Notre Dame Fighting Irish football

El equipo de fútbol americano Notre Dame Fighting Irish representa a la Universidad de Notre Dame en el fútbol americano . Juega sus partidos como local en el Notre Dame Stadium , con capacidad para 77.622 espectadores, ubicado cerca de South Bend en Notre Dame, Indiana . Notre Dame es una de las dos universidades que compiten como independientes en la División I de la NCAA ( Football Bowl Subdivision , FBS). ^{[ nota 1 ]}

Los Fighting Irish son uno de los programas más prestigiosos y exitosos del fútbol americano universitario. Han ganado 22 campeonatos nacionales desde su fundación en 1887, aunque la universidad solo reclama oficialmente 11, incluyendo 8 de las principales agencias de noticias ( encuesta AP y/o encuesta de entrenadores ). ^{[ 6 ]} Siete jugadores de Notre Dame han ganado el Trofeo Heisman . Notre Dame tiene 972 victorias oficiales , de las cuales 21 fueron anuladas por la NCAA en 2016 por mala conducta académica autoinformada. La universidad reconoce un total de 993 victorias en la historia del programa. ^{[ 7 ]} Notre Dame ha tenido 22 temporadas invictas, incluyendo 12 temporadas perfectas, ^{[ 8 ]} y sus partidos en casa han sido televisados ​​por NBC desde 1991. ^{[ 9 ] [ 10 ]}

Los Fighting Irish han jugado con camisetas azules, cascos dorados y detalles dorados durante gran parte de su historia. Entre los símbolos reconocibles del equipo se encuentran su himno, la " Marcha de la Victoria de Notre Dame ", y la mascota del duende de Notre Dame . Su rivalidad más intensa y destacada es con los USC Trojans ; surgió de la frecuente competencia por campeonatos nacionales y es una de las más conocidas del fútbol americano universitario. ^{[ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ]}

Football did not have an auspicious beginning at the University of Notre Dame. In their inaugural game on November 23, 1887, the Irish lost to Michigan by a score of 8–0.^[15] Their first win came in the final game of the 1888 season when the Irish defeated Harvard Prep School of Chicago by a score of 20–0.^[16] At the end of the 1888 season, they had a record of 1–3 with all three losses being at the hands of Michigan. Between 1887 and 1899, Notre Dame compiled a record of 31 wins, 15 losses, and 4 ties against a diverse variety of opponents ranging from local high school teams to other universities.^[17] In 1894, James L. Morrison was hired as Notre Dame's first head football coach.^[18] Notre Dame took a significant step toward respectability, prominence, and stability when they hired Morrison.^[19] He wrote an acquaintance after his first day on the job: "I arrived here [Notre Dame] this morning and found about as green a set of football players that ever donned a uniform... They want to smoke, and when I told them that they would have to run and get up some wind, they thought I was rubbing it in on them. "One big, strong cuss remarked that it was too much like work. Well, maybe you think I didn't give him hell! I bet you a hundred no one ever makes a remark like that again."^[19]

In 1908, the win over Franklin saw end Fay Wood catch the first touchdown pass in Notre Dame history.^[20] Notre Dame continued its success near the turn of the century and achieved their first victory over Michigan in 1909 by the score of 11–3, after which Michigan refused to play Notre Dame again for 33 years. By the end of the 1912 season the university's team had amassed a record of 108 wins, 31 losses, and 13 ties.^[21]Jesse Harper became head coach in 1913, coaching for five years until retiring in 1917.^[22] During his tenure, the Irish began playing only intercollegiate games and posted a record of 34 wins, 5 losses, and one tie.^[23] This period would also mark the beginning of the rivalry with Army and the continuation of rivalry with Michigan State.^[24][25] In an effort to gain respect for a regionally successful but small-time Midwestern football program, Harper scheduled games in his first season with national powerhouses Texas, Penn State, and Army.^[26] That year, Notre Dame burst into the national consciousness and helped to transform the collegiate game in a single contest.

On November 1, 1913, the Notre Dame squad stunned Army's Black Knights of the Hudson 35–13 in a game played at West Point.^[27] Led by quarterback Gus Dorais and end Knute Rockne, the Notre Dame team attacked the Cadets with an offense that featured both the expected powerful running game but also long and accurate downfield forward passes from Dorais to Rockne. This game has been miscredited as the invention of the forward pass.^[28] Prior to this contest, receivers would come to a full stop and wait on the ball to come to them, but in this contest, Dorais threw to Rockne in stride, changing the forward pass from a seldom-used play into the dominant ball-moving strategy that it is today.^[28][27]

Irish assistant Knute Rockne became head coach in 1918.^[29] During his 13 years, the Irish won three national championships, had five undefeated seasons, won the Rose Bowl in 1925,^[30] and produced players such as George Gipp and the "Four Horsemen".^[31] Rockne's offenses employed the Notre Dame Box and his defenses ran a 7–2–2 scheme.^[32][33]

Rockne took over in the war-torn season of 1918^[34] He made his coaching debut on September 28, 1918, against Case Tech in Cleveland, Ohio, and earned a 26–6 victory.^[35]Leonard Bahan, George Gipp, and Curly Lambeau were in the backfield.^[36][37] With Gipp, Rockne had an ideal handler of the forward pass.^[38][39] The Irish posted a 3–1–2 record for the season, losing only to the Michigan Agricultural Aggies. The 1919 team had Rockne handle the line and Gus Dorais handle the backfield.^[40] The Irish went undefeated and were one of four teams to be selected for the national championship, although Notre Dame does not claim it.^[41][42]

Gipp died at age 25 on December 14, 1920,^[43] just two weeks after Walter Camp elected him as Notre Dame's first All-American.^[44][43] Gipp likely contracted strep throat and pneumonia while giving punting lessons after his final game on November 20 against Northwestern.^[44] Since antibiotics were not available in the 1920s, treatment options for such infections were limited and they could be fatal even to young, healthy individuals.^[45] Rockne was speaking to Gipp on his hospital bed when he was purported to have delivered the famous "Win one for the Gipper" line.^{[46][43][47][48][49]}

John Mohardt led the 1921 Notre Dame team to a 10–1 record with 781 rushing yards, 995 passing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, and nine passing touchdowns.^[50]Grantland Rice wrote that "Mohardt could throw the ball to within a foot or two of any given space" and noted that the 1921 Notre Dame team "was the first team we know of to build its attack around a forward passing game, rather than use a forward passing game as a mere aid to the running game."^[51] Mohardt had both Eddie Anderson and Roger Kiley at end to receive his passes.^[52][53]

The national champion 1924 team included the "Four Horsemen" backfield of Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden.^[54][55] The line was known as the "Seven Mules".^[56] The Irish capped an undefeated, 10–0 season with a victory over Stanford in the Rose Bowl.^[30] The 1926 team beat Army and was led by Christie Flanagan,^[57][58] but was undone by a loss to Carnegie Tech in the penultimate game of the season. In this game, Rockne made what an Associated Press writer called "one of the greatest coaching blunders in history" by traveling to Chicago for the Army–Navy Game to "write newspaper articles about it, as well as select an All-America football team." Carnegie Tech used the coach's absence as motivation for a 19–0 win; the upset likely cost the Irish a chance for a national title.^[59]

El equipo de 1928 perdió contra el campeón nacional Georgia Tech . ^{[ 60 ]} "Estaba sentado en Grant Field y vi a un magnífico equipo de Notre Dame retroceder repentinamente ante el furioso golpe de un hombre: Peter Pund ", dijo Rockne. "Nadie podía detenerlo. Conté 20 jugadas de anotación que este hombre arruinó". ^{[ 61 ]} Entre los eventos que ocurrieron durante el mandato de Rockne, ninguno puede ser más famoso que el discurso de Rockne "Ganen uno por el Gipper". ^{[ 62 ]} Army llegó al partido de 1928 invicto y era el claro favorito. ^{[ 63 ]} Notre Dame, por otro lado, estaba teniendo su peor temporada bajo el liderazgo de Rockne y entró al partido con un récord de 4-2. ^{[ 63 ]} Al final de la primera mitad, Army iba ganando y parecía tener el control del partido. Rockne entró al vestuario y relató las últimas palabras de Gipp: «Tengo que irme, Rock. Está bien. No tengo miedo. Algún día, Rock, cuando el equipo esté en apuros, cuando las cosas vayan mal y la suerte esté de su lado, diles que salgan ahí con todo lo que tienen y ganen al menos un partido por Gipper. No sé dónde estaré entonces, Rock. Pero lo sabré, y estaré feliz». ^{[ 64 ]} El discurso inspiró al equipo y lograron vencer al Ejército y ganar el partido 12-6. ^{[ 65 ]}

Los equipos de 1929 y 1930 terminaron invictos, ^{[ 66 ] [ 67 ]} ganando campeonatos nacionales, ^{[ 68 ] [ 69 ]} y el equipo de 1930 fue liderado por figuras como Frank Carideo , Joe Savoldi , Marchy Schwartz y Marty Brill . ^{[ 69 ]} Presentó el primer y único ejemplo de los cuatro miembros de un backfield siendo nombrados para un equipo All-American durante la misma temporada. El equipo de 1929 jugó todos sus partidos como visitante mientras se construía el nuevo Estadio Notre Dame . ^{[ 70 ]} En 1930, "Jumping Joe" Savoldi anotó el primer touchdown de Notre Dame en el nuevo estadio en un regreso de patada inicial de 98 yardas. ^{[ 71 ]} Savoldi también es conocido como "el primer héroe en la historia del Estadio Notre Dame" debido a que anotó tres touchdowns en el partido oficial de dedicación del estadio contra Navy la semana siguiente. ^{[ 72 ]} Rockne dirigió su último partido el 14 de diciembre de 1930, cuando lideró a un grupo de estrellas de Notre Dame contra los New York Giants en la ciudad de Nueva York. ^{[ 73 ] [ 74 ]} El partido recaudó fondos para el Comité de Ayuda del Alcalde para los desempleados y necesitados de la ciudad. ^{[ 75 ]} 50 000 aficionados acudieron a ver a los "Cuatro Jinetes" reunidos junto con jugadores de los otros equipos campeones de Rockne saltar al campo contra los profesionales. ^{[ 76 ]}

