BY LOU SOMOGYI
OFFENSE: GOOD NEWS
• A 200-yard rushing mark — or in
its neighborhood — has been a prime
barometer to a successful football sea-
son at Notre Dame. This year's 207.6
average marked the first time the Fight-
ing Irish finished above the 200-yard
mark — with bowl games included —
since 1998, when senior Autry Denson,
the current running backs coach, led
the Irish to a 208.1-yard clip during the
9-3 season.
Among the top teams this year, Ohio
State was 11th nationally in rushing
(245.2), Stanford 19th (223.7), Clemson
21st (223.0), Oklahoma 22nd (222.1)
and national champion Alabama 32nd
(199.9).
• Notre Dame finished 23rd nation-
ally in passing efficiency, easily the best
in head coach Brian Kelly's six seasons.
The yards per attempt (8.74) ranks
among the top five in school history,
while the yards per completion (13.96)
was 24th nationally.
• This was only the third season in
THE
FINAL
DATA
Highs and lows
statistically from
Notre Dame's
2015 season
Rookie Josh Adams helped Notre Dame rack up 207.6 yards per game on the ground, marking the first
time the Irish finished a season north of the 200-yard mark since 1998.
PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA
