Bob Hinton Defensive Coordinator Al Golden has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coach.
Notre Dame’s 2024 defense is dominant and one of the most complete defenses in the country, ranking among the FBS’ top teams. Notre Dame is first in team passing efficiency defense (94.10), first in turnovers gained (28), first in defensive touchdowns (6), third in scoring defense (13.6), fourth in passing yards allowed (157.9), fourth in interceptions (17), seventh in fumbles recovered (11), ninth in red zone defense (0.733), 10th in total defense (296.8) and 10th in first downs defense (197).
Golden has coached his players to hold seven opponents to 125 or fewer passing yards this season, the most instances among all FBS programs this season.
Golden’s defense has created game-changing opportunities for Notre Dame, as the Irish lead the nation in turnovers gained (28). The Irish have earned 141 points off of turnovers this season, compared to their opponents’ 34 total (+107 point differential).
Notre Dame has held opponents to 250 or fewer yards of offense in six games this season, tied for the second-most in FBS.
The Irish have allowed one or fewer touchdowns on six occasions this season (four games with two TDs allowed, one with three). In three of those two-TD games, the second touchdown was scored late in the fourth quarter, once the game was already put away for the Irish.
This season, the Irish have held 10 opponents to 16 or fewer points, and just one opponent has scored more than 30 points. That is the best since 2012 when Notre Dame held 10 opponents under 16 points and just one opponent (Alabama in championship game) reached 30 points.
Notre Dame is tied for the most ranked wins of any FBS team this season with four. Notre Dame owns the best record against ranked teams in the FBS, going 4-0.