunities each team has to score, ratcheting up the stakes on each one. Ohio State must get points here.

The first quarter is done and we haven’t even had two full possessions yet.

After a marathon drive by Notre Dame to start, Ohio State is following up with one of its own. The Buckeyes are in the midst of a nine-play, 62-yard drive as we head to the second quarter.

Ohio State will have a 1st-and-10 on the Fighting Irish 13 when play resumes. Both offenses have the defenses on their heels so far.

The Buckeyes had not trailed for even a single second in any of its three playoff victories to reach the national championship game, but that streak ends after Notre Dame's touchdown opens the game.

Entering tonight, Ohio State had allowed opponents to drive inside the 20-yard line 36 times this season, and allowed just 15 touchdowns — the second-lowest touchdown percentage inside the red zone in the country. But Notre Dame, thus far, is already 1-for-1.