Part
3 of the preseason analytics journey takes us to opponents’ defenses. More specifically, the average points scored by opponents per game during the 2024-25 season.
Top Group: Navy, Texas A&M, Boise State
Of Notre Dame’s 2025-26 opponents, Navy, Texas A&M and Boise State had the best recent defensive performances last season.
- The Midshipmen and the Aggies had opponents score an average 22.2 points per game. That translated to #34 and #35 national rankings, respectively.
- Boise State was ranked #38 with 22.6 points scored by opponents on average.
Group 2: Boston College, USC
- Boston College was ranked #53 nationally with opponents scoring an average of 23.8 points scored per game.
- USC wasn’t that far behind with a #57 ranking and 24.1 points scored by opponents per game.
Group 3: Arkansas, Miami (FL)
- Arkansas was ranked #66 in the nation with opponents scoring an average of 25 points scored per game.
- Miami (FL) finished the 2024-25 season with a #69 ranking and 25.3 points scored by opponents per game.
Group 4: Pitt, Syracuse
- Pitt was ranked #91 nationally with opponents scoring an average of 28.4 points scored per game.
- Syracuse finished the 2024-25 season with a #96 ranking and 29.2 points scored by opponents per game.
Bottom 3: NC State, Stanford, Purdue
- NC State finished the 2024-25 season with a #103 out of 134 ranking and an average of 30.2 points allowed per game.
- The Cardinal landed a decent distance away with a #116 ranking and an average of 33.7 points allowed per game.
- And Purdue was at the bottom of the pack with a #131 ranking and opponents scoring an average of 39.9 points per game last season.
