Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 28, 2024 9 UNDER THE DOME 5 College football programs in the Power Four have posted eight or more wins in each of the previous four seasons (2020-23): Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and North Carolina State and Notre Dame. 7-1 Record for Notre Dame under head coach Marcus Freeman in games following a loss since the 2022 season. The Fighting Irish have averaged 39.5 points per game in those eight contests, while beating opponents by an average of three touchdowns. The Irish's lone loss came to Marshall after it had dropped the 2022 season opener at Ohio State. 11 ESPN 300 commits in the class of 2025 for Notre Dame as of Sept. 19. As a result, ESPN had the Fighting Irish at No. 14 in its team recruit- ing rankings. Per usual, the Irish's offensive line recruiting was lauded. "Notre Dame is working to keep their offensive line unit a strength with several additions there including a pair in the ESPN 300 in Owen Strebig and Will Black," ESPN noted. "Black has the physical tools to be one of their next premier big men as he is an aggressive blocker with good flexibility and feet." 18 Missed tackles forced by Notre Dame sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love through three games (6.0 per con- test), per Pro Football Focus. That ranked 10th among Power Four ball carriers and 13th overall through Week 3. Last year, Irish workhorse Audric Estimé had 64 missed tackles forced (11th among Power Four backs and tied for 17th overall) in 12 games for an aver- age of 5.3 per contest. 19th Was the final national ranking for Notre Dame men's basket- ball's 2024 recruiting class by ESPN. "This group should help improve the talent level in South Bend moving forward," ESPN's Jeff Borzello noted. "There are two ESPN 100 prospects in Nasir Mohammed (No. 57) and Cole Certa (No. 89), as well as four-star forward Garrett Sundra." 21 Of the Notre Dame women's soccer team's first 25 goals this season were scored by freshmen. Nearly half of that production came from rookie midfielder/forward Izzy Engle, who found the back of the net 10 times in her first seven collegiate contests. Engle ranked No. 2 in the country in goal scoring as of Sept. 19, behind only California's Karlie Lema (11). The No. 16-ranked Fighting Irish opened the season 6-1-1 record while posting a plus-21 goal differential, which ranked eighth nationally. 37.8 Percent chance for Notre Dame to make the College Foot- ball Playoff following its win at Purdue, per ESPN Analytics. That ranked 11th-best in the country and was a 15 percent increase from what it was after the NIU loss in Week 2. "The loss to NIU will haunt the Irish all season," ESPN's Craig Haubert noted, "but if Notre Dame continues to play like it did against Purdue — and runs the table — the committee could reward them with a spot." 50-1 Record for Notre Dame in games it has led after the first quar- ter since 2017, per Notre Dame media relations, following its win over Purdue in Week 3. That is the second-best mark of any FBS team during that stretch, behind only Alabama (67-1). 66 Points scored by Notre Dame against Purdue was originally reported to be the most in school history for a road game, surpassing the 62-3 win by the Irish in Michie Stadium at Army on Oct. 20, 1973. Upon further re- view, that is not the most points for Notre Dame in a road contest. The record is a 69-13 win by the Irish over Pittsburgh at Pitt Stadium on Nov. 6, 1965. 86.2 Defense grade for Notre Dame freshman KEN- NEDY URLACHER, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher, against Pur- due. He made 3 tackles and had 1 pass broken up en route to being Pro Football Focus' highest-graded true freshman safety for Week 3. He ranked third overall among all true freshmen, behind only Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo (89.4) and Miami tight end Elija Lofton (89.2). 162 Totals yards for Purdue against Notre Dame in Week 3. That marked the fewest by any team facing a Power Four opponent that weekend and were the second-fewest allowed by a team facing a Power Four opponent through Week 3. The Fighting Irish were also one of just two programs to limit a Power Four opponent to 38 or fewer rushing yards in Week 3 (Memphis allowed 37 to Florida State). ✦ BY THE NUMBERS PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER