The Irish are 2-3, so we can't really include a bronze medal here. The last time they played on this date was 1972, a 45-23 loss at national champ USC in which Anthony Davis scored six touchdowns, two on kickoff returns.
Silver Medal, 1944: Despite so many players going overseas for World War II, Notre Dame salvages an 8-2 season by defeating war-time power Great Lakes — which includes 1943 Irish halfback Jim Mello from the national champs — 28-7 with a 21-0 second half. QB Frank Dancewicz, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, passes for one score and runs for another as the Irish finish No. 9 in the poll.
Among the final top 20, 12 are military teams, including No. 1 Army, No. 3 Randolph Field, No. 4 Navy and No. 5 Bainbridge. Notre Dame is able to field a team and keep its doors open because Navy implements its V-12 program at Notre Dame.
Gold Medal, 1933: In the season finale, the 2-5-1 Irish limp into Yankee Stadium having scored only three touchdowns (it was shutout in all four home games) against an unbeaten Army team that needs only this victory to clinch the national title. Entering the fourth quarter trailing 12-0, the Irish had scored only once in the previous 27 quarters.
In the closing minutes, Notre Dame multi-sports star Ed "Moose" Krause blocks an Army punt that sets up another future Hall-of-Fame, Wayne Miller for a touchdown and an extra point. On Army's next series that results in having to punt again, the Cadets collapse on Krause on the inside — but this time it is Millner who breaks through to block the punt and recover the loose ball in the end zone that helps result in the shocking 13-12 upset.
Although third-year head coach Hunk Anderson steps down (rumor was he was going to be fired) shortly afterward, this colossal upset is often overlooked in Notre Dame lore.
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