Notre Dame Struggles Without Al Golden

The Absence of Golden

The defense is the main issue. Against Texas A&M, Notre Dame gave up 488 total yards and allowed 7.1 yards per play. That is not winning football. Even worse, the Irish could not get stops on key downs. When they needed a stop, the defense came up short. You can’t give up that many yards per play and have consistent success on defense.

The loss of former defensive coordinator Al Golden is showing. Golden left Notre Dame after last season to join the Cincinnati Bengals as defensive coordinator. He brought toughness, discipline and big plays when they needed them. Without him, the Irish look lost on defense. The players are still talented, but the system seems weaker. The timing is off and mistakes are adding up

Playoff Hopes and Remaining Schedule

Now, Notre Dame faces a steep climb. With 10 games left, the Irish technically still have hope. If they win out, brand recognition would give them College Football Playoff buzz. However, the schedule works against them. Outside of USC (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten), few opponents stand out. USC would need to finish better than last year for the Irish’s playoff hopes. If USC has a great season, that game could carry weight. But if not, Notre Dame would lack marquee wins. Arkansas (2-1, 0-1 SEC) might be the second-best team left. Yet Arkansas usually finishes around 7–5 or 8–4. That would not boost Notre Dame’s résumé.

So the Irish are stuck. The offense is scoring, but the defense keeps breaking. The absence of Golden is the clear difference. Notre Dame needs leadership on that side of the ball. They need a voice who can settle the defense and build trust.

In short, the Irish are learning how much one coach can matter. Golden is now in the NFL, and Notre Dame is paying the price. Unless major changes happen soon, this season may slip away. Marcus Freeman has his work cut out, but things get easier next week against Purdue (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten).