Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 8, 2025 9 UNDER THE DOME ✦ BY THE NUMBERS No. 1 College football venue in the nation, per 2,160 fans in a poll conducted by The Athletic, is Notre Dame Stadium. The House That Rockne Built received 34 percent of the fan vote to edge out Michigan Stadium (33 percent) and Tiger Stadium (32 percent). The college football staff at The Athletic had Notre Dame Stadium at No. 3 on its list, behind only LSU's Tiger Stadium and Penn State's Beaver Stadium. "It's not the largest capacity, loudest atmosphere or most unique design, but nothing rivals the historical weight of Notre Dame Stadium," The Athlet- ic's Justin Williams noted. "The place is hallowed ground for college football, the type of bucket-list venue that when your team plays in South Bend, you find a way to make the trip. The structure itself is timeless, with its brick walls and simple diagonal lines in the end zones. But it's the broader setting and experience that make Notre Dame so special. "The Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Golden Dome atop the Main Build- ing. The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. The 'Word of Life' mural — AKA Touchdown Jesus — on Hesburgh Library. Even if you have zero affinity for the Fighting Irish or are not a religious person, lighting a pregame candle at The Grotto and watching a game in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus is a spiritual experience." TOP 10 COLLEGE FOOTBALL STADIUMS Per The Athletic Rk. Venue (School) Fan % Staff Rank 1. Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame) 34% 3 2. Michigan Stadium (Michigan) 33% 5 3. Tiger Stadium (LSU) 32% 1 4. Beaver Stadium (Penn State) 25% 2 5. Ohio Stadium (Ohio State) 24% 4 6. Neyland Stadium (Tennessee) 24% 6 7. Rose Bowl (UCLA) 23% 9 8. Husky Stadium (Washington) 22% 7 9. Autzen Stadium (Oregon) 19% 10 10. Sanford Stadium (Georgia) 17% 12 2 Notre Dame players were named to The Athletic's Freshman All-America team: Quarterback CJ Carr and safety Tae Johnson. That was tied for the most of any team, alongside Tennessee and Syracuse. Johnson played in each of the Irish's first five wins and made an impact on the back end, while Carr has been one of the nation's most prolific passers. 5.8 Yards allowed per attempt and an FBS-best 12 interceptions for Notre Dame's pass defense during the Irish's five-game winning streak from Sept. 20 to Oct. 18. "It seems almost quaint to remember the apoplexy that fol- lowed Notre Dame's 0-2 start and the abysmal pass defense that helped create it," David Hale of ESPN noted. "Two weeks into the season — against two teams that are a combined 14-1, by the way — Notre Dame was allowing nearly 8 yards per dropback. Since then, the Irish have figured things out — and gotten Leonard Moore healthy — and the defense has turned it around." 9.7 Passing yards per attempt for Notre Dame through Week 9, which ranked fourth in the country and sec- ond among teams that don't run the triple option, behind only Southern Cal. The Irish have not been that efficient with their aerial attack since 1993, when they passed just 185 times all season. For reference, the Irish threw 195 passes in the first seven games of 2025. +1800 Odds for Notre Dame junior running back Jeremiyah Love to win the Heisman Trophy, per BetMGM, following his 228-yard rushing performance against Southern Cal Oct. 18. Those were the best odds for a non-quarterback heading into Week 10 of the college football season. Alabama's Ty Simpson and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza were the co-favor- ites at +325, with each having an implied 23.5 percent chance to take home the award. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (+400), Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (+550), Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (+800) and Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (+1500) were also ahead of Love. For what it's worth, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr was a true long shot at +4000. "Love is a powerful weapon for Notre Dame, pacing the Irish offense while running behind another good South Bend offensive line," Chase Kiddy of Bet- MGM noted. "Perhaps because of Ashton Jeanty's memorable 2024 season, the Heisman betting public has cued in on Love. Despite his longer odds, he's currently the No. 8 most popular Heisman ticket at BetMGM with roughly 5 percent of all tickets. "With Notre Dame potentially outside the playoff picture, and few quality opponents remaining on the schedule, it's hard to see Love's path to the award — even with an outstanding statistical season likely in play." 4.995 Million viewers on average for Notre Dame through Week 8 of the 2025 college football season, per the midseason report put out by Nielsen Oct. 23. That put the Fighting Irish at No. 10 on the list of the most watched teams in college football. Here is the full top 10: 51 Times junior corner- back CHRISTIAN GRAY was targeted through seven games, allowing 28 receptions for 420 yards and 2 touchdowns (while picking off 2 passes and breaking up 6 oth- ers). That entered Week 10 tied for the most targets for a cornerback in college football with Wyoming's Desman Hearns, who had played in one more game. Irish head coach Marcus Freeman re- vealed Oct. 27 that Gray has been playing hurt. — Jack Soble Rk. School Average Viewers 1. Alabama 7.921 million 2. Tennessee 7.804 million 3. Georgia 7.599 million 4. Texas 6.882 million 5. Oklahoma 6.287 million 6. LSU 6.144 million 7 Ohio State 6.144 million 8 Miami (Fla.) 5.601 million 9. Florida 5.146 million 10. Notre Dame 4.995 million PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER