Ohio State fumbles seconds after Chris Fowler tells Kirk Herbstreit they don’t

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish dug themselves into a deep hole in the College Football Playoff championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State held a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Irish finally showed some life when Jaden Greathouse scored a touchdown.

When Ohio State took over the offense, ESPN announcers Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit talked about how unlikely it would be for the Buckeyes to turn the ball over. Moments later they did just that.

“The problem is Kirk, Ohio State doesn’t fumble the ball,” Fowler said. “Five lost all year. And if you can’t stress Howard or pressure him, a pick also seems unlikely at this point.”

About 15 seconds later, as Kirk Herbstreit was talking, Ohio State snapped the ball and Will Howard threw the ball to Emeka Egbuka. When Egbuka was brought down after a big gain, the ball was knocked out of his arms. Ohio State had fumbled for the first time since playing Penn State on Nov. 2.

As Fowler and Herbstreit watched the replays and the officials reviewed the play, Fowler tried to shift responsibility for the announcer jinx to Herbstreit by saying he had told him at halftime that Ohio State didn’t fumble. “You said they don’t fumble,” Fowler exclaimed. “They did!”

Herbstreit was confused and had no comeback when he realized he might have cost his beloved Buckeyes. The good news for everyone involved – well, except Notre Dame – is that the Irish were unable to score on the ensuing possession.