Someone made a comment in the defensive improvement thread regarding how the defense has performed vs opponent averages and I decided to take a quick look to see. What I found was that the defense has (thus far) been very balanced in what it takes away from the opponent, holding the collective to about 70 yards less passing AND rushing yards than their season averages through week 5 as well as holding them to over 18 points less than their average scores.
| Points | Rush | Pass | Total | 3rd Down % | T/O | Sacks Allowed | Points/Play | Rush YPP | Pass YPP | Total YPP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ND v OSU | 10 | 76 | 177 | 253 | 23.1% | 0 | 3 | 0.21 | 2.5 | 9.8 | 5.3 |
| ND Season | 30 | 188 | 220 | 408 | 38.5% | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 4.4 | 6.9 | 5.5 |
| +/- | -20 | -112 | -43 | -155 | -15.4% | -1.3 | +0.7 | -0.19 | -1.8 | +2.9 | -0.2 |
| % of Season Avg. | 33.3% | 40.4% | 80.5% | 62% | 60% | 0 | 128.6% | 51.9% | 57.9% | 141.5% | 96.5% |
| Ark. St. v OSU | 12 | 53 | 223 | 276 | 25% | 0 | 2 | 0.16 | 1.6 | 5.3 | 3.6 |
| Ark. St. Season | 37.5 | 161.8 | 261.8 | 423.5 | 44.1% | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.49 | 3.7 | 8.2 | 5.6 |
| +/- | -25.5 | -108.8 | -38.8 | -147.5 | -19.1% | -0.8 | -0.8 | -0.33 | -2.1 | -2.9 | -1.9 |
| % of Season Avg. | 32% | 32.8% | 85.2% | 65.2% | 56.7% | 0 | 72.7% | 32.1% | 42.6% | 64.9% | 65.4% |
| Toledo v OSU | 21 | 124 | 183 | 307 | 30.8% | 2 | 3 | 0.38 | 3.8 | 8.0 | 5.5 |
| Toledo Season | 36 | 210.8 | 207 | 417.8 | 44.1% | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.51 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.9 |
| +/- | -15 | -86.8 | -24 | -110.8 | -13.3% | +0.5 | +1.8 | -0.13 | -1.32 | +0.9 | -0.4 |
| % of Season Avg. | 58.3% | 58.8% | 88.4% | 73.5% | 69.8% | 133.3% | 240% | 74.2% | 74.4% | 113.4% | 93.5% |
| Wiscy v OSU | 21 | 192 | 104 | 296 | 46.2% | 1 | 1 | 0.38 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Wiscy Season | 34 | 164.3 | 246.8 | 411 | 40.9% | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.48 | 4.4 | 10.1 | 6.5 |
| +/- | -13 | +27.8 | -142.8 | -115 | +5.2% | -0.8 | -1.8 | -0.11 | +1.1 | -5.1 | -1.3 |
| % of Season Avg. | 61.8% | 116.9% | 42.1% | 72.0% | 112.8% | 57.1% | 36.4% | 77.8% | 126.1% | 49.2% | 80.7% |
| Rutgers v OSU | 10 | 107 | 80 | 187 | 9.1% | 2 | 1 | 0.18 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| Rutgers Season | 26.8 | 185.8 | 181.5 | 367.3 | 36.8% | 1.3 | 2 | 0.39 | 4.6 | 6.4 | 5.3 |
| +/- | -16.8 | -78.8 | -101.5 | -180.3 | -27.8% | +0.8 | -1 | -0.21 | -1.6 | -2.4 | -2.0 |
| % of Season Avg. | 37.4% | 57.6% | 44.1% | 50.9% | 24.7% | 160% | 50% | 45.9% | 64.4% | 62.8% | 62.5% |
| Overall | -18.1 | -71.7 | -70 | -141.7 | -14.1% | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.20 | -1.1 | -1.3 | -1.2 |
| Vs. P5 + ND | -16.6 | -54.3 | -95.8 | -150.1 | -12.6% | -0.4 | -0.7 | -0.17 | -0.78 | -1.5 | -1.2 |
Edit: chart updated to remove OSU game from the opponent numbers
Edit 2: Added categories and data for 3rd down %, Turnovers and sacks
Edit 3: Added points and yards per play categories and data, as well as the percentage of each opponents season total allowed by the OSU D
Obviously this is all largely meaningless with only partial season numbers, but compared to 2021 when 6/13 opponents exceeded their scoring average and 8/13 exceeded their total yards average, I can’t help but be excited.
The only opponent to exceed their average in any area was Wisconsin on the ground, which was due to the long run from Braelon against the backups. This certainly doesn't show any extraordinary level of dominance but I take it as a good omen.
