Notre Dame's defense is on pace for unfortunate history in first year under Chris Ash

Notre Dame has had a rough start to the 2025 season. After opening the season against consecutive AP Top 25 teams and falling to 0-2, the Fighting Irish finally got in the win column on Saturday against Purdue.

However, it wasn't thanks to any great defensive performance. Notre dame's offense led the way to beat Purdue, 56-30.

With the 30 points the Fighting Irish gave up on Saturday adding onto the 68 points they had given up through two weeks, Notre Dame's defense is on pace for one of its worst performances in program history.

Notre Dame's Defense Making Unfortunate History

Notre Dame gave up 27 points to Miami in its opener and 41 points to Texas A&M last week. Then, the Fighting Irish gave up 30 points to Purdue on Saturday to put its season total at 98 points allowed.

That is the second-worst scoring defense in the opening three games of a season in school history. Notre Dame gave up 96 points through three games in 2016 and 102 points through three games in 2007, according to The Athletic's Pete Sampson.

The Fighting Irish finished both of those seasons with losing records. Notre Dame went 3-9 in 2007 and 4-8 in 2016.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NOTRE DAME DEFENSE I LOVE?! pic.twitter.com/iwrYU2Atg5

— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) September 15, 2025

There's more offense than ever in college football today, but time and time again defense proves its importance, and the Fighting Irish have been unable to stop anything so far in 2025.

However, although Notre Dame's defense has been bad, the rest of its schedule this season gets a lot easier. The Fighting Irish faced two of the Top 10 teams in the country the first two weeks of the season, and only have one other Top 25 opponent, at this point, on their remaining schedule.

Notre Dame was still ranked inside the Top 25 after starting 0-2, and picked up a big win against Purdue on Saturday. Based on those two factors and its remaining schedule, it'd be hard to see the Fighting Irish end with a losing season in 2025. However, if the defense doesn't start improving, it could be a long season.

Notre Dame’s Defense has allowed 238 yards passing in the 1st half pic.twitter.com/Ozg4Ss1to5

— LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) September 20, 2025

Notre Dame had the No. 1 pass efficiency defense in the country last season, and the Fighting Irish's defense has been in the top tier of college football for the last few years. However, in the first year under new defensive coordinator Chris Ash, Notre Dame's defense has been awful.

Ash has coached for nearly 30 years, and done so at some of the top college football programs in the country and in the NFL, but he hasn't been able to figure it out at Notre Dame so far in 2025.

Ash needs to get the Fighting Irish defense turned around quickly, or it'll be flirting with history you don't want to be a part of.