Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/226401
Game Preview: Rutgers its point total was a rather inexplicable 33rd. Nevertheless, the No. 25 ranking in the AP is significant because if the Irish do defeat Rutgers and remain in the top 25, it will mark only the second time since 1997 the Fighting Irish will have placed in the final AP ballot in consecutive years, with the other occurring in 2005 (No. 9) and 2006 (No. 17). The following season, Notre Dame set a single-season school record for most defeats during a 3-9 campaign. While a victory Despite missing four games due to lower-leg injury, redshirt sophomore over Rutgers would running back Paul James led Rutgers in rushing with 146 carries for not signal that Notre 833 yards (5.7 yards per rush) and nine touchdowns. photo courtesy rutgers Dame is on the rise again, it would help to perpetuate a NCAA-record nine-game losing streak pattern of consistency and identity as in postseason contests from 1994-2006, a regular top-25 finisher, a minimal Irish fans had the same complaint: The element required of any upper-tier Notre Dame teams were way out of program. their weight or speed class in those If Notre Dame does finish in the AP matchups. top 25 again in 2013, that would mean The 1995 Fiesta Bowl featured a 6-4-1 a third straight such placement in 2014 unranked Notre Dame team against would be a first at the school since 10-1 and No. 3 Colorado, which easily 1991-93. rolled to a 41-24 victory. Even in the 1997 Independence Bowl No Excuses Matchup (a 27-9 Irish loss), Notre Dame had to During Notre Dame's horrific travel to LSU's home state in a revenge