Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1305649
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 7, 2020 61 BY LOU SOMOGYI T he Associated Press poll began in 1936, and this Nov. 7 slated meeting with Clemson will mark the 25th time Notre Dame will play the team that is ranked No. 1 at the time of the game. Here were the 8-15-1 results of the first 24. Nov. 21, 1936 — Notre Dame 26, Northwestern 6 A year earlier, the 6-0 Fighting Irish were in the driver's seat to win the national title after upset- ting Ohio State 18-13 — but the following week it lost at home to 2-3 Northwestern. A year later, 5-2 Notre Dame whipped the 7-0 Wildcats. Nov. 11, 1944 — Army 59, Notre Dame 0 With the Cadets stockpiled and Notre Dame's veterans shipped overseas in World War II, this was the largest margin of defeat in the program's history. Nov. 10, 1945 — Army 48, Notre Dame 0 A virtual repeat as Army cruised to a second straight national title. Nov. 9, 1946 — Notre Dame 0, Army 0 With the veterans from WWII back for Notre Dame, the annual meeting at Yankee Stadium turned into a draw. The Irish were awarded the national title on the final day of the season when Army escaped with a 21-18 win over 1-8 Navy, whereas Notre Dame had defeated the Midshipmen 28-0 a month earlier. Nov. 15, 1952 — Michigan State 21, Notre Dame 3 In their last year as an independent, the Spartans went on to capture their first national title, while Notre Dame finished No. 3 by defeating confer- ence champs Texas, Oklahoma, USC and Purdue. Oct. 21, 1961 — Michigan State 17, Notre Dame 7 Irish head coach Joe Kuharich's most promising start (3-0) elevates Notre Dame to No. 6 before the visit to MSU results in a sixth straight defeat to the Spartans. Dec. 1, 1962 — USC 25, Notre Dame 0 Kuharich had been 3-0 against the Trojans, until this finale resulted in the first of four national titles for third-year USC head coach John McKay. Nov. 20, 1965 — Michigan State 12, Notre Dame 3 Ranked No. 4 coming in with a 7-1 mark, Notre Dame generates 12 yards of total offense and mi- nus-12 on the ground (both school-record lows). Oct. 24, 1967 — USC 24, Notre Dame 7 Eleven months after the Irish crushed USC 51-0 to clinch the national title, the Trojans win their second crown with McKay, led by seven interceptions here. Sept. 28, 1968 — Purdue 37, Notre Dame 22 In this No. 1-versus-No. 2 matchup (with the two teams switched in the UPI poll), the Boilermakers were in command from the outset. Jan 1, 1970 — Texas 21, Notre Dame 17 (Cotton Bowl) The Longhorns score the winning touchdown with 1:08 left to win the national title, while Notre Dame gets moved up from No. 9 to finish No. 5. Jan. 1, 1971 — Notre Dame 24, Texas 11 (Cot- ton Bowl) Texas' 30-game winning streak is snapped, but 10-1 Notre Dame finishes No. 2 to 11-0-1 Nebraska. Dec. 2, 1972 — USC 45, Notre Dame 23 Six Anthony Davis touchdowns (two on kickoffs) help McKay capture his third national title. Dec. 31, 1973 — Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23 (Sugar Bowl) Seven lead changes occur before Ara Parseghi- an's troops capture the national title versus the Crimson Tide. Jan. 2, 1978 — Notre Dame 38, Texas 10 (Cot- ton Bowl) Head coach Dan Devine's "Green Machine" vault all the way from No. 5 to No. 1 with this dominant performance. Jan. 1, 1981 — Georgia 17, Notre Dame 10 (Sugar Bowl) The No. 7 Irish outgain the Bulldogs 328-127, but Georgia's 4-0 turnover advantage helps capture its first national title. Nov. 6, 1982 — Notre Dame 31, Pitt 16 Head coach Gerry Faust's troops pull off the shocker against Dan Marino and Co. in The Steel City. Nov. 16, 1985 — Penn State 36, Notre Dame 6 Faust's final month in his job includes this mon- soon in State College en route to a 5-6 finish. Oct. 15, 1988 — Notre Dame 31, Miami 30 Epic outcome ends Hurricanes' 36-game regular- season winning streak and propels the Irish to their most recent national title under third-year head coach Lou Holtz. Jan. 1, 1990 — Notre Dame 21, Colorado 6 (Or- ange Bowl) Despite defeating seven teams in final AP top 18, Irish finish No. 2 to Miami, to whom the lost. Jan. 1, 1991 — Colorado 10, Notre Dame 9 (Or- ange Bowl) Rocket's Ismail's 91-yard punt return in the clos- ing minute is called back as the Buffaloes capture their first national title. Nov. 13, 1993 — Notre Dame 31, Florida State 24 Irish finish No. 2 again, this time to the Semi- noles, despite head-to-head win at home. Sept. 9, 2000 — Nebraska 27, Notre Dame 24 (overtime) The Cornhuskers and their "Sea of Red" fans at Notre Dame escape with the win, led by 2001 Heis- man winner Eric Crouch. Oct. 15, 2005 — USC 34, Notre Dame 31 Two-time reigning champ Trojans convert fourth- and-nine on final drive and tally the go-ahead TD with three seconds left at Notre Dame. ✦ NOTRE DAME VERSUS NO. 1 Clemson will most likely be the 25th opponent to face the Irish while at the top spot The last time the Fighting Irish knocked off a No. 1-ranked team was 1993, when they defeated Florida State 31-24 in South Bend. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS