ESPNrecently released a power ranking of college football's future team defenses.
The Fighting Irish appeared at No. 7 on the list, five spots ahead of where the program appeared inside the same power ranking a year ago.
"Notre Dame's annual expectations are rising with the expanded College Football Playoff, and the defense is set up to compete," ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg wrote. "In two seasons under coordinator Al Golden, Notre Dame ranks 10th nationally in points allowed and 11th in overall defensive efficiency."
Experts believe the pass defense will lead the way once again.
In 2023, the Fighting Irish boasted the top-ranked pass efficiency defense and the No. 3 overall pass defense,giving up 157.3 yards through the air per game. Notre Dame alsoallowed just eight passing touchdowns, which tied Michigan for the fewest among 133 FBS programs.
The secondary returns safety Xavier Watts, the reigning Bronko Nagurski Award winner, and lockdown cornerback Ben Morrison.
Meanwhile, the Irish have promising options to replace the departures of safety DJ Brown, cornerback Cam Hart and nickel Thomas Harper.
"Notre Dame added veteran transfers in safety Rod Heard II (Northwestern) and cornerback Jordan Clark (Arizona State)," Rittenberg wrote, "and also will feature an intriguing group of younger players, including Christian Gray and Adon Shuler."
Another strength will be Notre Dame's interior defensive line after tackles Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills chose to forgo the 2024 NFL draft and return for a final season in South Bend.
Pro Football Focus ranks Cross and Mills both as top-10 returning interior defensive linemen in 2024.
Still, the Irish will need help on the edge.
"Notre Dame loses sacks leader Javontae Jean-Baptiste and needs a boost with its pass rush, either from veterans Jordan Botelho and Duke transfer R.J. Oben or from younger players like sophom*ore Josh Burnham."
The defense's biggest uncertainty lies in its second level.
"The linebacker two-deep largely turns over other than Jack Kiser, a sixth-year player with 185 career tackles," Rittenberg wrote. "Notre Dame will need junior Jaylen Sneed to step up, and there's optimism around young players like Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry and Preston Zinter. Viliamu-Asa, ESPN's No. 75 recruit for 2024, is critical to the group's long-term outlook."
The program's recent recruiting prowess also impacts its standing in the ESPN power ranking.
The Fighting Irish finished the 2024 recruiting cycle with the nation's No. 9 overall class, which included a couple of blue-chip prospects.
"Notre Dame's defensive recruiting has improved under coach Marcus Freeman," Rittenberg wrote, "who signed two top-100 recruits in 2024 (Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Bryce Young) and has a top-30 player committed for 2025 in cornerback Ivan Taylor."
Notre Dame Opponents
This fall, the Fighting Irish will face four of ESPN's top-20 defenses:
No. 11 Florida State Seminoles
"After the CFP selection snub," Rittenberg wrote, "Florida State's response will be fascinating in multiple ways, including for a defense that loses several stars."
No. 12 Louisville Cardinals
"The Cardinals finished the regular season with two shutouts and six games allowing 20 points or fewer," Rittenberg wrote. "They thrived in the red zone and on third down and finished No. 9 nationally against the run. The scary part: Louisville has positioned itself to be even better, perhaps even this fall."
No. 14 Texas A&M Aggies
"Texas A&M didn't fire Jimbo Fisher because of the defense, which often eclipsed the offense during Fisher's tenure," Rittenberg wrote. "As defensive coordinator under Fisher, Mike Elko had the unit on a promising path (2018 to 2021) and should restore or even elevate the trajectory as the team's new head coach after two seasons leading Duke."
No. 20 Miami University RedHawks
"Miami coach Chuck Martin has guided the team to two MAC titles in the past five years on the strength of the defense," Rittenberg wrote. "Since 2020, Miami ranks 15th nationally in average points allowed. The RedHawks return many of the core players from a defense that finished No. 8 nationally in points allowed."
ESPN's College Football Future Top-25 Power Rankings: Defenses
- No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs
- No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes
- No. 3 Michigan Wolverines
- No. 4 Clemson Tigers
- No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes
- No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide
- No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- No. 8 Texas Longhorns
- No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions
- No. 10 Utah Utes
- No. 11 Florida State Seminoles
- No. 12 Louisville Cardinals
- No. 13 Oregon Ducks
- No. 14 Texas A&M Aggies
- No. 15 NC State Wolfpack
- No. 16 Air Force Falcons
- No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers
- No. 18 SMU Mustangs
- No. 19 Ole Miss Rebels
- No. 20 Miami University RedHawks
- No. 21 Kansas State Wildcats
- No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones
- No. 23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- No. 24 LSU Tigers
- No. 25 Virginia Tech Hokies
