

Notre Dame has had one of the nation's most dynamic offenses this season, and if the Irish are going to run the table down the stretch that unit will need to continue playing at a high level. The Irish were a bit inconsistent putting the ball in the end zone in the three games heading into the bye week, and the hope is that it will be able to get back to playing dominant football coming out.
The Irish offense came out of the gate on fire this season, averaging 40.5 offensive points per game, 479.8 yards per game and 7.3 yards per play. Over the last three games, however, the offense scored just 30.3 points per game despite averaging 438.7 yards per game and 6.7 yards per play. The yards per game and per play average from the last three games would still rank the Irish as a Top 30 offense, but the points per game average would rank just 57th.
Figuring out how to get the offense back to the level it performed in the first four games is what the Irish will try to do down the stretch.

Despite the "struggles" in the three games heading into the break, the Irish offense still ranks 10th in scoring offense, 19th in yards per game and 11th in yards per play. If Notre Dame finishes the season with its current per play average it would be the team's best performance in the modern era, besting the 2015 season, which set the modern record. Notre Dame has done that despite ranking 110th in red zone offense and just 35th in red zone touchdown rate.
Notre Dame ranks 2nd among Power 4 teams in scoring against Power 4 opponents. Only Indiana's 41.4 points per game tops the 41.0 points per game that Notre Dame has scored against Power 4 opponents. Tennessee at 39.5 points is next after the Irish. The same story is true from a yards standpoint, with Notre Dame ranking 4th among Power 4 teams in games against Power 4 opponents. The Irish trail only USC, Oregon and Tennessee in this department. The yards per play average is tied with USC for third nationally.
Notre Dame has gone for at least 429 yards in six of its last seven games, with its 389-yard performance against Boise State being the lowest output. Even in that game, however, the Irish went for 7.2 yards per play. Notre Dame has been a big play offense all season, and they'll look to keep that going against a Boston College defense that has struggled this season.
Boston College ranks 126th in scoring defense, 111th in yards per game and 110th in yards per play this season. The Eagles have given up 37.8 points per game in its six games against Power 4 opponents, with five of its six Power 4 opponents scoring at least 30 points against the Eagles. As the season has worn on the BC defense has struggled more and more. Over its last four games the Eagle defense has given up 41.3 points per game, 491.5 yards per game and 7.0 yards per play. Each of the three Power 4 teams went for at least 503 yards and scored 38 or more points.
So Notre Dame comes into this game needing to give its offense a bit of a spark, while the Eagles are struggling. If Notre Dame can get its offense back on track, especially its red zone offense, it will be the next team to throttle the Boston College defense. That could give the Irish the restart it needs to finish playing big time football on offense.
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