El 31 de marzo de 1931, Rockne murió a los 43 años en el accidente de un avión de Transcontinental & Western Air en Kansas ; se dirigía a ayudar en la producción de la película The Spirit of Notre Dame . ^{[ 77 ] [ 78 ] [ 79 ]} El lugar del accidente está ubicado en una extensión remota de Kansas conocida como Flint Hills y ahora cuenta con un Monumento a Rockne. ^{[ 80 ]} Como entrenador principal de Notre Dame de 1918 a 1930, Rockne registró lo que ha permanecido durante décadas como el porcentaje de victorias más alto de todos los tiempos (.881) para un entrenador de fútbol americano en la división principal FBS de la NCAA. ^{[ 81 ] [ 82 ]} Durante su mandato de 13 años como entrenador principal de los Fighting Irish, Rockne acumuló 105 victorias, 12 derrotas, 5 empates y 3 campeonatos nacionales. ^{[ 83 ] [ 84 ]} Rockne también entrenó a Notre Dame a 5 temporadas invictas y sin empates. ^{[ 83 ] [ 84 ]}

A través de las transmisiones de juegos durante la Edad de Oro de la Radio , el fútbol americano de Notre Dame ganó un seguimiento nacional de "exalumnos del metro", católicos que se hicieron fanáticos independientemente de si asistieron o no a la universidad. ^{[ 85 ]} El ex entrenador en jefe de Saint Louis , Heartley "Hunk" Anderson, fue ascendido de entrenador asistente y tomó las riendas de los Irish después de la muerte de Knute Rockne, llevándolos a un récord de 16 victorias, nueve derrotas y dos empates. ^{[ 86 ]} Anderson fue un exjugador de los Irish bajo Rockne y se desempeñaba como entrenador asistente en el momento de la muerte de Rockne . Notre Dame terminó 6-2-1 en 1931. ^{[ 87 ]} Los Irish perdieron un doloroso marcador de 16-14 a USC el 21 de noviembre que rompió la racha invicta de 26 juegos del programa. ^{[ 88 ]} 1933 fue un año difícil para los Irish, ya que terminaron con un récord de 3-5-2, la primera temporada perdedora para el programa desde 1888. ND sufrió una racha de cuatro derrotas consecutivas, sin anotar un punto en las cuatro derrotas contra Carnegie Tech , Pittsburgh , Navy y Purdue . ^{[ 89 ]} Anderson renunció como entrenador principal de los Irish después de la temporada de 1933 para aceptar el puesto de entrenador principal de fútbol americano en NC State . ^{[ 90 ]}

Anderson was replaced by Elmer Layden, who was one of Rockne's "Four Horsemen" of 1924. After graduating, Layden played professional football for one year and then began a coaching career.^[91]

Layden's 1935 squad posted one of the greatest wins in school history by rallying to defeat Ohio State by a score of 18–13 in a game billed as the "Game of the Century".^[92][93] His 1938 team finished 8–1, losing only to USC in the season finale.^[94] This loss cost them a possible consensus national championship, but the team was named national champion by the Dickinson System.^[95]

Like Rockne before him, Layden was a goodwill ambassador for Notre Dame during his time as head coach.^[96][97] He was able to schedule a home-and-home series with Michigan after meeting with Fielding H. Yost, healing a rift between the two schools.^[98] The two teams had not met since 1909, when, after eight straight losses to the Wolverines, the Irish posted their first win.^[99][100] They were scheduled to meet again in 1910, but Michigan canceled the game and refused to play the Irish again.^[100] By the time they met again in 1943, Layden had left Notre Dame and Frank Leahy had taken his place.^[100]

The Irish posted a record of 47 wins, 13 losses, and three ties in seven years under Layden,^[101] the most successful record of a Notre Dame coach not to win a national championship.^[102] He left Notre Dame after the 1940 season to become Commissioner of the National Football League.^[102][91]

Boston College head coach Frank Leahy was hired by Notre Dame to take over for Layden in 1941 and was another former Irish player who played during the Rockne era. After graduating from Notre Dame, Leahy held several coaching positions, including line coach of the Seven Blocks of Granite of Fordham University that helped that team win all but two of their games between 1935 and 1937.^[103] He then coached the Boston College Eagles to a win in the 1941 Sugar Bowl and a share of the national championship.^[104][105] His move to Notre Dame began a new period of gridiron success for the Irish and ensured Leahy's place among the winningest coaches in the history of college football.^[106]

Leahy coached the team for 11 seasons from 1941 to 1943 and 1946 to 1953.^[103] After finishing in the AP top 10 each of his first two seasons, Leahy's 1943 team went 9–1 and captured Notre Dame's fourth national championship (and first since the advent of the AP Poll). Quarterback Angelo Bertelli became Notre Dame's first Heisman Trophy winner. From 1944 to 1945, Leahy served in the US Navy during World War II and was honorably discharged as a captain.^[107]Edward McKeever, Leahy's assistant coach, became interim head coach when Leahy left for the Navy.^[108] During 1944, his one year at the helm, the Irish managed 8 wins and 2 losses.^[109] McKeever left Notre Dame in 1945 to take over as head coach of Cornell.^[110] For the 1945 season, he was replaced by Hugh Devore, who led the Irish to a 7–2–1 record.^[111]

Upon Leahy's return in 1946 and due to his status as a veteran himself, the Irish heavily recruited returning veterans who were often much older than incoming freshmen. Largely thanks to this influx of talent, Notre Dame went four consecutive seasons after World War II without losing a game, winning the 1946, 1947, and 1949 national championships in the process.^[112] The 1946 game against Army, ending in a 0–0 tie, pitted two of the greatest teams of all time against each other and included three consecutive Heisman Trophy winners (Army's Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis and Notre Dame's Johnny Lujack, who quarterbacked the 1946 and 1947 Irish). The 1948 team missed out on a national championship due only to a 14–14 tie at USC in the final game of the season. In 1949, Notre Dame went unbeaten and untied for the second time in three seasons behind Heisman Trophy-winning endLeon Hart, who would later be selected first overall in the 1950 NFL draft. A fifth national championship was lost because of a 1953 tie against Iowa, in a game that featured 1953 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lattner^[113] that caused a minor scandal at the time, when it appeared that some Irish players had faked injuries to stop the clock, leading some to nickname those players the "Fainting Irish".^{[114][115][116]}

Leahy retired in 1954 reportedly due to health issues.^[117] Perhaps the best example of this occurred during the Georgia Tech game in 1953. Leahy fell ill during the game, which led to him collapsing during halftime.^[118] The situation was so dire that a priest was called in to give Leahy Catholic last rites.^[119] However, Leahy recovered, and the consequent diagnosis was that he was suffering from nervous tension and pancreatitis.^[120]

Leahy has the second highest winning percentage (.864) of any college coach in history. He led the Irish to a record of 87 wins, 11 losses, and nine ties including 39 consecutive games without a loss (37–0–2), four national championships, and six undefeated seasons.^[106][121]

La partida de Frank Leahy marcó el inicio de un declive en el rendimiento de Notre Dame. ^{[ 122 ]} El entrenador asistente Terry Brennan, de 25 años, fue contratado como sucesor de Frank Leahy como entrenador principal de Notre Dame en 1954 y permaneció hasta 1958. Brennan había sido jugador bajo la dirección de Leahy. Antes de unirse a los Irish, había entrenado al equipo de Mount Carmel High School en Chicago. ^{[ 123 ]} En sus dos primeras temporadas, los Irish se ubicaron en el cuarto y noveno lugar respectivamente en la encuesta de AP, siendo la derrota ante Purdue el único tropiezo en el calendario del equipo de 1954. ^{[ 123 ] [ 124 ]} Fue la temporada de 1956 la que comenzó a ensombrecer la reputación de Brennan, ya que se convirtió en una de las más desastrosas en la historia del equipo y los vio terminar la temporada con apenas dos victorias, incluyendo derrotas ante Michigan State , Oklahoma e Iowa . ^{[ 125 ]} Un punto brillante en la temporada de 1956 fue la entrega del Trofeo Heisman a Paul Hornung , quien luego tendría una carrera legendaria en la NFL con los Green Bay Packers . Hornung es el único ganador del Heisman que ganó el premio mientras jugaba para un equipo que tenía un récord perdedor. ^{[ 126 ]} Los Irish se recuperarían la temporada siguiente , registrando un récord de 7-3 ^{[ 127 ]} e incluyendo en sus victorias una sorprendente victoria sobre Oklahoma , en Norman, Oklahoma , que terminó con el récord aún vigente de los Sooners de 47 victorias consecutivas. ^{[ 128 ]} Sin embargo, en la última temporada de Brennan , los Irish terminaron 6-4, ^{[ 129 ]} lo que llevó al despido de Brennan a mediados de diciembre. ^{[ 130 ]} La gestión de Brennan solo puede entenderse adecuadamente si se comprende que, en una época sin limitaciones de becas en el fútbol americano universitario, la administración de Notre Dame, inexplicablemente, comenzó un proceso de restar importancia al fútbol americano, recortando severamente las becas e impidiendo que Brennan construyera una plantilla con una profundidad significativa. ^{[ 131 ]} Se marchó con un total de 32 victorias y 18 derrotas. ^{[ 132 ]}

