SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame offensive line has been named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, recognizing college football’s most outstanding offensive line unit.
Notre Dame is one of 10 programs on the semifinalist list this season. The Irish won the Joe Moore Award in 2017. Notre Dame has been a finalist for the award in 2015, 2017 and 2020, and a semifinalist for the honor in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2023 previously.
The Joe Moore Award is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, most notably for his work at Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh.
The Notre Dame offensive line has kept up the storied tradition and high standard of offensive line play, even with several new starters this season. The line has seen three members make their first-career starts in 2024, including freshman Anthonie Knapp and sophomore Aamil Wagner, both of whom have started every game for the Irish this season. The entire line has showcased the next-man-up mentality, stepping up in the event of injuries.
Notre Dame has outscored opponents by an average of 27.2 points per game this season and the Irish have a 0.909 success rate in the red zone. The Irish have the 12th-ranked scoring offense among FBS programs, averaging 38.3 points per game.
The Irish have averaged 100.1 more yards of total offense than their opponents enter the meeting having allowed per game in the 2024 season.
The Irish own the 12th-ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 214.8 rushing yards per game. In every game played this season, Notre Dame has outrushed its opponents’ average yards allowed entering the game. The Irish have rushed for an average of 92.6 yards more than their opponents’ 2024 rushing yards allowed entering the game.
Notre Dame ranks second among all Power 4 teams and fifth among all FBS teams in yards-per-carry (5.98). With 30 rushing touchdowns, the Irish rank third among all Power 4 teams and fifth among all FBS teams in rushing touchdowns per game (3.33).
The Irish rank 21st among all Power 4 teams in sacks allowed per game this season (1.33), and 18th in the Power 4 in tackles-for-loss allowed per game (4.44). The young offensive line has shown measured growth throughout the season, only allowing six sacks and four quarterback hurries total over the course of the last six games. The Irish rank fourth in the nation in fewest passes intercepted with three on the season, as the line has protected Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard in the pocket, providing time to complete passes.