Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME ✦ GIMME FIVE Notre Dame barely missed finishing in the Associated Press poll's top 10 for the fifth time when it had three losses in a football season. The 10‑3 Fighting Irish placed No. 11 after the 44‑28 defeat to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1. Its highest such finish came in 1990 when it was No. 6. The Irish that year defeated co‑Big Ten champs Michigan and Michigan State, defending national champ Miami (which finished No. 3), SEC champ Tennessee and USC, with the lat‑ ter two victories coming on the road. Squeezed in between were upset losses at home to Stanford (36‑31) and Penn State (24‑21). Head coach Lou Holtz's team also lost 10‑9 to No. 1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl when Rocket Ismail's 91‑yard punt return for a touchdown in the closing minute was called back be‑ cause of a debatable penalty. The 1978 Fighting Irish finished No. 7, culminated by the miraculous 35‑34 comeback win versus Houston in the Cot‑ ton Bowl. Here are the top finishes for Notre Dame in the AP poll when it had at least three losses: Year Record AP Finish 1. 1990 9‑3 No. 6 2. 1978 9‑3 No. 7 3. 2005 9‑3 No. 9 4. 1957 7‑3 No. 10 5t. 2015 10‑3 No. 11 5t. 1995 9‑3 No. 11 Defensive OSU OSU 3rd OSU 2015 Linemen 1st/2nd Downs Down Total Total Isaac Rochell 51 17 68 783 Sheldon Day 39 14 53 748 Romeo Okwara 67 19 86 650 Andrew Trumbetti 63 18 81 368 Jerry Tillery 0 0 0 351 Daniel Cage 7 0 7 262 Jonathan Bonner 31 6 37 106 Doug Randolph 0 0 0 28 Grant Blankenship 0 0 0 24 Peter Mokwuah 0 0 0 16 Jacob Matuska 0 0 0 15 Jarron Jones 11 2 13 13 Notes: Tillery was suspended for the bowl game due to a viola- tion of team rules. Jones did not play during the entire 2015 reg- ular season due to an injury, but returned versus the Buckeyes. OSU OSU 3rd OSU 2015 Linebackers 1st/2nd Downs Down Total Total Joe Schmidt 67 19 86 827 Jaylon Smith 10 1 11 757 James Onwualu 62 19 81 501 Greer Martini 5 0 5 314 Jarrett Grace 51 16 67 108 Te'von Coney 5 2 7 62 Nyles Morgan 0 0 0 41 Notes: Smith played only 11 snaps against the Buckeyes before being sidelined by a knee injury. Defensive OSU OSU 3rd OSU 2015 Backs 1st/2nd Downs Down Total Total Cole Luke 67 19 86 826 Elijah Shumate 67 19 86 790 KeiVarae Russell 0 0 0 678 Max Redfield 0 0 0 574 Matthias Farley 67 19 86 348 Nick Watkins 67 19 86 127 Devin Butler 0 0 0 109 Drue Tranquill 0 0 0 81 Nick Coleman 0 0 0 44 Nicky Baratti 0 0 0 34 Torii Hunter Jr. 0 0 0 5 Notes: Russell sat out with a fractured tibia for the second straight game. Redfield was suspended for a violation of team rules. MOVING? Let our customer service depart- ment know your new address! CALL US 1-800-421-7751