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Notre Dame continues to ride the surge of a defensive awakening

Eric Hansenby: Eric Hansen11/23/25EHansenND
Jalen Stroman
Notre Dame safety Jalen Stroman (7) celebrates a big play with his Irish teammates during ND's 70-7 rout of Syracuse on Saturday.

Notre Dame’s 70-7 dismantling of Syracuse was the latest proof of a defensive revival that traces back to a tense Sunday coaches meeting in mid-September. What followed reshaped Marcus Freeman’s team, Chris Ash’s reputation and the Irish’s season, producing one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent memory.

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