Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome Charting The Irish Does defense actually win championships? Well, it certainly gets you there. For the second year in a row, the country���s No. 1 scoring defense will face the country���s No. 2 scoring defense in the BCS title game. Notre Dame and Alabama make it tough for opponents to move the ball anywhere on the field, but they keep points off the scoreboard by becoming even more seamless in the red zone. Alabama makes it harder for teams to get within striking distance. The Crimson Tide faced only 87 plays in the red zone this year and held five different opponents to less than four plays each in that area of the field. Notre Dame faced 116 plays inside the 20-yard line, but did a better job of stopping them than the Tide. They allowed less than a yard per snap. Notre Dame 116 111 126 26 0.96 29 (25%) Inside The 20 Snaps Yards Allowed Rushing Yards Allowed Passing Yards Allowed Yards Per Snap Negative Plays Forced* Alabama 87 192 88 115 2.2 17 (19.5%) The going only gets tougher inside the 10-yard line, where both teams tightened again this season. The most enduring moments from Notre Dame���s 12-0 season will be its goal-line stands in several close wins. The Irish held opponents to a remarkable negative-three yards inside the 10. Alabama allowed only four scores on plays when its opponent started at the 2-yard line or closer. Notre Dame 54 -3 11 7 -0.1 12 (22.2%) Inside The 20 Snaps Yards Allowed Rushing Yards Allowed Passing Yards Allowed Yards Per Snap Negative Plays Forced* * Negative plays include opponent penalties, turnovers, sacks or tackles for loss. Moving? Alabama 42 51 35 23 1.2 8 (19%) Let our customer service department know your new address! Call us 1-800-421-7751