El ex entrenador en jefe de San Francisco , Chicago Cardinals y Washington Redskins, Joe Kuharich, asumió el puesto de entrenador en jefe en Notre Dame en 1959, cumpliendo una ambición de larga data de regresar a su alma mater. ^{[ 133 ] [ 134 ]} Anteriormente, Notre Dame lo había cortejado después de la temporada de 1956, luego de que los Irish terminaran 2-8, pero antes de que tuviera la oportunidad de aceptar una oferta, Terry Brennan recibió una segunda oportunidad. ^{[ 135 ]} Kuharich le dio un toque profesional al fútbol americano de los Irish, colocando tréboles en los cascos de los jugadores y franjas en los hombros de sus camisetas. ^{[ 135 ] [ 136 ]} Sin embargo, su mandato se convirtió en uno de los peores períodos en la historia del programa, incluyendo una racha récord de ocho derrotas en 1960 , un año en el que los Irish terminaron 2-8. ^{[ 137 ]} La opinión generalizada era que Kuharich nunca se adaptó del fútbol americano profesional al universitario, intentando usar técnicas de entrenamiento profesionales complicadas con jugadores universitarios, y nunca se adaptó a las reglas de sustitución limitadas vigentes en ese momento, haciendo que grandes y lentos linieros jugaran en ambos lados en una época donde se preferían jugadores más pequeños y rápidos. A menudo decía: "A veces se gana y a veces se pierde", y parecía perfectamente contento con terminar 5-5 cada año. Esto no le sentó bien a los fieles irlandeses, que esperaban que Notre Dame venciera a todos. ^{[ 138 ]} Cuando la presión de ganar se volvió insoportable, Kuharich renunció en la primavera de 1963 y asumió el puesto de supervisor de oficiales de la NFL. ^{[ 135 ]} Debido a que era tan tarde en la primavera, el entrenador del equipo de primer año, Hugh Devore, fue nombrado entrenador en jefe para la temporada de 1963 mientras se llevaba a cabo la búsqueda de un reemplazo permanente. ^{[ 139 ]}

Kuharich acumuló un récord de 17-23 en cuatro temporadas sin victorias y sigue siendo hasta el día de hoy el único entrenador con un récord general negativo en Notre Dame. A pesar de su etapa poco exitosa, Kuharich sigue siendo el único entrenador de los Fighting Irish en lograr dos blanqueadas consecutivas contra su mayor rival, los USC Trojans , en 1960 (17-0) y 1961 (30-0). ^{[ 140 ]}

En 1964, Ara Parseghian dejó su puesto como entrenador principal de fútbol americano de Northwestern cuando fue contratado para asumir las funciones de entrenador en Notre Dame. ^{[ 141 ]} Inmediatamente llevó al equipo de vuelta a un nivel de éxito en la historia del fútbol americano de Notre Dame comparable únicamente al de Rockne y Leahy. Estos tres entrenadores tienen un porcentaje de victorias del 80% o superior mientras estuvieron en Notre Dame: Rockne con .881, Leahy con .864 y Parseghian con .836. Los equipos de Parseghian nunca ganaron menos de siete ni perdieron más de tres partidos durante las temporadas regulares de diez partidos de la época. ^{[ 142 ]}

En su primer año , los irlandeses mejoraron su récord a 9-1 gracias al mariscal de campo John Huarte , ganador del Trofeo Heisman , pero perdieron toda esperanza de un campeonato nacional en el último partido de la temporada contra USC cuando Craig Fertig conectó un pase de touchdown con Rod Sherman . ^{[ 143 ]} Parseghian obtuvo honores de entrenador del año de la Asociación de Entrenadores de Fútbol Americano, la Asociación de Escritores de Fútbol Americano y The Sporting News , así como de varias otras, y un artículo de portada en la revista Time . ^{[ 144 ] [ 145 ]}

El equipo de 1966 terminó invicto, alcanzando el puesto número 1 en la encuesta de AP y ganando el campeonato nacional. Los Irish consiguieron seis victorias sin recibir puntos, cada una por 30 puntos o más. Esto incluye una victoria final de temporada por 51-0 contra el número 10, USC , el mayor margen de victoria de cualquiera de los dos equipos en la historia de la rivalidad. Esta temporada es recordada principalmente por un empate 10-10 contra el número 2, Michigan State, en el " Partido del Siglo ", en el que los Irish, plagados de lesiones, jugaron por el empate en lugar de arriesgarse a una derrota. ^{[ 146 ]}

It was under Parseghian as well that Notre Dame lifted its 40-plus year-old "no bowl games" policy,^[147] beginning with the season of 1969, after which the Irish played the #1 Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl Classic, losing in the final minutes in a closely contested game.^[148] The following year, Parseghian's 9–1 squad^[149] ended Texas' Southwest Conference record 30-game winning streak in the Cotton Bowl.^[148] In 1971, Cliff Brown became the first African-American quarterback to start a game for the program.^[150] The Irish returned to glory by winning Parseghian's second national championship in 1973, sweeping through their regular-season schedule 10–0 and defeating #1 Alabama 24-23 in the Sugar Bowl by taking advantage of a fourth-quarter missed extra point by the Crimson Tide. Due to health issues, Parseghian was forced to retire from coaching after another bowl win over Alabama to conclude the 1974 season.^[151]

During Parseghian's eleven-year career, the Irish amassed a record of 95–17–4 and captured two national championships. The Irish finished in the AP Top 10 nine times and never ranked lower than #14 at the end of a season. Parseghian was also named coach of the year by several selectors in his national championship years of 1966 and 1973 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.^[152][153]

Dan Devine fue contratado para asumir el cargo de entrenador principal tras la jubilación de Parseghian de Notre Dame en 1975. ^{[ 154 ]} Devine ya era un entrenador muy exitoso y había dirigido a Arizona State , Missouri y los Green Bay Packers de la NFL . ^{[ 154 ]} Devine había sido uno de los principales candidatos para el puesto de entrenador principal en Notre Dame en 1964, cuando Ara Parseghian fue contratado. ^{[ 155 ]} Cuando se le ofreció el puesto tras la renuncia de Parseghian, Devine aceptó de inmediato, bromeando con que probablemente fue la entrevista de trabajo más corta de la historia. ^{[ 156 ]} Cuando llegó a Notre Dame ya tenía un récord como entrenador universitario de 120 victorias, 40 derrotas y ocho empates, y había llevado a sus equipos a la victoria en cuatro partidos de tazón. ^{[ 157 ]} En Notre Dame, dirigiría a los Irish a 53 victorias, 16 derrotas y un empate, así como a tres victorias en partidos de tazón. ^{[ 157 ]}

Su logro más duradero llegó a mitad de esta racha, cuando el equipo de Notre Dame de 1977 ganó el campeonato nacional, liderado por el mariscal de campo junior Joe Montana . ^{[ 158 ]} Antes del partido contra USC , jugado en casa el 22 de octubre, Devine cambió las camisetas del equipo de azul marino y blanco a verde kelly y dorado, más tarde conocido como el "partido de la camiseta verde", lo que resultó en una victoria de 49-19 sobre los Trojans. ^{[ 159 ]} Los Irish continuaron vistiendo de verde durante el resto del mandato de Devine en la escuela. ^{[ 159 ]} La temporada del campeonato culminó con una victoria de 38-10 en el Cotton Bowl Classic de 1978 sobre el entonces mejor clasificado Texas , liderado por el ganador del Trofeo Heisman Earl Campbell . ^{[ 160 ]} La victoria catapultó a los Irish del quinto al primer lugar en las encuestas.

The following season, the Irish lost their first two games including a shocking 3–0 loss to Missouri in Indiana but would recover to finish the regular season 8–3 and earn a berth in the Cotton Bowl against Houston. The Irish used three Montana touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) to recover from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter and win 35–34, the largest fourth-quarter comeback in college football history at the time. The game became known as the "Chicken Soup Game" after Montana ate a bowl of chicken soup at halftime while battling the flu.^[161] The 1979 and 1980 Irish did not live up to the standards set by earlier Devine teams, although the former season did see Vagas Ferguson set the single-season program rushing record (1,437 yards) that still stands as of the end of the 2025 season.

Because he had the unenviable task of following a legend, Devine came under heavy scrutiny while at Notre Dame, and some observers felt that he was never fully embraced by the Notre Dame community, despite winning a national championship.^[162] After a 5–2 start in his first season, rumors of incompetence were circulated and that Devine would be dismissed and replaced by Don Shula or even Ara Parseghian (who went so far as to say he would not return to Notre Dame under any circumstances).^[163] Even on the day of the 1977 USC game, "Dump Devine" bumper stickers were being sold outside Notre Dame Stadium.^[163] On August 15, 1980, Devine announced that he would be leaving Notre Dame at the end of season, saying he wanted to be able to spend more time with his wife.^[162]

Gerry Faust was a surprise choice when hired to replace Devine in 1981.^[164] Prior to Notre Dame, Faust had been one of the more successful high school football coaches in the country. As coach of Moeller High School in Cincinnati he amassed a 174–17–2 record over 19 seasons.^[165] Many of his players had gone on to play for Notre Dame; indeed, when he arrived in South Bend, he was reunited with nine of his former players from Moeller. Despite his success in the high school ranks, Faust's success at Notre Dame was mixed. In his first season, the Irish finished 5–6.^[166] In Faust's second season, Notre Dame improved slightly to 6–4–1.^[167] The most successful years under Faust were the 1983 and 1984 campaigns where the Irish finished 7–5 and made trips to the Liberty Bowl and Aloha Bowl respectively.^[168][169] His final record at Notre Dame was 30–26–1.^[170] To avoid being fired, Faust resigned at the end of the 1985 season.^[171][172] He announced his resignation prior to the final game of the year, where Notre Dame suffered a humiliating 58–7 loss at Miami; Allen Pinkett scored the Irish TD. Faust proceeded to take over as head coach at Akron.^[173]

