Here's how the Fighting Irish rank amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- FOR THE 2011 SEASON -- and how this season compares to ND's final rankings for 2010 and 2009. You'll also find the 2011 NCAA leader in each category.
OFFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS
First Downs: 2011 Season: 23.92 first downs -- ranked #19 in the country. 2010 Rank #57 with 19.83 first downs per game -- in 2009 we averaged 24.4 first downs per game for the season, ranking us #13. 2011 NCAA Leader: Baylor with an average of 29.09 first downs per game.
Third Down Conversions: 2011 Season: 46.54% -- ranked #23 in the country. 2010 Rank #76 with a 37.5% conversion rate -- in 2009 we had a 39.1% conversion rate for the season, ranking us #48. 2011 NCAA Leader: Wisconsin with a 55.24% third down conversion rate.
Passing Yards Per Attempt: 2011 Season: 7.1 yards per passing attempt -- ranked #62 in the country. 2010 Rank #75 with 6.8 yards passing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 8.7 yards passing per attempt, ranking us #7 in the country. 2011 NCAA Leader: Georgia Tech averaging 11.3 yards per pass attempt.
Passing Yardage: 2011 Season: 258.08 yards per game -- ranked #34 in the country. 2010 Rank #29 with 257 yards per game -- in 2009 we passed for 323 yards per game, ranking us #7. 2011 NCAA Leader: University of Houston averaging 449.67 passing yards per game.
Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 2011 Season: 5.0 yards per attempt -- ranked #22 in the country. 2010 Rank #83 with 3.9 yards rushing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 3.8 yards rushing per attempt, ranking us #76 in the country. 2011 NCAA Leader: Oregon averaging 6.5 yards per rushing attempt.
Rushing Yardage: 2011 Season: 166 rushing yards per game -- ranked #51 in the country. 2010 Rank #97 with 121 yards rushing per game -- in 2009 we rushed for 127 yards per game, ranking us #88. 2011 NCAA Leader: U.S. Military Academy averaging 350.91 rushing yards per game.
Most QB Sacks Given Up: 2011 Season: 13 sacks given up -- ranked #19 in the country. 2010 Rank #66 giving up 19 QB sacks -- in 2009 we gave up 25 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #66. 2011 NCAA Leader: Oklahoma giving up 6 sacks this season.
Fewest Pass Interceptions Thrown: 2011 Season: 14 interceptions thrown -- ranked #98. 2010 Rank #105 having thrown 16 pass interceptions -- in 2009 we threw 5 interceptions for the season, raking us #4. 2011 NCAA Leader: Six schools have thrown only 4 interceptions this season; Army, Houston, LSU, Northern Illinois, Temple & Wisconsin.
Fewest Fumbles Lost: 2011 Season: 12 fumbles lost -- ranked #83 in the country. 2010 Rank #31 having lost 8 fumbles -- in 2009 we lost 9 fumbles for the season ranking us #39. 2011 NCAA Leader: Four schools lost only 4 fumbles for the season; Alabama, Wisconsin, LSU and Wake Forest.
Fewest Turnovers Lost: 2011 Season: 26 turnovers lost -- ranked #103 in the country. 2010 Rank #84 with 24 turnovers lost -- in 2009 we had 14 turnovers for the season, ranking us #7. 2011 NCAA Leaders: LSU and Wisconsin -- each with 8 turnovers lost.
Total Offense: 2011 Season: 424.08 yards per game -- ranked #33 in the country. 2010 Rank #63 with 378 yards per game of offense -- in 2009 we had 451 yards per game of offense, ranking us #8. 2011 NCAA Leader: University of Houston with 613.25 yards per game in total offense.
Points Per Game: 2011 Season: 30.5 points per game -- ranked #41 in the country. 2010 Rank #73 with 25.75 points per game -- in 2009 we averaged 30.1 points per game for the season, ranking us #32. 2011 NCAA Leader: University of Houston averaging 52.67 points per game.
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TEAM STATISTICS
Fewest Penalty Yards: 2011 Season: 729 penalty yards -- ranked #93 in the country. 2010 Rank #25 with 511 yards in penalties -- in 2009 we had 666 yards in penalties, ranking us #60. 2011 NCAA Leader: Naval Academy with only 230 penalty yards.
Net Punting Yards: 2011 Season: 34.04 net yards per game -- ranked #104 in the country. 2010 Rank #72 with an average net of 36.9 yards per punt -- in 2009 we averaged 32.1 yards per punt, ranking us #112. 2011 NCAA Leader: Florida State averaging 42.04 net yards per punt.
Field Goals Made: 2011 Season: 10 field goals made -- ranked #78 in the country. 2010 Rank #32 with 15 field goals made. In 2009 we made 19 field goals, ranking us #22 -- while going 19 for 22 in the process. 2011 NCAA Leader: Texas A&M with 25 field goals made this season.
