Coming into the 2025 season the Notre Dame ground game was expected to fuel the offense. So far this season it has been an up-and-down campaign for the ground game, but things are trending in a strong direction and the rushing attack is loaded with talent in the backfield and along the line.
When the Irish host Boise State it will be important to get that part of the game going once again. If Notre Dame's recent string of good play on the ground is more about the unit playing at a high level and not about the competition we should see it thrive against the Broncos.
Let's take a look at how Notre Dame rushing offense stacks up on paper against the Boise State defense.
Notre Dame Rush Offense vs Boise State
Advantage: Even
The season average for Notre Dame isn't all that strong, but the offense is trending in the right direction. Notre Dame averaged 114.5 rushing yards in its first two games, which were both losses. It averaged just 3.4 yards per attempt during that stretch as well and the ground game struggled to get going as a whole. Star running back Jeremiyah Love averaged just 63.5 yards and 3.8 yards per carry in those losses.
Over the last two games the run game has picked up, averaging 232 yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry in wins over Purdue and Arkansas. Notre Dame topped 200 yards in both games and Love set a career-high with 157 rushing yards in the win over the Boilermakers. Love rushed for 57 yards against Arkansas, but he averaged just 4.1 yards against the Razorbacks. While Love's performance has been up-and-down, Jadarian Price has been dynamic all season, rushing for 273 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
Notre Dame's one-two punch of Love and Price has been every bit as good as expected, and there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The line has performed better in both wins, but it will face a much tougher test against the Broncos. If Notre Dame's ground game is going to continue thriving this unit will need to continue executing at the level it has in recent games, and it will need to continue playing with the physicality we have seen in the last two games. It's quite simple, if the offensive line can simply get a body on a body and play assignment sound football the elite talent in the backfield will take over.
Boise State's overall numbers won't blow you away, but their performance this season is more impressive than its rankings. Boise State gave up 268 rushing yards in a 49-37 win over Air Force, a triple option offense. In its three games against more traditional offenses the Broncos have given up no more than 117 yards and just 114.3 yards per game. it held those three opponents to 4.2 (South Florida), 3.8 (Eastern Washington) and 3.8 (Appalachian State) yards per carry.
Of course, those opponents aren't in the same league as Notre Dame as rush offenses. Appalachian State ranks 82nd in rushing offense and South Florida ranks 99th. Eastern Washington ranks 65th in rushing offense at the FCS level.
This will certainly be a much tougher test for the Broncos, but the same is true for Notre Dame. Purdue ranks 86th in rushing defense and Arkansas ranks 104th in rushing defense.
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