Lou Holtz had 17 years of head coaching experience by the time he was hired to lead the Irish.^[174] He had previously been head coach of William & Mary, North Carolina State, the NFL's New York Jets, Arkansas, and Minnesota.^[174] In contrast to Faust, Holtz was well known as a master motivator and a strict disciplinarian.^[175][176] The tone was set with Holtz's first meeting with his team as Irish head coach in 1986, immediately demanding his players sit up straight in their chairs and look him in the eye as he spoke.^[177] Holtz began in 1986 where his predecessor left off in 1985, finishing with an identical record of 5–6.^[178] However, unlike the 1985 squad, which was generally outcoached and outplayed, Holtz's 1986 edition was competitive in nearly every game, losing five out of those six games by a combined total of 14 points. That would be his only losing season as he posted a record of 95–24–2 over the next ten seasons adding up to a 100–30–2 record overall.^[179][180]

In 1987, Holtz led the Irish to an 8–4 record.^[181] Notre Dame's best player was star wide receiver Tim Brown, who would win the Heisman Trophy that season and is Notre Dame's seventh and most recent Heisman winner.^[182][183]

La campaña de 1988 comenzó con grandes esperanzas, ya que los ex entrenadores de Notre Dame, Rockne, Leahy, Parseghian y Devine, ganaron su primer campeonato nacional en su tercera temporada con el programa. Los Irish derrotaron a sus primeros cinco oponentes, ascendiendo al puesto número 4 en la clasificación antes de la visita de los vigentes campeones nacionales, los Miami Hurricanes . En un partido que se conoció como Católicos contra Convictos debido a un popular diseño de camiseta en el campus de Notre Dame, los Irish sorprendieron a los Hurricanes 31-30 cuando Pat Terrell bloqueó el intento de conversión de dos puntos de Steve Walsh cuando no quedaba tiempo en el reloj. Cuando los jugadores estrella Ricky Watters y Tony Brooks llegaron tarde a la cena justo antes de que los Irish, entonces número uno en la clasificación, jugaran contra USC , número dos en la clasificación , en el último partido de la temporada regular de 1988, ^{[ 184 ]} en una decisión controvertida, Holtz llevó a su equipo Irish, que tenía un récord de 10-0, a Los Ángeles sin ellos. ^{[ 185 ]} Su decisión se justificó cuando los Irish derrotaron a USC de todos modos. ^{[ 186 ]} Holtz fue nombrado entrenador nacional del año, ^{[ 174 ]} y una victoria sobre el número 3 de West Virginia en el Fiesta Bowl le dio a los Irish su undécimo campeonato nacional de todos los tiempos. ^{[ 187 ]} 1988 sigue siendo la temporada invicta y el campeonato nacional más recientes de Notre Dame. ^{[ 188 ] [ 189 ]}

En 1989 , Holtz llevó a los Irish a un récord de 12-1. Los Irish comenzaron la temporada en el Kickoff Classic en East Rutherford, Nueva Jersey , contra Virginia . ^{[ 190 ]} Los Irish ganaron por un marcador de 36-13 y ascendieron al puesto número 1 en la encuesta de AP. ^{[ 191 ]} Luego, Notre Dame, número 1 en el ranking, derrotó a Michigan, número 2 , por un marcador de 24-19. ^{[ 192 ]} Después de nueve victorias consecutivas más para comenzar la temporada 11-0, los Irish perderían contra Miami , número 7, en la última semana de la temporada, terminando la racha de 23 victorias consecutivas de Notre Dame. ^{[ 193 ]} Holtz llevaría a los Irish a una victoria en el Orange Bowl sobre Colorado , número 1 , para terminar la temporada, terminando en el puesto número 2 en la encuesta de AP detrás de Miami. ^{[ 194 ]}

Después de comenzar la temporada de 1990 con el puesto número 1 y una victoria sobre el número 4, Michigan, por un marcador de 28-24 y dos victorias más para un inicio de 3-0, los Irish sufrieron su primera derrota de la temporada, perdiendo ante Stanford por un marcador de 36-31. Los Irish volverían a ascender al puesto número 1 gracias a una victoria en casa sobre el número 2, Miami , un partido que marcó el final de la serie entre los dos hasta 2010. ^{[ 195 ]} Sin embargo, las derrotas de final de temporada ante Penn State y Colorado en el Orange Bowl eliminarían a los Irish de la contienda por el campeonato nacional. ^{[ 196 ]} Los Fighting Irish de 1991 comenzaron la temporada 8-1, pero perdieron dos partidos consecutivos por primera vez desde 1987 cuando volvieron a perder ante Penn State . Los Irish obtendrían un lugar en el Sugar Bowl en Nueva Orleans, Luisiana , donde derrotaron a Florida por un marcador de 39-28. ^{[ 197 ] [ 198 ]}

En 1992 , Notre Dame terminó con un récord de 10-1-1. Después de derrotar a Northwestern al comienzo de la temporada, ^{[ 199 ]} los Fighting Irish empataron con el número 5 Michigan , su primer empate de la era Holtz. ^{[ 200 ]} Esta temporada vio la mayor victoria de los Irish en la historia contra Purdue , una victoria de 48-0 en el Notre Dame Stadium , y un Cotton Bowl de 28-3 contra el hasta entonces invicto número 4 Texas A&M . ^{[ 201 ] [ 202 ]}

The Irish enjoyed another successful season in 1993, finishing the season at 11–1. After scoring 27 points in wins over Northwestern and #2 Michigan to start the season, the Irish defeated their next six opponents to enter a matchup with undefeated #1 Florida State 8–0 and ranked just behind the Seminoles at #2. For the first time, ESPN's College GameDay decided to make a visit to campus to host the show live on Saturday morning.^[203] In a classic, the Irish defeated the Seminoles 31–24, ascending to the #1 ranking a day later. However, a loss to #17 Boston College on a game-winning field goal as time expired by a score of 41–39 ended the Irish's national championship aspirations.^[204] The Irish would face a rematch with #6 Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl to finish the season, a game the Irish won by a score of 24–21.^[205][206] Controversially, Notre Dame finished #2 in the AP poll behind a team in Florida State it had beaten.

In 1994, Holtz led Notre Dame to a 6–5–1 record, the Irish's worst record since Holtz's first season in 1986.^[207] The team lost three of four games midseason to drop out of the rankings for the first time since 1986. The Irish would improve to 9–3 in 1995, but lost to #8 Florida State in the Orange Bowl.^[208][209] Lou Holtz's final season at Notre Dame in 1996 resulted in an 8–3 record. The season notably saw Notre Dame's first participation in the Emerald Isle Classic in Ireland, a 54–27 win over Navy, and an overtime loss to USC, snapping the Irish's 13-game non-losing streak against the Trojans.^[210][211]

La ofensiva de opción de Holtz, que ayudó a catapultar a Notre Dame a muchas victorias a finales de los 80 y principios de los 90, también ayudó a acumular clases de reclutamiento impresionantes. Durante la temporada de 1989, Holtz tenía a los siguientes futuros jugadores de la NFL en la ofensiva: QB Rick Mirer , RB Ricky Watters , RB Anthony Johnson , RB Rodney Culver , RB Dorsey Levens y WR Raghib Ismail . En 1990, agregó a RB Jeff Burris (quien más tarde se cambiaría a safety), FB Jerome Bettis y TE Irv Smith . 1991 vio las agregaciones de RB Reggie Brooks y FB Ray Zellars . 1992 vio la agregación de WR Derrick Mayes . Para 1993, agregó a FB Marc Edwards . En 1995, agregó a RB Autry Denson . Entre los drafts de la NFL de 1987 a 1995 , se seleccionaron un total de 65 jugadores de Notre Dame. ^{[ 212 ]} En general, Holtz llevó a Notre Dame a una temporada invicta, nueve partidos de tazón consecutivos del Día de Año Nuevo y a terminar entre los 10 mejores en la encuesta de AP en cinco temporadas, ^{[ 213 ]} además de supervisar la mayor parte de la racha de victorias más larga contra USC en la historia del programa (11 partidos). Holtz se retiró de Notre Dame después de la temporada de 1996, ^{[ 214 ]} pero regresó en 1999 para aceptar el puesto de entrenador en jefe en South Carolina , donde se desempeñó hasta la finalización de la temporada 2004. ^{[ 215 ] [ 216 ]}

Bob Davie, who had been Holtz's defensive coordinator from 1994 to 1996, was promoted to head coach when Holtz retired.^[217] Davie, who turned down a head coaching offer from Purdue to accept the Irish's head coaching position,^[218] was a well-respected defensive mind who had also served as defensive coordinator at Tulane and Texas A&M.^[219] Davie had also filled in as head coach for one game during the 1995 season when Lou Holtz was dealing with a health issue.^[220] One of his first major decisions was to fire long-time offensive line coach Joe Moore, who then successfully sued the university for age discrimination.^[221] On Davie's watch, the team suffered three bowl game losses (1997 Independence Bowl,^[222]1999 Gator Bowl,^[223] and 2001 Fiesta Bowl)^[224] and it failed to qualify for a bowl game in two others (1999 and 2001). The highlight of Davie's tenure was a 36–20 upset win in 1998 over #5 Michigan, the defending national champions.^[225][226]

