SUPER BOWL 2012

Here's how ND's Defense has performed this season in comparison to the other teams who have faced the same opponents as the Irish.  A ranking of #1 means the Irish gave up the fewest yards or points to that opponent this season.  As you'll see the Irish ranked as one of the best overall defensive performances  --  #1 or #2 -- against a few of the teams they've played this season.  You'll also see how this year's IRISH defensive unit's compares to last season's:

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (5-6)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #2 giving up 254 yards
Points:  Irish rank #5 giving up 23 points

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (10-2)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #6 giving up 452 yards
Points:  Irish rank #7 giving up 35 points

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (10-2)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #4 giving up 358 yards
Points:  Irish rank #3 giving up 13 points

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH (5-6)
Total Offense: Irish rank #2 giving up 268 yards
Points:  Irish rank #2 giving up 12 points

PURDUE UNIVERSITY (6-5)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #1 giving up 276 yards
Points:  Irish rank #1 giving up 10 points

AIR FORCE ACADEMY (6-5)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #9 giving up 565 yards
Points:  Irish rank #6 giving up 33 points

USC (10-2)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #7 giving up 443 yards
Points:  Irish rank #5 giving up 31 points

NAVAL ACADEMY (4-7)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #1 giving up 229 yards
Points:  Irish rank #1 giving up 14 points

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY (6-6)
Total Offense: Irish rank #2 giving up 297 yards
Points:  Irish rank #2 giving up 17 points

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND (2-10)
Total Offense: Irish rank #6 giving up 364 yards
Points: Irish rank #7 giving up 21 points

BOSTON COLLEGE (4-8)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #4 giving up 250 yards
Points:  Irish rank #3 giving up 14 points

STANFORD UNIVERSITY (11-1)
Total Offense:  Irish rank #4 giving up 429 yards
Points:  Irish rank #1 giving up 28 points

IRISH OVERALL DEFENSIVE RANKINGS - 2011 vs. 2010:

• #33 ranked defense in the FBS -- total yards given up per game (349.25 yards).  An improvement from their #50 ranking and 357.23 yards per game in 2010
• #30 ranked defense in the FBS -- total points given up per game  (20.92 pts).  The Irish were ranked #23 in scoring defense in 2010 giving up 20.23 points per game.