Notre Dame Pass Defense Must Stop Its Big Game Failures

When Chris Ash arrived at Notre Dame he wanted to change the focus of the defense, and it has had mixed results that must change moving forward. Ash wanted to focus more on being a shut down run defense, and that has been a significant positive for the defense, but Notre Dame's struggles in the pass game against better teams on the schedules has negated much of that success when it matters most.

There was a need for improved run defense at Notre Dame, as the Irish had struggled stopping the run in some big games, and struggling against the run was a key them in many of Notre Dame's losses from 2022 to 2024. In Notre Dame's nine losses during that stretch, the defense gave up an average of 175.9 yards per game on the ground, including giving up at least 190 rush yards in four of those games.

Ash has certainly improved the run defense, but it has come at a cost. In 19 games with Ash in charge of the defense, the Irish have given up just 88.0 rushing yards per game and an impressive 2.8 yards per carry. Those are impressive numbers, and the defense has given up just 127.7 rush yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry in the team's three losses. Those numbers are even better against Top 20 opponents when including wins and losses.

The problem, however, is that Notre Dame has struggled to defend the pass game in the bigger moments. That has to change moving forward, as many of the best teams in the country in 2026 can throw the ball very well, including a pair of ranked Irish opponents. Miami's pass offense ranks No. 3 nationally and SMU's pass offense ranks 5th nationally in yards. Notre Dame also plays Syracuse and its No. 12-ranked pass offense, but the Orange have a lot bigger problems that negates their pass game production.

In Notre Dame's three losses since Ash arrived the defense has given up 268.0 passing yards per game, 13.2 yards per completion, 7.7 yards per attempt and has allowed a passer rating of 138.78. Notre Dame has also registered just one sack in those three games. You read that correct, not one sack per game ..... just one total sack in those three games. 

To put those numbers in perspective, if that's what the defense averaged on a per game basis it would rank 129th in yards, 120th in yards per completion, 97th in yards per attempt, 91st in passer rating and dead last (138th) in sacks per game.

Those three losses also happen to be against the only Top 10 opponents that Notre Dame has faced with Ash leading the defense. Notre Dame also gave up 328 passing yards in a hard-fought win over USC last season in the only other game against a Top 20 opponent the last two seasons.

It's a really bad look for Ash, who has also had the benefit of coaching arguably the most talented secondary in all of college football during his two seasons in South Bend. Notre Dame also has talented edge rushers and linebackers who can get after the quarterback. There's no excuse for the pass defense to be this bad against the best teams on the schedule. Ash coaches passively in those games, seemingly so afraid to give up the big play that he'll allow defenses to march up and down the field, especially in key moments.

In each of those three losses, on its final drive the defense has been on the field with the Irish leading the game (Texas A&M, BYU) or tied (Miami). If the defense is able to force a stop in those games the Irish win every single game. If they just held BYU to a field goal on its final drive the Irish offense has a chance to kick a game-winning field goal at the end of the game.

Last season Ash was working with a staff full of coaches he had no previous relationship with, but that staff was overhauled and filled with coaches he had a say in landing. That has not changed the result one bit, which makes him the constant in those failures. 

That means it's up to Ash to make sure this gets turned around. He, the defensive staff and head coach Marcus Freeman must find answers to these issues and get them fixed immediately. Step one is implementing more aggressive game plans. Aggressive in their coverage structure (both zone and man), aggressive in how they attack routes and most important, aggressive in how they attack the quarterback. The best way to disrupt an effective pass game is to pressure the quarterback, and being more effective attacking the quarterback does not prevent you from still having a dominant run defense.

If Notre Dame takes a "Let's just clean up a few things" mindset from the loss to BYU nothing will change. If Notre Dame says "This isn't working" when looking at their defensive failures in big games, then they will be willing to make the changes, which would make this defense championship caliber.

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