Under the microscope: Can Notre Dame’s defense stop the hogs?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Notre Dame may have secured a 26-point win over Purdue, but the defense still gave up 30 points — numbers that don’t look championship-caliber.

Head coach Marcus Freeman said the emphasis this week has been on cleaning up technique, playing with more velocity in zone coverage, and buying into the system from top to bottom.

Against Purdue, the defense showed progress, especially in the second half. After surrendering 286 yards in the first half at an average of 6.5 yards per play, the Irish tightened up, holding the Boilermakers to just 76 rushing yards total and making more plays behind the line.

They finished with two sacks, five tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

Defensive lineman Boubacar Traore said the unit is developing but still has “a long ways to go.” Linebacker Jaiden Ausberry echoed that, stressing the need to keep grinding despite inevitable mistakes. Ausberry has already tallied 13 tackles this season and is stepping into a bigger role in physical, run-heavy matchups.

One bright spot came from freshman cornerback Dallas Golden, who shined in his first collegiate start with five tackles, an interception, a pass breakup, and a half tackle for loss. But consistency in the secondary remains a concern, especially against hurry-up drives.

Now the Irish defense faces a far bigger test: Arkansas. The Razorbacks are averaging 324 passing yards per game, ranking 15th nationally, and starting cornerbacks Leonard Moore and Devonta Smith are questionable.

It’s a must-win game, and the spotlight will be on coordinator Chris Ash to see if his defense is truly ready.