El 17 de diciembre de 1999, la NCAA puso a Notre Dame en libertad condicional . El Comité de Infracciones de la asociación detectó dos series de violaciones. El New York Times informó que "la principal involucraba las acciones de una patrocinadora, Kimberly Dunbar, quien colmaba de regalos a los jugadores de fútbol americano con dinero que posteriormente se declaró culpable de malversación ". En la segunda serie de hechos, un jugador de fútbol americano fue acusado de intentar vender varias entradas de cortesía para un partido y de usar otras como pago de un préstamo. También se dijo que el jugador "mantenía una relación sentimental con una mujer (que no era Dunbar), una tutora a tiempo parcial de la universidad, que escribía un trabajo de investigación para otro jugador a cambio de una pequeña suma y les proporcionaba comidas, alojamiento y regalos". ^{[ 227 ]} La infracción de Dunbar comenzó mientras Lou Holtz era entrenador principal: "Según el informe del comité de la NCAA, Dunbar, la mujer en el centro de las infracciones más graves, se involucró sentimentalmente con varios jugadores de fútbol americano de Notre Dame desde junio de 1995 hasta enero de 1998 y tuvo un hijo con uno de ellos, Jarvis Edison". ^{[ 227 ]} Notre Dame fue puesta en libertad condicional durante dos años y perdió una de sus 85 becas de fútbol americano cada año en lo que el Times denominó sanciones "menores". ^{[ 227 ] [ 228 ]}

El Fiesta Bowl de 2001 fue la primera invitación de Notre Dame a la Bowl Championship Series . Los Irish perdieron por 32 puntos ante Oregon State ^{[ 229 ]} , pero terminaron en el puesto n.° 15 en la encuesta de AP, la clasificación final más alta de Davie como entrenador en jefe. A pesar de la turbulenta gestión de Davie, el nuevo director atlético Kevin White le dio al entrenador una extensión de contrato después de la temporada 2000, ^{[ 230 ]} luego vio al equipo comenzar 0-3 en 2001 , el primer inicio de tal magnitud en la historia de la universidad. ^{[ 231 ]} Decepcionada por los resultados en el campo, junto con los escándalos de Joe Moore y Kim Dunbar, la administración decidió despedir a Davie después de la temporada 2001. ^{[ 232 ]} Su récord final en Notre Dame fue de 35-25. ^{[ 233 ]}

On December 9, 2001, Notre Dame hired George O'Leary, the head coach at Georgia Tech, to replace Davie.^[234] However, while researching a story on O'Leary, New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Jim Fennell uncovered misrepresentations in O'Leary's resume that had influenced the administration's decision to hire him.^[235] The resulting media scandal embarrassed Notre Dame officials and tainted O'Leary; he resigned five days later before coaching a single practice, recruiting a single player, or hiring a single assistant coach.^[236] O'Leary's tenure is the shortest of any head coach in FBS history.^[237] O'Leary would go on to become the head football coach at the University of Central Florida.^[238]

Once again in need of a new head coach, the school turned to Tyrone Willingham, the head coach at Stanford.^[239] Willingham's hiring made him the first African American head coach in Notre Dame football history.^[240] Bringing a feeling of change and excitement to campus, Willingham led the 2002 squad to a 10–2 regular season record, including an 8–0 start with wins over #7 Michigan and #11 Florida State and a #4 ranking. This great early start, however, would be the lone highlight of Willingham's tenure, as Notre Dame finished the year with a loss to Boston College, then lopsided losses to USC and North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl.^[241] The program faltered over the next two seasons under Willingham, compiling an 11–12 record.^[242] During this time, Notre Dame lost a game by at least 30 points on five occasions. Furthermore, Willingham's 2004 recruiting class was judged by analysts to be the worst at Notre Dame in more than two decades.^[243] Citing Notre Dame's third consecutive four-touchdown loss to arch-rival USC^[244] compounded by another year of subpar recruiting efforts, the Willingham era ended on November 30, 2004 after the conclusion of the season when the university chose to terminate him and pay out the remainder of Willingham's six-year contract.^[245]

After Willingham's firing, Notre Dame initially pursued Utah head coach Urban Meyer, who had been an Irish assistant from 1996 to 2000 and had a clause in his Utah contract that stated he could take the Notre Dame head coaching job without paying a buyout.^[246][247] After Meyer accepted the Florida head coaching position and turned down the Irish,^[248]Charlie Weis left the NFL's New England Patriots, where he won three Super Bowls as offensive coordinator,^[249] to become head football coach for the Irish beginning with the 2005 season.^[250] A first-time head coach when he was hired by Notre Dame,^[251] Weis was officially introduced on December 12, 2004.^[252] Weis' hiring as the Irish's 30th head football coach made him the first Notre Dame graduate to hold the football head coaching position on a full-fledged basis since Joe Kuharich.^[253] Weis signed a six-year contract worth about $2 million annually excluding incentives.^{[254][255][256]}

To kick off his inaugural season, Weis led the Irish to back-to-back road wins over ranked teams, the first time that had been done by a Notre Dame coach since Knute Rockne. On September 25, Weis and the Irish traveled to Seattle to face Washington and former head coach Tyrone Willingham, who was hired by the Huskies to be their head coach two weeks after getting fired at Notre Dame.^[257] The Irish won by a score of 36–17.^[258] Entering the rivalry game with USC, defending national champions and owners of a 27-game winning streak, the Irish had risen to #9 in the AP Poll. In one of the most famous games in the rivalry's history, USC defeated Notre Dame 34–31. The game concluded with Trojan running back and eventual Heisman winner Reggie Bush, who had already scored three touchdowns that day, illegally pushing quarterback Matt Leinart into the end zone on the final play of the game in a play now known as the "Bush Push". The Irish won their remaining five games to earn an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. They were defeated there by the Ohio State Buckeyes 34–20^[259] to finish the season 9–3 and #9 in the AP poll, their highest final ranking since 1993. Quarterback Brady Quinn broke numerous team passing records that season and became a top Heisman Trophy contender.^[260] Wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was the team's leading receiver and also broke Notre Dame's single-season records for receiving yards and touchdowns.^[261] During the 2005 season, Notre Dame signed Weis to a big raise and ten-year contract extension that was set to keep the coach at the university through the 2015 season.^[262][263]

Weis and the Irish went into the 2006 season with a No. 2 preseason ranking in the ESPN/Coaches Poll.^[264] They finished the regular season with a 10–2 record, losing only to Michigan and USC. Notre Dame accepted a bid to the 2007 Sugar Bowl, losing to LSU 41–14. This marked their ninth consecutive postseason loss, the longest drought in NCAA history.^[265] As a result, Notre Dame dropped to #17 in the final rankings.^[266][267] In the wake of a graduating class that sent eleven players to the NFL,^[268] the 2007 season included various negative milestones: the most losses in a single year (9),^[269] two of the ten worst losses in program history (38–0 losses to both Michigan^[270] and USC),^[271] and the first 6-game losing streak for home games in ND history.^[272] The Naval Academy recorded their first win over the Irish since 1963, breaking Notre Dame's NCAA-record 43-game win streak.^[273]

In 2008, the Irish started 4–1 but completed the regular season with a 6–6 record,^[274] including a 24–23 home loss to Syracuse, the first time that Notre Dame had fallen to an eight-loss team.^[275] Quarterback Jimmy Clausen was the team's star player, completing over 60% of his passes.^[276][277] Despite speculation the university might fire Weis, the university announced that he would remain head coach.^[278] Weis's Notre Dame squad ended the season breaking the Irish's NCAA bowl losing streak by beating Hawaii 49–21 in the Hawaii Bowl.^[279] Weis entered the 2009 season with the expectation from the Notre Dame administration that his team would be in position to compete for a BCS Bowl berth.^[280] Notre Dame started the first part of the season 4–2, with close losses to Michigan and USC. Sitting at 6–2, however, Notre Dame lost to Navy for the second time in three years,^[281] which became the first loss in a four-game losing streak to finish the season. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen and wide receiver Golden Tate would forgo their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft.^[282] Weis was fired on November 30, 2009.^[283] According to his buyout provision, Weis was to be paid $6 million first and then $2.05 million annually until the contract ran out in December 2015 for a total of about $19 million.^[284] During that time, Weis made more money annually not to coach the Irish than his successor Brian Kelly earned to coach the team.^[285]

On December 10, 2009, Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly became the 31st head coach of the Fighting Irish after leading the Bearcats to a 12–0 record and BCS bowl-game berth, but he left the team before the bowl game.^[286][287] Kelly's hiring surprised very few as he was a northern Irish Catholic who was considered one of college football's rising stars.^[288] In his first season, Kelly led the Fighting Irish to an 8–5 record.^[289] Tragedy struck early in the season when Declan Sullivan, a junior working for the athletic department, died while filming a practice on a scissor lift in dangerously high winds.^[290]Dayne Crist started the season at quarterback but was injured for a second consecutive year, this time in the Tulsa game, which the Irish lost.^[291] Kelly turned to freshman quarterback Tommy Rees, who led the Irish to victories in the last three games against #15 Utah, Army in Yankee Stadium, and breaking an eight-year losing streak to USC in the LA Coliseum. Kelly guided the Irish to a 33–17 win over Miami (FL) in the 2010 Sun Bowl to finish 2010 with an 8–5 record.^[292] With wideout Michael Floyd returning for his senior season and an outstanding recruiting class that included several highly touted defensive linemen,^[293] Kelly and the Irish looked to improve on their 8–5 record from the prior year. However, an early season upset to a Skip Holtz-led South Florida team and a last-second loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor, games in which the Irish committed 10 total turnovers, left the Irish at 0–2 to start the season. The Irish bounced back to beat #15 Michigan State and had two 4-game winning streaks, with the only loss during that stretch coming at the hands of USC.^[294] The Irish also broke Navy's 2-game winning streak over Notre Dame. Notre Dame lost 18–14 to Florida State in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, concluding the 2011 campaign with an 8–5 record overall, identical to the 2010 season.^[295] In the team's losses, multiple turnovers from the quarterback position were often the culprit, and as a whole turnovers at critical times in the game often derailed potential Irish comebacks.

