Irish Back in the Top 25!

The Fighting Irish may have two losses, but the polls that truly analyze the data of this season have had Notre Dame back in the top 30 this week and last.  Here's a couple of polls ND fans need to keep an eye on over the next few weeks:

LINK:  SAGARIN RANKINGS

LINK:  FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS

ND Defense -- NCAA National Rankings!

Here's a look at where Notre Dame's "D BOYS" are ranked among their peers in college football after Week 4 of the 2011 season.  Here's the STAT OF THE YEAR FOR OUR DEFENSE -- we've only given up one offensive TD in seven of our last eight games!

Once again, you'll see how we fared in 2010 and 2009 -- and the 2011 NCAA Leader in every defensive category:

NOTRE DAME DEFENSE -- 2011 TEAM STATISTICS

Quarterback Sacks:  2011 after game #4:  11 sacks, ranked #18 in the country.  2010 Rank #45 with 26 QB sacks -- in 2009 we had 19 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #92.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Colorado State with 16 sacks.

Tackles for Loss:  2011 after game #4:  6.0 average tackles for loss per game, ranked #57 in the country.  2010 Rank #65 with an average of 5.63 tackles for loss per game -- in 2009 we averaged 6.0 tackles for loss per game, ranking us #48 in the country.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Stanford averaging 10.33 tackles for loss per game.

Interceptions:  2011 after game #4:  4 interceptions, ranked #28 in the country.  2010 Rank #32 with 14 interceptions -- in 2009 we had 12 interceptions for the season, ranking us #50.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Vanderbilt leads with 14 interceptions.

First Downs:  2011 after game #4:  19 first downs allowed per game, ranked #58 in the country.  2010 Rank - #30 allowing an average of 17.92 first downs per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 19.67 first downs per game, ranking us #72.  2011 NCAA Leader:  UCONN and UCF allowing only 11.5 first downs per game.

Third Down Conversion Rate:  2011 after game #4:  allowed a 29.82% conversion rate on third down, ranked #18 in the country.  2010 Rank #22 allowing only 35.08% conversion rate on third down -- in 2009 we allowed a 39.5% conversion rate, ranking us #67.  2011 NCAA Leader: Florida allowing only 21.15% conversion rate on third down.

Red Zone Efficiency:  2011 after game #4:  allowed opponents to score 77% of the time, ranked #38 in the country.  2010 Rank #53 allowing the team to score 81% of the time -- in 2009 we allowed teams to score 75% of the time, ranking us #15.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Kansas State allowing opponents to score 40% of the time in the red zone.

Turnovers Gained:  2011 after game #4:  5 turnovers gained, ranked #72 in the country.  2010 Rank - #54 with 21 turnovers gained -- in 2009 we gained 19 turnovers for the season, ranking us #80.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Cincinnati and Vanderbilt with 16 turnovers gained this season.

Rushing Yards:  2011 after game #4:  93.0 rushing yards per game given up, ranked #25 in the country.  2010 Rank #57 giving up an average of 147 yards rushing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 170 yards rushing per game, ranking us #89.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Stanford giving up an average of 36.0 yards rushing per game.

Passing Yards:  2011 after game #4:  240 passing yards per game given up, ranked #82 in the country.  2010 Rank #44 giving up an average of 206 yards passing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 227 yards passing per game, ranking us #76 in the country.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Michigan State giving up an average of 101 passing yards per game.

Total Yards:  2011 after game #4:  333 yards of total offense per game given up, ranked #37 in the country.  2010 Rank #49 giving up 353 yards per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 397 yards per game, ranking us #86.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Michigan State giving up an average of 172.25 yards per game in total offense.

Points Allowed Per Game:  2011 after game #4:  20.75 points allowed per game, ranked #39 in the country.  2010 Rank #29 giving up 20.5 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63.  2011 NCAA Leader:  Temple allowing 7.75 points per game.

Purdue Week -- Notre Dame Football Update

Here's what is going on today - Monday - of Purdue week, as the Irish get ready to play one of its traditional opponents.  Please click on the links below:

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

LINK:  JOURNAL & COURIER (WEST LAFAYETTE NEWSPAPER)

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

Irish Hockey Hosts Media Day - Today!

Jeff Jackson and his Fighting Irish hockey program kicked off the 2011 - 2012 season today with their annual media day.  Ranked #3 in the preseason by the College Hockey News -- the Irish will also be opening their brand new "hockey cathedral" -- The Compton Family Ice Arena this season.  Should be great fun!

LINK:  HOCKEY MEDIA DAY COVERAGE

LINK:  COLLEGE HOCKEY NEWS RANKINGS