Notre Dame football got back to its winning ways this past weekend, defeating the Purdue Boilermakers by a score of 56 to 30. For those who watched the game, you are most likely filled with a lot of positivity for the potential and future of the offense led by redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr, and even more doubt whether Chris Ash’s defense is going to figure things out. 

Heading into that game against Barry Odom’s squad, most Fighting Irish fans expected it to be a “get right game” of sorts, a chance to put the frustrations of the previous two contests behind them, and get the season back on track against an inferior opponent. The hope was to see Carr and the offense continue to show signs of improvement, and to completely flip the vibes around the defense. The latter once again fell short in Notre Dame Stadium. 

Carr, Jeremiyah Love, and the rest of the Mike Denbrock offense did exactly what they were supposed to do against a poor team. They dominated. On the day, the offense exploded for 539 yards despite the program calling off the dogs in the fourth quarter. The Irish offense could have scored 70 points in this contest if they wanted to. It was a day of an efficient run game and an explosive passing attack. 

For the defense, they allowed over 300 yards passing for the second straight week. Allowing that output, along with 30 points to Purdue, is a really bad look for Ash’s squad. Some will claim that the defense played a lot better in the second half, but that doesn’t take away from that first-half showing. It was your first time allowing 27 points or more in three straight games in over five years, so save the victory laps for those who enjoy being deceived.

It’s also a lot easier to adjust against a team playing from so far behind, especially when they become more predictable. You can try to validate growth if you’d like, but things don’t seem to be getting much better. This was a “get right game”, and the defense did indeed not get right. 

Not getting back on track and injecting some energy into a defensive unit that needed it desperately, could end up coming back to haunt this Fighting Irish defense. There was a hope that a good performance against a struggling Purdue squad could lay the foundation for a daunting stretch that begins this weekend. If Notre Dame thought that the Boilermaker offense presented some challenges, then the next four games could be a rude awakening. It begins with a road game against the Arkansas Razorbacks this week, but then leads to Boise State, NC State, and USC.

A daunting road ahead

All of those teams are very beatable opponents for the Irish, but each brings offensive playmakers who could present some big challenges. There could be some shootouts on the horizon, especially with how poorly the Notre Dame defense is playing right now. The next four opponents all average at least 31.5 points per game, with three of them averaging over 35 points, and two averaging over 40. Each can make it a long day for Ash’s group if they don’t show improvement.

It all starts with the Razorbacks, who are averaging 43.5 points per game currently as an offense. They are led by quarterback Taylen Green, who is very inconsistent, but also an extremely gifted dual-threat talent at 6-6 and 225 pounds. When Green is on, he is a tough player to stop.

Then you will see Boise State, a group that is putting up 35.7 points per contest right now. They are led by veteran quarterback Maddux Madsen, but their running game is the area of their offense to really pay close attention to. The three-headed running back room of Dylan Riley, Sire Gaines, and Malik Sherrod has been tremendous this season. That unit is averaging a stellar 244 yards rushing per game, including 7.1 yards per carry as a group.

NC State is surprisingly only averaging 31.5 points per game right now, but its offensive attack is much more dangerous than that. Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey, like Taylen Green, is very inconsistent. He is also, however, a big-time thrower at the position. Bailey is also a good athlete who can make things happen with his feet. The Wolfpack is a bigger challenge than some will realize when looking at raw numbers. They have been a much better group since only scoring 24 points in their opener against ECU.

Then you have a Lincoln Riley offense that is averaging 55 points per game this season. Notre Dame already knows what type of challenge players like Makai Lemon and quarterback Jayden Maiava can be for a defense. Just pop on the game from last season if you are having trouble remembering. That is a brutal way to end a difficult four-game stretch for a defense that has been really, really poor.

Fans have been dreaming of a defensive turnaround, but the question has to be asked: When is that going to happen? If it didn’t happen against Purdue, it feels very unlikely that it is going to happen over the next several weeks. Head coach Marcus Freeman may be pressed into taking on a bigger role with this defense before things completely bottom out. Ash has his work cut out for him, and things look very bleak on that side of the football right now. The offense may need to carry them to make a legitimate run, a statement that would have had some rolling their eyes in the not too distant past.

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