problem in losses. Too many 3 and outs and turnovers putting the defense in bad spots, bad field position and on the field too long.
Adding in some other games for context. (If you're going to include Miami and Michigan, then other games of similar import should be included as well)
2020 Clemson (reg season): ND 13, Clem 6
2019 UGA: ND 10, UGA 7
2018 Michigan: ND 7, UM 10
2018 Stanford: ND 7, Stanford 7
2017 UGA: ND 10, UGA 7
2017 USC: ND 14, USC 0
2017 NCSU: ND 14, NCSU 7
2017 LSU: ND 3, LSU 0
2015 Clemson: ND 0, Clemson 0
2015 Ohio State: ND 14, OSU 14
2015 Stanford: ND 13, Stanford 7
2014 FSU: ND 10, FSU 3
2014 ASU: ND 7, ASU 17
2013 Michigan: ND 6, UM 17
2013 Oklahoma: ND 0, OU 7
2013 Stanford: ND 3, Stanford 7
2012 Michigan: ND 10, UM 0
2012 Oklahoma: ND 3, OU 3
I think it's fair to say that if we're not competitive in the second quarter, it's a clear sign that we'll be outclassed that day. Generally, if we're competitive in the second quarter, it will end up a competitive game.
We generally haven't gotten run off the field late. I can only think of two games where that's happened. One was Stanford 2017, where it was a close game until a brief stretch at the start of the 4th quarter with multiple turnovers led to a blowout. The other was ASU 2014, where we scored 28 in a row to pull within 3 points with 6:37 to go in the game, and gave up 21 points the rest of the way to lose in a blowout.
USC 2016 (final 45-27) - second qtr 14-0 USC
ASU 2014 (final 55-31) - second qtr 17-7 ASU
USC 2014 (final 49-14) - second qtr 14-7 USC - but 35-7 at the half - so maybe the USC offense just got tired during the second quarter
Michigan 2013 (final 41-30) - second qtr 17-6 Michigan
of the ACC Conference Championship game, which was a vast improvement over Bama 2012 and Clemson 2018. The 2012 Bama game started with Bama going 5 plays, 82yds for a TD, ND 3 and out, Bama 10 plays, 61 yds for a TD. Bama was up 14-0 with the ball 10 minutes into the game. Against Clemson 2018, the score was 3-3 after the first quarter, but it was clear our bungholes were puckered up pretty tight right out of the gate. Book and Dexter both fumbled and Claypool dropped a gimmee all within the first 5 offensive plays. I'm trying to draw some hope from the fact that in the ACC CG we actually looked competent for most of the first quarter.
by our opponents. But not ND.
Hence the 78-0 2nd quarter floggings in big games.
Offensive genius Kelly and his crew stand befuddled and wonder why the other teams wont let them score in the 2nd quarter. When they drew it up on the chalkboard, it worked!