By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Notre Dame is currently playing the best defense in the country.

At 5-0 and ranked fourth in the national polls, Notre Dame is a leading part of the national conversation once again. This is a team with an accomplished, tenured head coach in Brian Kelly, a quarterback with 76 career touchdowns in Ian Book and a storied history and tradition that needs no introduction. It’s also one with one of the top defenses in the game.

Defense is where the Fighting Irish, always a talking point, should have college football’s full attention. Closing out October, Notre Dame currently ranks in the national top ten in total defense, leading the ACC in allowing just 273 yards per game. For point of reference, the Fighting Irish defense that helped Notre Dame to the national championship game in 2012 allowed 305.5 yards per game.

This is a consistent and balanced unit, with the Fighting Irish ranking 7th in the country with a 99.64 pass defense rating and 13th in rushd efense, giving up just 94.8 yards per game. Notre Dame is tied for 11th nationally with 41 tackles for loss. The biggest key is that the Fighting Irish have been at their best when it matters most, ranking 5th in all of college football in third down defense, allowing conversions merely 21.21% of the time. Notably, Notre Dame is also tied for the ACC lead in redzone touchdown percentage.

Not only are the Fighting Irish great defensively, they are great and getting better. Notre Dame has allowed a grand total of ten points in its last two games, wins over ACC foes Louisville and Pittsburgh. Both teams only scored once. When the home offense sputtered some against the Cardinals, the defense responded by holding Louisville to just 233 total yards. Against the Panthers, most recently, the Fighting Irish gave up merely 162 total yards, their lowest total allowed in the Brian Kelly era.

Notre Dame is currently playing the best defense in the country.

Coordinator Clark Lea’s depth chart is filled with talent. Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a top NFL prospect, has 21 total tackles and six tackles for loss. Safety Kyle Hamilton has 19 solo stops alone. Defensive end Isaiah Foskey has 2.5 sacks, not to mention a blocked punt and recovery for a touchdown. Cornerback Nick McCloud has four pass deflections. Individually and collectively, the Fighting Irish play incredibely well together. The results are clear to see.

Matchups with top-ranked Clemson and 13th ranked North Carolina are among those that await, with both the Tigers and Tar Heels having top ten offenses.

A prominent national contender, Notre Dame has settled in amongst the game’s best. The Fighting Irish defense has, too.