Notre Dame Football: 5 Startling Statistics Through 5 Weeks

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Five games into the regular season, Notre Dame football continues to impress, posting strong defensive performances to accompany quarterback Everett Golson’s mostly great play.

While the high potential on this team was known before the season, the Irish have jelled quicker than some may have thought. So what stands out through these first five games? We’ll take a look at some of the more noteworthy statistics—positive and negative—here.

Let’s get to it.

12.0 Points Allowed Per Game

USA TODAY Sports

Brian VanGorder

It’s impossible to start anywhere else. Notre Dame’s defense ranks tied for third in the country in scoring defense, per CFBStats.com, allowing those 12 points per game.

Did anyone truly expect that entering the season? The Irish needed to replace five starters along the front seven—including current NFL players Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix, Prince Shembo and Dan Fox—and have featured two new starting cornerbacks in Cody Riggs and Cole Luke.

"

Irish D up to No. 3 in scoring and No. 9 in rushing allowed. Anybody else predict that in August?

— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) October 5, 2014"

But defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder’s unit has been dynamite. The Irish shut out Michigan and snapped the Wolverines’ streak of 365 games without being blanked. Against Stanford on Saturday, Notre Dame limited the Cardinal to 205 yards of total offense—3.0 yards per play, the worst offensive output since 2006.

The Irish defense continues to prove itself, but tough offenses still await with Florida State, Arizona State and USC lurking.

13 Touchdown Passes

USA TODAY Sports

Everett Golson

Irish quarterback Everett Golson has already tallied 13 touchdown passes—one more than he had in the entirety of the 2012 season.

Ever since the season opener against Rice, Golson has impressed with his strong arm and pinpoint precision. Despite not having a proven wide receiver entering the season, Golson has developed connections with Will Fuller, Amir Carlisle and Corey Robinson, most notably.

Golson’s passing prowess vaulted him into the Heisman Trophy discussion. After a four-turnover night against Syracuse and a rocky outing against Stanford—coughing up two turnovers and completing fewer than 50 percent of his passes—Golson has a chance to get back on track against North Carolina’s porous defense.

4.15 Yards Per Rush

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Greg Bryant

Notre Dame’s 4.15 yards-per-carry average ranks 77th in the country, per CFBStats.com. Simply put, the Irish just have not been able to get the ground game going for long stretches (outside of the 281-yard day in the season opener against Rice).

Notre Dame has stuck with the running back rotation for the most part, but none of the backs have gotten in a groove. Since the Rice game, Greg Bryant’s 55 rushing yards against Syracuse are the most by any of the three backs.

Irish head coach Brian Kelly stayed loyal to the run against Stanford on Saturday, and he knows Notre Dame needs balance.

“You have to,” Kelly said Saturday after the win. “If you just abandon the running game, they're going to drop eight [in coverage]. ... We're getting better at some of the combination blockings we've been trying to get to with the new combination on the offensive line and tonight was a big step for us.”

If and when Notre Dame does find a consistent running game, the offense should be that much more potent.

9 Sacks Allowed

JOE RAYMOND/Associated Press

Speaking of the offensive line, the unit has struggled at times through the first five games. After allowing just eight sacks in all of 2013, Notre Dame has already surrendered nine here in 2014.

Now, part of that could come down to the man under center; Golson is more mobile than Tommy Rees, and you could argue by prolonging plays with his mobility, he leaves himself vulnerable to more sacks. But, still, the offensive line has had issues to the point that Kelly nearly completely rearranged the line during the bye week.

Kelly said the line got stronger as the game went along against Stanford, but there’s still plenty of growth to be had.

“We're not there yet,” Kelly said Sunday. “We're going to continue to work, continue to work with the same five guys and continue to work on building some continuity there.”

127 Punt-Return Yards

Joe Raymond/Associated Press

Cody Riggs

Notre Dame’s 127 punt-return yards only rank tied for 30th in the country, according to CFBStats.com, but that seems like 1,270 for the Irish given their struggles in recent years.

Cody Riggs has returned 10 punts for 90 yards, and he burst onto the scene as the return man with two scampers for 49 yards against Rice. The returns and yards have been limited in recent weeks, but the Irish still have to feel much more satisfied with their special teams work after the unit became a punch line the past few seasons.

If Riggs can continue to make people miss, Notre Dame should feel comfortable with its ability to shift field position. 

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Mike Monaco is a lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.