The Irish are 14-3, most recently in Brian Kelly's first year (2010), defeating No. 15 Utah 28-3 to begin a turnaround from a 4-5 start.
Bronze Medal, 1943: Continuing its march to the first of four national titles under head coach Frank Leahy, Notre Dame defeats its fourth top-10 ranked team of the season with a 25-6 win at No. 8 Northwestern. In his second career start, John Lujack throws two touchdown passes to Bob Kelly.
Silver Medal, 1976: The University of Alabama with legendary head coach Bear Bryant makes its first trip to Notre Dame in the initialregular season meeting between the two schools. In two previous meetings, the Irish had defeated the Crimson Tide by 1 (24-23) in the 1973 Sugar Bowl to capture the national title, and then beat another 11-0 Alabama team by 2 (13-11) in the Orange Bowl the following year.
The symmetry continues with a 3-pointer (21-18) this time. QB Rick Slager completes 15 of 23 passes for 235 yards and a score while staking the Irish to a 21-7 first-half lead before getting injured later. Freshman Vagas Ferguson makes his starting debut and rushes for 107 yards, highlighted by a 17-yard score. But with the score 21-18 in the closing minutes and Alabama inside the Irish 10, Jim Browner intercepts a pass in the end zone.
"I don't reckon I'll be around for the four-pointer," Bryant lamented afterwards, noting the 1980 meeting in Birmingham.
Gold Medal, 1993: For only the third time in Notre Dame Stadium history, No. 1 (Florida State) meets No. 2 (Notre Dame) with the national title hanging in the balance. FSU opens the scoring with a 90-yard touchdown drive, but Notre Dame's physicality takes control from there, outscoring the Seminoles 31-10 over the next 54 minutes before a final pass into the end zone by Heisman winner Charlie Ward is batted away by Shawn Wooden to elevate the 10-0 Irish to the spot and increase the winning streak to 17, the second longest at the school since 1950.
Remarkably, it is ND's seventh win in 24 seasons against a team ranked No. 1 in the AP or coaches polls. You may have heard about this game in the last couple of weeks.
Bronze Medal, 1943: Continuing its march to the first of four national titles under head coach Frank Leahy, Notre Dame defeats its fourth top-10 ranked team of the season with a 25-6 win at No. 8 Northwestern. In his second career start, John Lujack throws two touchdown passes to Bob Kelly.
Silver Medal, 1976: The University of Alabama with legendary head coach Bear Bryant makes its first trip to Notre Dame in the initialregular season meeting between the two schools. In two previous meetings, the Irish had defeated the Crimson Tide by 1 (24-23) in the 1973 Sugar Bowl to capture the national title, and then beat another 11-0 Alabama team by 2 (13-11) in the Orange Bowl the following year.
The symmetry continues with a 3-pointer (21-18) this time. QB Rick Slager completes 15 of 23 passes for 235 yards and a score while staking the Irish to a 21-7 first-half lead before getting injured later. Freshman Vagas Ferguson makes his starting debut and rushes for 107 yards, highlighted by a 17-yard score. But with the score 21-18 in the closing minutes and Alabama inside the Irish 10, Jim Browner intercepts a pass in the end zone.
"I don't reckon I'll be around for the four-pointer," Bryant lamented afterwards, noting the 1980 meeting in Birmingham.
Gold Medal, 1993: For only the third time in Notre Dame Stadium history, No. 1 (Florida State) meets No. 2 (Notre Dame) with the national title hanging in the balance. FSU opens the scoring with a 90-yard touchdown drive, but Notre Dame's physicality takes control from there, outscoring the Seminoles 31-10 over the next 54 minutes before a final pass into the end zone by Heisman winner Charlie Ward is batted away by Shawn Wooden to elevate the 10-0 Irish to the spot and increase the winning streak to 17, the second longest at the school since 1950.
Remarkably, it is ND's seventh win in 24 seasons against a team ranked No. 1 in the AP or coaches polls. You may have heard about this game in the last couple of weeks.
