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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In many ways, Notre Dame’s 2012 season has defied description. It also defies the numbers.

Many of the season’s more celebrated statistics are easy to grasp. The Irish’s 12 victories are the most for any Notre Dame team in the regular season. Senior linebacker Manti Te’o’s seven interceptions are the most by a linebacker in a single season since 2006. As of Jan. 2, it was 24 years, or 8,766 days, since Notre Dame last won a national championship. But a few key metrics on Notre Dame’s season have escaped the headlines — and help explain how the Irish built their 12-0 record.

Martin’s (Almost) Perfect Year

The senior left tackle and captain Zack Martin hasn’t gotten the publicity lavished on Alabama tackles and future top N.F.L. draft picks D. J. Fluker and Cyrus Kouandjio, who deserve plenty. But the Indianapolis-born anchor of Notre Dame’s offensive line had a sparkling season — including on the stat sheet. On the first Irish offensive drive of the season in Dublin against Navy, Martin allowed a sack of sophomore quarterback Everett Golson. It was a shocking start for a player who came into the season with 26 consecutive starts at left tackle. But Martin rebounded and did not allow a sack for the remainder of the season.

The 2013 iteration of the Irish got a boost Dec. 17 when Martin announced he would return to South Bend for his senior season and anchor the line for a fourth straight year.

No Long Drives

Headed into clash with Alabama, much of the focus will be on the defenses of both teams, and with good reason. The Irish and the Crimson Tide have the two best scoring defenses in the nation. Of all the stats to back up Notre Dame’s defensive dominance, none is more shocking than the lack of long scoring drives. Every time a Notre Dame opponent began a drive inside its own 25-yard line, it failed to score a touchdown. No touchdown-scoring drive against the Irish in 2012 exceeded 75 yards, a testament to defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s stout unit.

What Can Brown Do for You?

For fans looking for an unknown name that may swing the sport’s biggest game, look no further than a name familiar to fans of pop music: Chris Brown. This Chris Brown, a freshman wide receiver, has enjoyed an improbable debut campaign for the Irish. Though he played the first seven games of his career without a catch, the speedster from South Carolina made his first collegiate catch under the most crucial of circumstances. Brown hauled in a 50-yard reception from Golson in a tie game in the fourth quarter of Notre Dame’s road contest against Oklahoma, a game the Irish eventually won, 30-13.

For his season, Brown caught only two balls — for a whopping 28 yards per catch — but in that limited production he provided the signature offensive moment of the season for the Irish. Don’t be surprised to see Brown chasing down a deep ball at Sun Life Stadium in the national championship game.

Chris Allen is the sports editor at The Observer, the daily student newspaper serving the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College.