GLENDALE, Ariz. — Ezekiel Elliott bulldozed his way into the end zone in the first half, showing off his strength as Ohio State’s drive capper.

He flashed his speed in the second, becoming the show stopper as he raced up the middle for a long run.

Those skills should translate well in the NFL. They certainly worked out for the Buckeyes over the past three seasons.

Elliott ran for 149 yards and matched a Fiesta Bowl record with four touchdowns Friday to close the curtain on his college career, sparking No. 7 Ohio State’s prolific offense in a 44-28 victory against Notre Dame.

“With all due respect to all the other running backs in Ohio State history, my first-round draft pick, I’d pick Zeke Elliott,” Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer said. “He’s as good as any running back I’ve been around.”

The Buckeyes (12-1) were left out of the College Football Playoff thanks to an inopportune loss. They may leave the desert wondering what could have been after blowing past another late-season playoff contender.

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Ohio State rolled past the Fighting Irish (10-3), quick-hitting its way to one scoring drive after another and 496 total yards.

Elliott, who’s leaving school early for the NFL, scored on three short runs in the first half and left defenders flailing as he raced past them for a 47-yard score to open the second.

J.T. Barrett gave the Buckeyes some balance, throwing for 211 yards and a score with 96 yards rushing in the highest-scoring game against Notre Dame this season.

Ohio State’s seniors finished 50-4, tying the FBS record set by Boise State’s 2011 class for wins in a four-year span.

“It’s been a wild journey with this team, something I couldn’t even imagine,” Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple said.

The Fighting Irish had some good offensive moments behind DeShone Kizer after Buckeyes star defensive end Joey Bosa was ejected for targeting in the first quarter.

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They just couldn’t keep up with the Buckeyes after a string of injuries, including do-everything linebacker Jaylon Smith to a knee injury in the first quarter.

“The guy is so impactful on our defense,” Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly said. “You lose a guy like that early, it significantly affects what you’re doing defensively.”

Notre Dame missed a CFB chance by four points, two-point losses to Clemson and Stanford.

Ohio State lost to Michigan State in its penultimate game and watched the Spartans join fellow one-loss teams Alabama and Oklahoma in the playoff.

Smith, the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s best linebacker, had to be helped off four minutes in after suffering what Kelly said was a significant leg injury.

Bosa, projected as a top-10 NFL pick, was gone a few minutes later after driving the top of his helmet into the chest of Kizer, long after the Notre Dame quarterback released the ball.


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