The defense has done well against 4 decent offenses in a row.
It also helps that the offense can sustain drives and give the defense more rest.
This 2025 ND team reminds me of 2002's USC team, where they started out slowly, losing early to a couple of very good ranked teams (Washington State ended up being #10, Kansas State was #6). They were reeling, and the "fire Pete Carroll" chat started buzzing.
They got their act together, and steamrolled everyone in the 2nd half of the season, with 5 of them being ranked teams.
That was the 2nd most crushing feeling for Lionel Tyrone Willingham's inaugural season as ND's coach (BC loss was much worse feeling), since Carson Palmer carved us up like a Thanksgiving ham.
At the end of the season, USC was in a position where they could have been the best team in the land, and under today's playoff rules (or even the 4 team playoff), they could have certainly made a statement.
Looks like it
Replies to: "Looks like it"
- Is the general consensus here that our D has officially "turned the corner?" [NT]
- faircatchcorby - 9:15am 10/19/25
(12) [View All]
- This was the #1 offense in CFB after 6 games. Hard to get better proof. [NT]
- BaronVonZemo - 6:28pm 10/19/25
- Quite true - ndunabomber - 6:49pm 10/19/25
- We are where I thought we would be to start the season. Let’s see how things go. - LanceManion - 1:26pm 10/19/25
- KVA and Tae have been revelations. - NDWisconsin - 1:02pm 10/19/25
- Looks like it - ndunabomber - 11:54am 10/19/25
- HELL YES! - OCIrish - 10:52am 10/19/25
- Without a doubt. Kudos plus to Ash👍 [NT] - NDQuebec - 10:21am 10/19/25
- Certainly looked that way last night, excellent job - ColeyO - 10:04am 10/19/25
- i am pleased to see guys for the most part where they are supposed to be. I believe Gray is a liabi - WestCoastIrishFan - 10:02am 10/19/25
- Defense has some imperfections, but if we played A&M & Miami again we’d win those games comfortably [NT]
- NDNEIL - 9:23am 10/19/25
- Agree. The defense has definitely been better. My main critique is the overall lack of pressure the - jray - 9:33am 10/19/25
- Tackling, especially open field one on one, could always get better. [NT] - ELP - 12:41pm 10/19/25
- Agree. The defense has definitely been better. My main critique is the overall lack of pressure the - jray - 9:33am 10/19/25
- This was the #1 offense in CFB after 6 games. Hard to get better proof. [NT]
- BaronVonZemo - 6:28pm 10/19/25