Under the Dome
✦ Gimme Five
Notre Dame's football program under head
coach Frank Leahy never lost a game from 194649, a feat that likely no team in the Football Bowl
Subdivision will ever duplicate.
However, since 1950, Notre Dame has had its
share of excellent back-to-back campaigns with
Associated Press top-five finishes, and in some
cases a consensus national title. Such strong backto-back performances haven't occurred the last 20
years, but after the out-of-nowhere 12-1 campaign
last season, the 2012-13 Notre Dame units have an
opportunity to join this exclusive company.
Here are Notre Dame's five best back-to-back
seasons since 1950:
Years (Results)
Total Win Pct.
1. 1988 (12-0) & 1989 (12-1) 24-1 .960
2. 1953 (9-0-1) & 1954 (9-1) 18-1-1 .925
3. 1973 (11-0) & 1974 (10-2) 21-2 .913
4. 1992 (10-1-1) & 1993 (11-1) 21-2-1 .896
5. 1966 (9-0-1) & 1967 (8-2) 17-2-1 .875
For the record, Notre Dame has not had back-toback unbeaten and untied regular seasons since
1929 (9-0) and 1930 (10-0).
Head coach Lou Holtz guided the Fighting Irish to a 12-0 record en route to a national title in 1988
and a 12-1 mark in 1989 — the program's best two-year stretch since 1950.
photo courtesy notre dame media relations