On September 12, 2012, during the football program's 125th season, Notre Dame announced that it would leave the Big East Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference, excluding the football and hockey programs.^[296] This move became official on July 1, 2013. While the Fighting Irish football team remained an FBS independent, it agreed to play five games per season against ACC teams starting with the 2014 football season. In return, Notre Dame became eligible to participate in the ACC's sub-BCS level bowl arrangements.^[297]

The 2012 season was another entry in historic third seasons for Notre Dame head coaches. The Irish began the season 7–0, including wins over ranked rivals in Michigan State, Michigan, and Stanford. The game against the Cardinal required a goal-line stand against running back Stepfan Taylor in overtime to preserve the win for the Irish.^[298] The season's signature win came at #8 Oklahoma with ESPN's College GameDay in town. On November 18, after a loss by #1 Oregon, Notre Dame became ranked #1 in the nation in both the AP and Coaches' polls after reaching 11–0 during the regular season for the first time since 1993, also ranking #1 in the BCS standings for the first time in the 14-year history of the selection system.^[299] After defeating USC on November 24,^[300] Notre Dame concluded its first 12–0 regular season, and the Irish were soon formally named to appear in the BCS National Championship Game for the first time. In that game, on January 7, 2013, the Irish lost to Alabama42–14.^[301] The strength of the 2012 Fighting Irish was its defense, captained by senior leader Manti Te'o, who broke the school record for interceptions by a linebacker with 7 and finished second to Johnny Manziel in Heisman Trophy voting.

Coming off the previous year's national title game appearance, the Fighting Irish were dealt a blow when 2012 starting quarterback, Everett Golson, was suspended from the University due to an academic violation.^[302] Senior Tommy Rees then took over. Notre Dame's 2013 season ended with a record of 9–4,^[303] a victory over Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl, and a #20 AP poll ranking.^[304][305] The 2014 season started off with 6 straight victories and a #5 national ranking heading into a showdown with #2 Florida State in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU won that game 31–27, on a controversial offensive pass interference call that brought back a last-second Notre Dame touchdown. The Fighting Irish bounced back with a win against Navy before dropping their final 4 games of the season. They did win the Music City Bowl by defeating the LSU Tigers and finished the season at an 8–5 record.^[306]

The 2015 Fighting Irish began its season with another new offensive coordinator, Mike Sanford Jr.^[307] Led for most of the year by sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer, the Irish had fourteen plays of over 50 yards during the season, which was a school record, including two touchdowns of over 90 yards (a 91-yard touchdown run by C. J. Prosise and a 98-yard touchdown run by Josh Adams). The Irish only had two in the previous 126 years of Notre Dame football. They finished the regular season averaging 34 points per game, including a 62-point effort against UMass, the most points in a game since 1996. The Irish began the season 10–1 and were in position for a College Football Playoff appearance, but lost a last-second game to Stanford to finish with a 10–2 record and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.^[308] Star linebacker Jaylon Smith was injured early in the game which became a loss to Ohio State.^[309] The 2016 season ended with a 4–8 record, Brian Kelly's worst win–loss record at Notre Dame. The tone for the season was set early, with a heartbreaking double overtime loss to Texas in the season opener.^[310] Just 4 games into the season, Brian Kelly fired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.^[311] At the end of the season, starting quarterback DeShone Kizer declared for the NFL draft^[312] and backup quarterback Malik Zaire announced he would be transferring in the winter after graduation.^[313][314] Amidst speculation that Kelly's job was in jeopardy and that Kelly was looking to leave Notre Dame, athletics director Jack Swarbrick announced that Kelly would return for the 2017 season.^[315]

The 2017 season was one of Kelly's strongest seasons at ND. An early one-point loss to #2 Georgia was the only blemish on an 8-1 start, keyed by a 49-14 blowout over rival USC. The tough running of running back Josh Adams behind an experienced and talented offensive line, which included future top-10 picks Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey and won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in that nation, allowed Notre Dame to string together 6 consecutive 20+ point victories. However, when #3 Notre Dame visited #7 Miami in South Florida on November 7, an embarrassing 41-8 loss effectively ended the Irish hopes of a playoff run. They ended the season with a win over LSU in the Music City Bowl.^[316] The Irish opened the 2018 season at home against Michigan and won, 24–17.^[317] After benching quarterback Brandon Wimbush in favor of Ian Book, the Irish then won the remainder of their regular season games, including victories over #7 Stanford, #24 Virginia Tech, #12 Syracuse, and Northwestern.^[318] This led to Notre Dame's first undefeated regular season since 2012.^[319] They were ranked #3 in the nation by the College Football Playoff committee and selected to play in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against Clemson.^[320] Notre Dame's undefeated streak came to an end after losing to the eventual national champions 30–3 to finish the season at 12–1.^[321] Kelly was named AP Coach of the Year and Home Depot Coach of the Year for the 2018 season.^[322][323]

Kelly and the Fighting Irish started off the 2019 season with a #9 ranking in the AP Poll. Notre Dame won their first two games before dropping a 23–17 result to #3 Georgia. Notre Dame won their next three games before dropping a 45–14 game to #19 Michigan. Notre Dame closed out the regular season with victories in their last five games, followed by a win in the Camping World Bowl 33–9 over Iowa State.^[324]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of regular season scheduled games, Notre Dame joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in football for a single season in 2020 and played a full slate of conference matches.^[325] The Irish won all ten of their games, including a mid-season contest against perennial conference power and top-ranked Clemson. The Fighting Irish defeated the Tigers 47–40 in double overtime. However, Clemson defeated the Irish in a rematch in the ACC Championship Game 34–10. Notre Dame qualified for the College Football Playoff as the #4 seed.^[326] In the College Football Playoff Semifinals against Alabama at the Rose Bowl, Notre Dame lost 31–14 to finish with a 10–2 record.^[327] In what would become Kelly's final season as head coach in 2021, the Fighting Irish were ranked #9 to begin the season, but struggled in their first two games, beating Florida State 41–38 and Toledo 32–29. Following a 24–13 loss to #7 Cincinnati, Kelly helped lead the Fighting Irish to a seven-game winning streak to finish the regular season 11–1 and earn a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.^[328]

On November 29, 2021, Kelly resigned as Notre Dame head coach to accept a ten-year, $95 million contract offer to become head coach at LSU.^[329] In so doing, Kelly became the first Irish head coach since Thomas A. Barry in 1907 to leave Notre Dame for another coaching job.^[330] Kelly left the Irish as the program's all-time winningest head coach.^[331][332]

On December 3, 2021, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman was promoted to the head coaching position to replace Brian Kelly, becoming the 32nd head coach in program history.^[333][334] The second African American head coach in the history of the Irish football program, Freeman signed a five-year contract worth $4 million annually excluding incentives.^{[335][336][337]} Freeman took control immediately, coaching the Irish in their Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State.^[338][339]

Freeman opened the 2022 season with losses to Ohio State (his alma mater) and Marshall, thus becoming first head coach in Notre Dame history to start his tenure with three losses.^[340] He collected his first win the following week against California.^[341][342] Freeman's Irish would go on to finish the regular season ranked 19th with a record of 8-4, including an upset win over #5 Clemson.^[343][344] They were awarded a berth in the Gator Bowl where they defeated South Carolina 45–38.^[345][346] In 2023, Freeman guided Notre Dame to a 10-win season. Safety Xavier Watts received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for college football's best defensive player and the team earned victories over #17 Duke (and future Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard), #10 USC, and #19 Oregon State in the Sun Bowl. Notre Dame finished the year ranked #14 in the final AP Top 25.

Freeman and the Fighting Irish played their first home game of the 2024 season against Northern Illinois as the #5 ranked team in the AP Top 25 and as a 28.5-point favorite to win. They fell to the Huskies 16-14, with quarterback Riley Leonard throwing two interceptions and the team giving up two blocked field goals. It was the second early-season home loss for the Irish against a heavy underdog in three years following the 2022 loss to Marshall, the first-ever win by a Mid-American Conference football program against a top 5 team, the first-ever Huskie win against a top 10 team, and one of the largest point-spread upsets in modern college football.^[347] Despite the upset, the Irish won every remaining game to complete the regular season 11-1 and hosted a home game in the first year of the expanded college football playoffs in which they beat #10 Indiana 27-17. They next beat the SEC champion #2 Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl by a score of 23-10, earning the program's first major bowl win since the 1993 season and followed it with a 27-24 win over #6 Penn State in the Orange Bowl to advance to the 2025 National Championship Game, their first appearance in the title game since 2012. The Irish fell short of winning a national championship as they were defeated by Ohio State by a score of 34-23.^[348] Watts was voted a consensus All-American at safety for the second consecutive year,^[349] while Freeman won the Dodd ^[350] and the Bear Bryant^[351] trophies for national coach of the year.

