Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Notre Dame annals where the Irish averaged more than 200 rushing yards (207.6) and 200 passing yards (258.8). The first was the 1970 team led by quar- terback Joe Theismann that finished No. 2 nationally. The second was the 1977 national champs, steered by quarterback Joe Montana. • Since the 22-year major bowl victory famine that be- gan in 1994, the 34.2 points per game output was the second highest by a Fighting Irish team, eclipsed only by the 36.7 aver- age by the 2005 edition that also lost to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, 34-20. The Fighting Irish school record remains 37.6 set way back in 1968. OFFENSE: THE BAD NEWS • With 14 turnovers in the red zone the past two years (eight in 2014 and six in 2015), Notre Dame leads the nation in that category. National runner-up Clemson had 26 turnovers overall in 2015 compared to Notre Dame's 20, but it's also about the when and where. SUMMARY There was healthy balance, stellar big-play capability and a better com- mitment to the run. With the recruit- ing success on offense the past several years, there is no reason to believe that the production of this year can't con- tinue or even improve. Better efficiency in the red zone, though, is what can spell the difference between 10-2 or 9-3, or a College Football Playoff berth. DEFENSE: GOOD NEWS • Total defense fell from a school-re- cord 404.2 yards allowed per game last year to 372.7 this year (45th nationally). • Two of the top three Heisman vote getters were held in relative check, with Stanford running back Christian Mc- Caffrey gaining a hard-earned 94 yards on 27 carries and Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson completing 10 of 21 passes for 84 yards (although he did add 93 rushing yards). DEFENSE: BAD NEWS • Since the end of the Lou Holtz era in 1996, the 175.6 rushing yards al- lowed per game was the second high- est single-season total Notre Dame had NCAA FINAL RANKINGS (128 TEAMS) Rushing Offense: 28th — 207.6 yards per game Passing Offense: 35th — 258.8 yards per game Total Offense: 27th — 466.4 yards per game Scoring Offense: 34th — 34.2 points per game Red-Zone Offense: 88th — 81.1 percent Turnovers: Tied 61st — 20 Third-Down Conversions: 39th — 42.5 percent Rushing Defense: 72nd — 175.6 yards per game Pass Efficiency Defense: 57th — 123.96 rating Total Defense: 45th — 372.7 yards per game Scoring Defense: 39th — 24.1 points per game Red-Zone Defense: 43rd — 80.5 percent Turnovers Forced: Tied 109th — 14 Third-Down Conversion Defense: 32nd — 35.1 percent Field Goal Percentage: 6th — 88.2 Punting: 15th— 44.5 yards per attempt Kickoff Returns: 48th — 21.71 yards per attempt Punt Returns: 70th — 7.96 yards per attempt Kickoff Return Defense: 80th — 22.12 yards per attempt Punt Return Defense: 75th — 8.82 yards per attempt