This two-part series began with a look at some of the best defensive performances which hopefully brought back some good memories. Now, it’s time for the pain.

The Defensive Coordinators:

Bob Diaco: 37-15 (.711)
Brian VanGorder: 19-11 (.633)
Greg Hudson (interim): 3-5 (.375)
Mike Elko: 10-3 (.769)

Worst Performance Against an Elite Offense

Bronze Medal: Stanford, 2015, 38-36 Loss

The game that could’ve finally gotten the Stanford Stadium monkey off their back. Following a would-be game-winning touchdown run by DeShone Kizer there was just 30 second remaining in the game. A facemask penalty and the world’s longest 27-yard completion set up the back-breaking field goal for Stanford. This was against the No. 12 offense nationally and the 6.59 yards per play given up is the 9th worst effort from the Kelly era.

Sliver Medal: USC, 2014, 49-14 Loss

USC was not kind to an Irish defense ravaged by injuries and losing the plot on the other side of the ball. The Trojans scored 35 in the first half and mercifully took their foot off the gas. Only coming in as the 19th ranked offense (the run game wasn’t anything special) this was still a loaded passing game from USC. Their 577 yards–the bulk coming in the first 3 quarters–is the 3rd most given up since 2010.

Gold Medal: Alabama, 2012, 42-14 Loss

Obviously.

Worst Performance Against an Elite Offense in a Win

Bronze Medal: Wake Forest, 2017, 48-37 Win

Mike Elko making an appearance against the sneaky 22nd best offense from the 2017 season. To be fair (we covered this well enough) most of Wake’s damage came in the second half in technical garbage time. Still, the Deacons put up 34 first downs and 587 total yards. The latter mark is the second most ever given up by Notre Dame under Kelly.

Sliver Medal: Navy, 2014, 49-39 Win

Navy led this game late in the 3rd quarter. This was right in the middle of Navy quarterback Keenan Reynold’s assault on the NCAA record book. The Irish offense was enough to come back for the victory though the Middies put up 454 yards and the second-most points ever scored against Notre Dame in this rivalry.

Gold Medal: USC, 2015, 41-31 Win

This game was full of explosiveness from both teams. Notre Dame did shut USC out in the 4th quarter which ended up sealing the game. The Trojans did plenty of damage, though. Their 590 yards are the most given up in the Kelly era while the 7.6 yards per play is the 3rd worst mark since 2010.

Worst Performance in a Loss

Bronze Medal: Duke, 2016, 38-35 Loss

Duke wasn’t an atrocious offense in 2017 (77th nationally) and if this was a victory there’d probably be many who would soon forget this game altogether. However, the Blue Devils racked up 498 yards and a shocking 6.7 yards per play–the latter stat the 7th worst mark surrendered by Notre Dame. VanGorder never coached again for the Irish after this one.

Sliver Medal: Michigan, 2011, 35-31 Loss

I’m absolutely certain we’ll never see another game with a worse ending where the defense flipped a switch from very good to absolutely incompetent. Through 3 quarters Michigan had just 7 points and a completely nonthreatening 141 total yards. The Wolverines finished with 28-points in the 4th quarter and their 9.0 yards per play at the final whistle is the most given up by Notre Dame by a long shot.

Gold Medal: Northwestern, 2014, 43-40 Loss

Out of the worst 22 offenses faced by the Irish since 2010 according to S&P+ the program has won 21 of those games. This loss to Northwestern stands alone as the single defeat. What’s even worse, the Wildcats were ranked 111th in offense back in 2014, the 6th worst offense faced by a Kelly team. They lost!

Platinum Medal: Navy, 2010, 35-17 Loss

I had to create this special category because it is deserved. Navy’s 438 yards won’t look like much in the history books (23rd most given up by the Irish) but this loss was as much about the way the defense played as it was the stats piled up by Navy. For a decent offense (40th ranked) the Irish were absolutely dominated with the likes of Manti Te’o and Harrison Smith on the field. Statistically, the 7.0 yards per play given up is 6th worst since 2010 and is one of the few stats from this game that show how bad things really were that day.

Mediocre Performance Soon Not Forgotten

Bronze Medal: Michigan State, 2016, 36-28 Loss

This was the 5th worst offense (66th overall) Notre Dame has faced in a loss during the Kelly era. The Spartans gained 501 yards and their 6.42 yards per play was tied for the 12th worst since 2010. The end of the VanGorder era wasn’t great, you guys.

Sliver Medal: North Carolina, 2014, 50-43 Win

VanGorder’s last 2 games with the Irish are featured in this series while this was the first game under his tutelage where cracks began to show in his teaching and scheme. After giving up an average of 12 points per game through the first 5 games of 2014, the Tar Heels unloaded 43 points and 516 yards in South Bend.

Gold Medal: Michigan, 2013, 41-30 Loss

A bit of a forgotten game sandwiched in between a pair of very memorable wins in this series for Notre Dame. People forget how mediocre this Michigan offense was coming in at an incredible 85th nationally. And yet, they moved the ball up and down the field all night. After the 2014 Northwestern loss this is the 2nd worst offense the Irish have lost to in the Kelly era.