The 2025 Irish opened the season expecting to build on the previous season's run to the national championship game but suffered close losses to eventual College Football Playoff participants Miami and Texas A&M in the first two games of the season by just 4 points combined. Despite 10 consecutive wins to finish the season 10–2, a Heisman-finalist season from running back Jeremiyah Love, and a top-10 ranking in every edition of the CFP rankings, the Irish were left out of the playoff in favor of Miami and Alabama. The Irish and the Hurricanes flipped spots despite neither playing on championship weekend and Alabama was put in the playoffs over Notre Dame despite having 3 losses, one of them to 5-7 Florida State, who lost to 3 teams that Notre Dame defeated soundly. Notre Dame elected to decline its invitation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl as a result.^[352] Love won the Doak Walker Award^[353] and was named a unanimous All-American, as was cornerback Leonard Moore.^[354]

• Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 by the Dickinson System in 1924, 1929, and 1930 and awarded the Rissman Trophy.^[356]Knute Rockne's teams gained permanent possession of this national championship trophy by winning it three times in ten years.^[356]
• Notre Dame has won eight wire servicenational championships awarded by the AP Poll or Coaches Poll, second most in the post-1936 poll era.^[357]

• The three Dickinson System and eight wire service national championships make a total of 11, but Notre Dame is often credited with additional national championships. The 1938, 1953, and 1964 seasons are part of the reason for the discrepancy. In the 1938 season, 8–1 Notre Dame was awarded the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy and the national championship by the Dickinson System, while TCU (which finished 11–0) was awarded the championship by the Associated Press. In the 1953 season, an undefeated Notre Dame team (9–0–1) was named national champion by almost every major selector except the AP and UPI (coaches') polls,^[358] where the Irish finished second in both to 10–1 Maryland. In 1964 Notre Dame was named national champions by the National Football Foundation and awarded the MacArthur Bowl. As Notre Dame has a policy of only recognizing AP and Coaches' Poll national championships post-1936, the school does not officially recognize the 1938, 1953, or 1964 national championships.^[358]
• Beyond their eleven claimed national championships, Notre Dame has been named national champion by at least one NCAA-designated "major selector" in an additional eleven seasons: 1919, 1920, 1927, 1938, 1953, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1989, 1993, and 2012.^[359][360]

Notre Dame's 11 claimed national championships are:

Following its appearance in the 1925 Rose Bowl, Notre Dame did not play in a post-season game for 44 consecutive years (1925–1968), including after many of the team's most successful seasons from the Rockne era in the 1920s and the Leahy era in the 1940s. The university's stated reasons for its self-imposed hiatus were that bowl games were "glorified exhibitions" that played no part in national championship selections and that they extended the season too far to the detriment of players' academic progress.^[361]

Notre Dame has made 874 appearances in the Associated Press poll over 71 seasons. Notre Dame has spent 591 weeks in the Top 10, 318 weeks in the Top 5, and 98 weeks at No. 1. Notre Dame has finished the year ranked in the final Associated Press poll of the season 56 times:

• Bonniwell Trophy - National Champions as awarded by the Veteran Athletes of Philadelphia

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 1924, 1929, 1930

• Rissman Trophy - Dickinson System National Champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 1924, 1929, 1930

Notre Dame retained permanent ownership of the traveling Rissman Trophy following their third national championship.

• Albert Russel Erskine Trophy - National Champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 1929, 1930

• Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy - Dickinson System National Champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 1938

• Litkenhous Trophy^[362] - Litkenhous Ratings National Champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 1943, 1946, 1949,^[363] 1953

• MacArthur Bowl - NFF National Champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 1964, 1966‡, 1973, 1977, 1988

‡ - co-champions with Michigan State

• Howard Jones Memorial Trophy — National Champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 1964, 1966‡

‡ - co-champions with Michigan State

• Grantland Rice Trophy - FWAA National Champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988^[364]

• ACFF Trophy – Association of College Football Fans national champions

Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 1993^[365]

• The Joe Moore Award

Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 2017^[366]

• As of 2023, Notre Dame has the fourth-highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I FBS (I-A) history (.730) (minimum 100 games of football).^[367]
• As of 2023, Notre Dame has produced the most players drafted into the National Football League of any program in the country. As of the 2023 NFL draft, 532 players have been drafted.^[368]
• As of 2023, Notre Dame is fourth in wins among Division I-A/FBS programs (948), trailing Ohio State (964), Alabama (965), and Michigan (1004).^[369]
• As of 2023, Notre Dame has the second-fewest losses (338) of any NCAA Division I program that has been playing football for more than 100 years, behind Alabama (337).^[367]
• As of 2023, Notre Dame has had 112 winning seasons in 137 years of football and only 15 losing seasons (including the record for the 2012-2013 season, whose wins were retroactively stripped by the NCAA).^[370]
• Notre Dame is one of three football programs with at least seven individual Heisman Trophy winners (shares the distinction with Oklahoma (seven), and USC (eight); Ohio State has seven Heisman Trophies that were won by six players).
• As of 2014, Notre Dame has produced more 1st Team All-Americans (188), consensus All-Americans (81 players on 99 selections) and unanimous All-Americans (33) in football than any other college program.^[371][372]
• Notre Dame is represented by 50 players and coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, the most of any university.^[373][374]
• 12 former players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, tied with USC.
• Helped by its status as a highly regarded academic institution (ranked 19th by US News & World Report),^[375] Notre Dame is second only to Nebraska in Academic All-Americans (66).
• Notre Dame holds the NCAA record for Most consecutive wins over one opponent, beating the US Naval Academy (USNA) 43 times in a row before falling to them in 2007.^[376]
• The football program also ended the Oklahoma Sooners' NCAA record winning streak of 47 games in 1957. Coincidentally, Oklahoma's 28–21 loss to Notre Dame to open the 1953 season was the last loss before the beginning of the streak.^[377]
• Notre Dame has had 13 undefeated seasons and 11 others with at most one loss or tie.
• Notre Dame is 3–3–1 in games where the national title winners from the previous two years have met in a regular season game. There have only been 13 of these games played in college football history. Notre Dame has played in 7 of the 13 games:
  • 1945 – Army def. Notre Dame 48–0
  • 1947 – Notre Dame def. Army 27–7
  • 1968 – Notre Dame tied USC 21–21
  • 1974 – USC def. Notre Dame 55–24
  • 1978 – Notre Dame def. Pitt 26–17
  • 1989 – Miami def. Notre Dame 27–10
  • 1990 – Notre Dame def. Miami 29–20
• Notre Dame is one of only two Catholic universities that field a team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the other being Boston College. This distinction has resulted in what some have termed the Holy War rivalry.

Notre Dame has participated in eleven "No. 1 vs No. 2" matchups since the AP poll began in 1936.^[378] They have a record of 5–3–2 in such games, with a 4–1–1 record as the No. 1 team in such matchups. Those games include:

Notre Dame has played in many regular season games that have been widely regarded by both the media^[379] and sports historians^[380] as historic or famous games. Notre Dame has played in many games labeled "Game of the Century" as well as several No. 1 vs No. 2 matchups.^[381]

• 1913 Notre Dame vs. Army ("The Forward Pass")^[382]
• 1935 Notre Dame vs. Ohio State ("Game of the Century")^{[380][383][384]}
• 1946 Army vs. Notre Dame ("Game of the Century")^[385]
• 1957 Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma (end of Oklahoma's NCAA record 47 game win streak)^[377][386]
• 1966 Notre Dame vs. Michigan St. ("Game of the Century")^[387][388]
• 1988 Notre Dame vs. Miami ("Catholics vs. Convicts")^{[380][389][390]}
• 1993 Florida St. vs. Notre Dame ("Game of the Century")^[391]
• 2005 USC vs. Notre Dame ("Bush Push" game)^[379]
• 2007 Navy vs. Notre Dame (Navy ends 43-year losing streak to Notre Dame, the longest in NCAA history between annual opponents)^[392]

Notre Dame has also played in several bowl games considered by many sportswriters to be among the best bowl games played:^[393][394]

• 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic vs. Texas
• 1973 Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama^[380][388]
• 1979 Cotton Bowl Classic vs. Houston ("Chicken Soup Game")^[380]

Notre Dame's all-time record after the 2023 season stands at 948 wins, 338 losses, and 42 ties.

† George O'Leary did not coach a single practice or game, resigning five days after being hired for misrepresenting his academic credentials.‡ Kent Baer served as interim head coach for one game at the 2004 Insight Bowl after Tyrone Willingham was fired.

Notre Dame has made 45 bowl game appearances, winning 23 and losing 21, with one game vacated.^[396] After an initial appearance in a postseason contest in the 1925 Rose Bowl, the Fighting Irish refused to participate in bowl games for more than four decades;^[397] Sports Illustrated's Dan Jenkins speculated that Notre Dame might have gone to as many as twenty bowl games during the self-imposed forty-five-year hiatus.^[397] From 1994 to the 2006 football seasons, Notre Dame lost 9 consecutive bowl games, tied with Northwestern for the most in NCAA history. That streak ended with a 49–21 win over Hawaii in the 2008 Hawaii Bowl. In the process, Notre Dame scored its highest point total in postseason play. The record of 9 consecutive bowl losses was later tied by Northwestern in 2011, then that streak was snapped a year later. The Fighting Irish suffered in a multi-decade skid with an 0-8 record in BCS/Playoff games and an 0-10 record in major bowl games between 1994 and 2025. The losing streak would come to an end when Notre Dame beat Georgia in the 2025 Sugar Bowl. As of 2024, Notre Dame has said they will not list CFP first round games under their bowl games. They will “have two sub-categories: bowl record and playoff record, with the latter including CFP first-round games. Bowl games played in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the CFP would count toward both records.”^[398]

Between 2009 and 2016, and resuming again in 2018, Notre Dame has hosted an annual off-site home football game known as the Shamrock Series. The series promotes Notre Dame's athletic and academic brand, and has brought the Fighting Irish to San Antonio, New York, Greater Washington, D.C., Chicago, Indianapolis, Boston and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Each game in the series also features a unique alternate uniform for the Notre Dame team. Notre Dame has yet to lose a game in the Shamrock Series with a record of 11–0 (including the later-vacated win over Arizona State in the 2013 season).

