Notre Dame’s final home game of the regular season against Virginia was dedicated to honoring the 29 seniors on the roster. The Irish celebrated with a 35-14 win to improve to 9-1 on the season and extend their winning streak to eight games. While the last time at Notre Dame Stadium was an emotional experience for these seniors, the thought that if all goes well over the next three weeks, they could be back in December has undoubtedly crept into their minds.

For the first time in this impressive series, we can say that Notre Dame has not shown a significant improvement. The first half was choppy for the Irish offense, with their only points coming after a muffed punt that put them in the 25th on the opening drive. They followed up the scoring with four straight three-and-out drives, stifled by penalties and poor execution. Even their 21-point outburst in the second quarter to take control of the game took advantage of favorable court position resulting from four Cavalier turnovers.

But while it wasn’t a flashy performance from the entire team in Week 12, it was a standout performance from a defense that continues to establish itself as one of the best in the country. Despite numerous injuries in the middle of the season, the team’s style of play makes this team capable of competing with any team in the country.

Notre Dame held the Virginia offense to 300 yards of total offense and 14 points; half of which came on an 80-yard, garbage-time touchdown drive that gave the Cavaliers some late consolation before time expired. Virginia only managed to convert six of 18 third downs throughout the game as the Irish continued to close the door. The Cavalier offense went into the red zone just twice the entire game; The first came with less than two minutes left in the third quarter.

Before that, the closest came after a muffed punt by graduate cornerback Max Hurleman in Irish territory, but a few plays later when graduate safety Rod Heard II forced the ball out of the hands of running back Logan Pace, he quickly returned the ball and graduate safety Xavier Watts recovered . This turnover would be the first of five in the game for Virginia, three of which would directly lead to Irish touchdown drives.

Notre Dame went on a nine-play, 88-yard touchdown drive after the fumble recovery. Before halftime, the defense shut down quarterback Anthony Colandrea on three consecutive drives. Sophomore safety Adon Shuler made the first interception, freshman cornerback Leonard Moore took second and Watts made third for his fifth interception of the season and second of the game.

Not only did the defense close the door on Virginia, going another game without allowing more than two points, but it also allowed the offense to find success during a slow start. The dominant performance propelled the group to first place in the nation in defensive passing efficiency and tied for the most turnovers on the year with 25.

Ranked 82nd in the nation, the strength of Notre Dame’s program is beyond words. The Irish probably don’t yet face an elite offense or a truly elite quarterback. While they should have more than enough to take care of business during the regular season, the losses of junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison, graduate student Jordan Botelho and sophomore attackman Boubacar Traore could prove costly when the competition gets tougher.

But the Irish defense does more than slow down opposing offenses. It absolutely suffocates them. There’s plenty of evidence on tape that this defense can play anyone in the postseason, which separates Notre Dame from a crowded group of contenders.

No team in college football has established itself as the team to beat, and if the Irish take care of business in their final two games against Army and USC, their chances of hosting a playoff game will increase with each week. In a field defined by parody in the new 12-team format, the Irish could be a sleeping giant in the middle of the pack. One thing is for sure, they will be a nightmare for any offense they face come playoff time.