There is a Notre Dame storyline that not enough people are talking about following the Fighting Irish victory over Boston College
You may have missed something very important during Notre Dame’s ugly performance against Boston College.
There has been a lot of conversation centered around Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash so far this season. With how poorly the Fighting Irish defense played early in the year, many members of the fanbase were calling for Ash’s head. That was followed by better play, and most have been cautiously optimistic that things are heading in a better direction recently, but also curious as to why the defensive ideology shifted so drastically.
We saw another good performance against the Boston College Eagles during their 25 to 10 ugly victory on Saturday. On top of only allowing 10 points, 17 below their average coming in, Ash’s unit was also extremely disruptive. They ended the night with three interceptions, five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and seven pass breakups. Creating disruption and chaos was a big part of the Al Golden defense previously, and there has been a rebirth in previous weeks under Ash.
Familiarity has been a welcomed sight for Fighting Irish fans after a less than ideal start to the year. We have been fed by head coach Marcus Freeman that this is the same Notre Dame defense, and with some help from him, that is now looking believable. Even with that renaissance of sorts, we have also seen a very important improvement under Ash.
A change under Chris Ash
One area where Notre Dame needed improvement under Coach Golden previously was as a run defense. Over the previous three seasons under Golden, the run defense allowed 131.3 (3.9 yards per carry), 119 (3.5 yards YPC), and 138.1 (3.8 YPC) yards per game. While those numbers aren’t terrible, especially the 2023 number, having a top ranked pass defense was clearly the priority compared to the two.
Through eight games under Ash, the Notre Dame defense has surrendered just 89.6 rushing yards per game and 2.8 yards per carry. That is fresh off of the team’s best performance of the season against Boston College. On the day, the Irish let up a mere 12 yards on 33 carries, an average of 0.4 yards per carry. Sack yardage is subtracted from the total, but regardless, it was a dominant performance.
Like everything in life, nothing is ever perfect. It has, however, been nice to see this Ash defense take on an identity of its own. There have been too many big games in the not so distant past where the Notre Dame defense has struggled to stop the run and get opposing offenses behind the sticks. Along with linebackers Drayk Bowen and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, the 2025 version of the defense feels much more equipped to match blow for blow on the ground, and shorten football games.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish News
Crucial changes that Notre Dame and HC Marcus Freeman need to make following an ugly victory over the Boston College Eagles
Something needs to change for Notre Dame, and quickly.
