Marcus Freeman’s seat was getting a little warm after those first two weeks. Honestly, starting the season 0-2 with losses to Miami and Texas A&M isn't exactly the "Return to Glory" the South Bend faithful had in mind. But look at where they ended up. A 10-2 record. A top-10 ranking in the final AP poll. A team that, statistically, was one of the most efficient juggernauts in the country.
If you just look at the Notre Dame football stats from the surface, you see the 10 wins. You see the fancy gold helmets. But the numbers tell a story of a team that basically underwent a mid-season identity crisis and came out the other side looking like a title contender. They didn't just win; they annihilated people. They finished the year averaging 42 points per game, which was 3rd best in the entire country.
The CJ Carr Era Officially Arrived
Everyone wanted to see what the kid could do. CJ Carr didn't just play; he took over. He finished the season with 2,741 passing yards and 24 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions. His passer rating of 168.1 put him 5th nationally among all quarterbacks.
That's elite.
He wasn't just dinking and dunking. He averaged 9.4 yards per attempt. To put that in perspective, anything over 8.5 is usually considered "Heisman-level" territory. He was efficient, he was calm, and he finally gave Mike Denbrock the vertical threat this offense has been craving since the Brian Kelly era.
The Ground Game Was Ridiculous
Jeremiyah Love is a problem for defensive coordinators. Period.
He racked up 1,372 rushing yards on 199 carries. That’s 6.9 yards every time he touched the rock. He found the end zone 18 times on the ground and another 3 times through the air. When you have a guy who can give you 114 yards a game without breaking a sweat, it makes your freshman quarterback's life a whole lot easier.
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Jadarian Price wasn't exactly a slouch either, chipping in 674 yards and 11 touchdowns of his own. Between the two of them, they accounted for nearly 30 rushing scores.
Why the Defense Is Better Than You Think
While the offense was putting up video game numbers—like that 70-7 demolition of Syracuse—the defense was the actual backbone. Chris Ash, in his first year as DC, moved to a 4-2-5 base and it just clicked.
The Irish defense allowed only 17.6 points per game. That’s 11th in the nation.
They were particularly nasty against the run. Opponents managed only 98.8 yards per game on the ground. You're not beating Notre Dame if you can't run the ball, and basically, nobody could. They held Boise State to 7 points. They held NC State to 7 points. They even frustrated a high-powered USC offense, holding them to 24 in a massive October win.
The Turnover Margin Magic
You want to know why they won 10 straight? They didn't give the ball away.
Notre Dame’s turnover margin was +1.1 per game, which ranked 4th in the FBS. They forced 1.9 takeaways per game while only turning it over 0.8 times. That is the statistical definition of "winning football."
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- Total Takeaways: 21 interceptions (led by the secondary)
- Giveaways: Only 6 interceptions thrown all year
- Sack %: The O-line only allowed a sack on 3.58% of dropbacks
What the Stats Reveal About the Playoff Snub
This is the part that still stings for Irish fans. Notre Dame finished 10-2 and ranked 9th in the AP, but they ended up 11th in the final CFP rankings and narrowly missed the 12-team playoff.
Why?
The stats suggest it was the "quality of loss" metric. Those two losses to Miami and Texas A&M happened early (August 31 and September 13). Even though Notre Dame’s Strength of Schedule (SOS) was 5.40 (ranked 25th), the committee clearly valued the early-season stumbles more than the late-season dominance.
Honestly, it's a bit of a joke when you look at the "Points Per Play" metric. Notre Dame led the nation in points per play at 0.664. They were literally the most efficient scoring machine in college football.
The Red Zone Problem Nobody Talks About
If there is one "ugly" stat in the Notre Dame football stats profile from 2025, it’s the Red Zone scoring percentage.
They ranked 112th in the country, scoring on only 76.36% of their trips inside the 20. When they got down there, they often stalled or settled for field goals. And speaking of field goals, that was another disaster. They converted only 55.6% of their kicks (9-for-5).
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If they had a kicker who could reliably hit from 40 yards and a more creative Red Zone package, they probably beat Miami and Texas A&M. If they win those games, they're 12-0 and the #1 seed. It's a game of inches, but the stats show it was a game of "finishing drives."
Key Returning Production for 2026
The reason for optimism is that a lot of this production stays in South Bend.
- CJ Carr: Returning for his sophomore/junior leap.
- Jeremiyah Love: The engine of the offense.
- Drayk Bowen: The heart of the linebacker corps.
The team lost some big names to the NFL—Benjamin Morrison went to the Bucs in the 2nd round, and Xavier Watts headed to the Falcons in the 3rd—but the recruiting class coming in is ranked in the top 10.
Actionable Insights for Irish Fans
If you're looking at these stats to figure out what happens next season, keep your eyes on the special teams and the offensive line. The Irish lose some veteran presence up front with Aamil Wagner and Billy Schrauth being the pillars.
Watch the "Points Per Play" early in 2026. If Carr maintains that efficiency while the Red Zone success rate climbs above 85%, this team won't just be a "Discover" story—they'll be the story of the postseason.
The 2025 season proved Marcus Freeman can coach his way out of a hole. The stats prove the talent is elite. Now, they just need to figure out how to kick a field goal when the game is on the line.
Next Steps for 2026 Tracking:
Check the spring game stats specifically for "Red Zone Efficiency" and "Kicker Field Goal Percentage." Those were the only two metrics that kept this 10-2 team from being 12-0. If those improve by even 10% in the first month of 2026, the Irish are a lock for the expanded playoff.