After a start in which Notre Dame had 166 total yards in its first 21 snaps from scrimmage, scoring ten points, and averaging 7.9 yards per play versus Ohio State by the 11:56 mark in the second quarter on Saturday night, the silver bullet defense came up huge, allowing just 87 total yards in the last three quarters of the game.

While Notre Dame's offense was far from prolific a year ago, the Buckeyes' defense was far from efficient, allowing many teams to have more yards versus them than their season average. 

That's unheard of when you consider the number of blue-chip recruits that Ohio State has picked up over the last decade or so. But it's about damn time they play to their full potential.

During Big Ten media days in July, Ryan Day said that he expected the Buckeyes to have a top-ten defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. When Knowles was asked about Day's statement, he said that he wished that Day had said he expected a top-five defense instead. 

In allowing just 253 total yards (177 yards passing, 76 yards rushing) versus the Fighting Irish on Saturday, Knowles seems to be backing up that statement thus far.

In the words of my boy, Mekka Don, the silver bullets are back!