Prior to the 2012 season, Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick announced at a news conference of plans to continue the series through 2016. He confirmed after his news conference that New York is expected to fall in that rotation and then continue to be the one consistently repeating venue for Shamrock Series games. While the Shamrock Series was not held in 2017 or 2023, Notre Dame still featured a unique alternate uniform at one game each of those years, both times against Navy (at Notre Dame in 2017 and in Dublin, Ireland in 2023).^[399][400]

One of the unique aspects of the Shamrock Series is its inclusion of academic and other non-football activities in the area of that year's host city the days and hours leading up to the game, which include pep rallies, drummers' circles, and academic lectures.^{[401][402][403]}

The Shamrock Series held in Las Vegas in 2022 was the largest crowd for a college athletic event in Nevada history.^[404]

Siete jugadores de fútbol americano de Notre Dame han ganado el Trofeo Heisman, lo que los empata con la Universidad de Oklahoma como la segunda universidad con más trofeos en esta categoría. ( Ohio State también tiene siete trofeos ganados por solo seis jugadores, mientras que USC tiene la mayor cantidad de ganadores con ocho).

Votación del Trofeo Heisman: ^{[ 405 ]}

• Trofeo Grantland Rice

Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988 ^{[ 364 ]}

• Premio Joe Moore

Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 2017 ^{[ 366 ]}

50 exjugadores y 6 entrenadores de Notre Dame han sido incorporados al Salón de la Fama del Fútbol Americano Universitario, ubicado en Atlanta, Georgia . ^{[ 373 ]} Notre Dame lidera a todas las universidades en jugadores incorporados.

La camiseta local de Notre Dame es azul marino con números blancos, contorno dorado y un pequeño logotipo entrelazado "ND" en cada manga. La camiseta visitante es blanca con números azul marino, contorno dorado y el logotipo entrelazado "ND" en las mangas. Estos uniformes fueron introducidos por Lou Holtz en 1986 y se mantuvieron durante las gestiones de Bob Davie (1997-2001) y Tyrone Willingham (2002-2004). En 2005, Charlie Weis eliminó el logotipo entrelazado "ND" de las mangas, reemplazándolo con el número del jugador, siendo la primera vez que los Irish usaban números de televisión desde 1986, cuando se ubicaban en los hombros. Estas camisetas se mantuvieron durante toda la gestión de Weis. Cuando Brian Kelly sucedió a Weis en 2010, el logotipo entrelazado "ND" regresó a las mangas y se ha mantenido desde entonces.

Tradicionalmente, los irlandeses no han usado los nombres de los jugadores en sus camisetas durante los partidos de temporada regular, pero sí los incluyeron durante las etapas de los entrenadores Dan Devine (1975-80) y Gerry Faust (1981-85). Cuando Notre Dame apareció en el Cotton Bowl Classic de 1970 , su primer partido de tazón en 45 años, Ara Parseghian hizo que se colocaran los nombres de los jugadores en la parte posterior de las camisetas, una tradición que se mantuvo para otras cuatro apariciones en tazones bajo la dirección de Parseghian. Holtz, Davie, Willingham y Weis (en el Fiesta Bowl de 2006 y el Sugar Bowl de 2007 ) no se adhirieron a esta tradición para los partidos de tazón que entrenaron, pero regresó con Weis para el Hawaii Bowl de 2008 y ha sido continuada por Kelly y Marcus Freeman.

Los cascos de Notre Dame son de color dorado macizo con rejillas grises; el dorado simboliza la "Cúpula Dorada" del edificio administrativo de la universidad. La tradición de Notre Dame de que los estudiantes encargados del equipo pintaran con aerosol los cascos antes de cada partido terminó en 2011 cuando el personal de equipamiento de fútbol americano, junto con el director deportivo de Notre Dame, Jack Swarbrick, y el entrenador principal, Brian Kelly, subcontrataron el proceso de pintura a Hydro Graphics Inc.

Durante la gestión de Gerry Faust (1981-1985), las camisetas azules de Notre Dame pasaron del tradicional azul marino (aunque Notre Dame usó camisetas verdes de forma permanente entre el partido de 1977 contra USC y el final de la temporada de 1980 ) al azul rey con franjas doradas y blancas en las mangas. Las camisetas azul marino regresaron para la temporada de 1984 y se han mantenido hasta la temporada de 2024.

No uniform numbers have been retired by Notre Dame. Upon being issued a number, each player is given a card that lists some of the more famous players who have worn that particular number. An examples is number 3, which was worn by Ralph Guglielmi, George Izo, Daryle Lamonica, Coley O'Brien, Joe Montana, Michael Floyd, Rick Mirer and Ron Powlus, among others. Number 5 is also notable, as it is the only number to be worn by one of the so-called "Four Horsemen" (Elmer Layden), a Heisman Trophy winner (Paul Hornung), and a national championship-winning quarterback (Terry Hanratty).^[439] Number 7 has been worn by such Irish greats as 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, 1970 Heisman runner-up Joe Theismann, Steve Beuerlein, Jimmy Clausen, and Jarious Jackson.^[439]

In 2011, both Michigan and Notre Dame wore throwback uniforms in their game against each other. For each Shamrock Series game, Notre Dame wears specially designed helmets, jerseys, and pants.

Champion supplied football jerseys for Notre Dame for over 50 years until the Irish switched to Adidas in 2001. On July 1, 2014, the Notre Dame athletic department began wearing uniforms and footwear supplied by Under Armour.

Over the years, Notre Dame has occasionally worn green instead of blue as its home jersey, sometimes adopting the jersey for an entire season – or more – at a time. Notre Dame is confirmed to have worn green as far back as 1926 against Penn State, and in 1942 they officially became an alternate color for the team.^[440]

Actualmente, Notre Dame reserva sus camisetas verdes para ocasiones especiales. A veces, en tales ocasiones, los Irish salen al campo para calentar vestidos de azul, solo para cambiarse a verde cuando regresan al vestuario antes del inicio del partido. Esta tradición la inició Dan Devine en 1977 antes del partido contra USC. Notre Dame también es conocido por cambiarse de camiseta en el medio tiempo, como durante el partido contra USC de 1985 y en la derrota contra Iowa, liderado por Nile Kinnick, en 1939, aunque esto fue para ayudar a evitar confusiones entre sus uniformes azul marino y los negros de Iowa. El diseño actual de la camiseta es verde kelly con números dorados y contorno blanco. Para el partido contra Army de 2006, el entrenador Charlie Weis sacó las camisetas verdes como recompensa a sus jugadores veteranos y en un intento de poner fin a la racha de derrotas de los Irish cuando vestían de verde. Notre Dame usó camisetas verdes retro en 2007 contra USC en honor al 30 aniversario del equipo campeón nacional de 1977, pero perdió el partido 38-0. ^{[ 441 ]} Hasta 2023, el récord de Notre Dame con camisetas verdes es de 42-15-1, desde 1975. ^{[ 440 ]}

El 4 de octubre de 2025, los irlandeses combinaron camisetas verdes con pantalones verdes, derrotando a Boise State.

En al menos una ocasión (el Sugar Bowl de 1992), Notre Dame ha usado una variante de visitante de la camiseta, una camiseta blanca con números verdes.

El Estadio Notre Dame es el estadio local del equipo de fútbol americano de la Universidad de Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Ubicado en la parte sureste del campus de la universidad en Notre Dame, Indiana, y con una capacidad para 77,622 espectadores, el Estadio Notre Dame es uno de los recintos más renombrados del fútbol americano universitario. ^{[ 442 ]} The Sporting News lo clasifica como el número 2 en su lista de "Catedrales del Fútbol Americano Universitario". ^{[ 443 ]} y la experiencia en el estadio evoca una sensación más tradicional. El Estadio Notre Dame se utiliza para actividades relacionadas con el fútbol americano y para la ceremonia de graduación (desde 2010). El Estadio Notre Dame no tuvo iluminación permanente hasta el proyecto de expansión en 1997. NBC pagó por la iluminación, ya que ha televisado todos los partidos de fútbol americano de Notre Dame como local desde 1991. El 12 de abril de 2014, se anunció durante el partido anual de primavera Blue-Gold que una superficie sintética FieldTurf reemplazaría el campo de césped después del fin de semana de la ceremonia de graduación de 2014. En noviembre de 2014, la Universidad de Notre Dame emprendió un proyecto de ampliación del estadio de 400 millones de dólares, denominado Proyecto Campus Crossroads, que se completó a tiempo para la temporada de 2017.

El Cartier Field fue el campo de juego original de los Fighting Irish. En 1930, fue reemplazado por el Notre Dame Stadium, debido a la creciente popularidad del fútbol americano de Notre Dame.

Known by fans as "The Gug" (pronounced "goog"), The Guglielmino Athletics Complex is Notre Dame's football headquarters. The Gug houses the offices for all team staff members, an auditorium, a weight room, a training room, the equipment room, the practice locker room, a brand new napping room, and various other spaces for the football team to utilize. The complex was underwritten by Don F. Guglielmino and his family.

The indoor practice facility has a synthetic turf field and a video board at midfield for replay and graphics. On the second level of the facility, there is a 1,600-square-foot recruiting lounge. In all, the facility totals 111,400 square feet, and the ceiling is 95 feet at its peak.

Notre Dame has rivalries with several universities. Although the Fighting Irish compete as an independent, they play a national schedule that includes annual or otherwise regularly scheduled rivalry games. Army, Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State, Navy, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Stanford, and USC are among Notre Dame's rivals.

Notre Dame and USC have played yearly since 1926 other than a three-year pause during World War II and a one-year pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[444] The series will go on pause after the 2025 season, with Notre Dame leading the series 51-37-5.^[444]

USC es el principal rival de Notre Dame, y las escuelas compiten anualmente por el Jeweled Shillelagh . La rivalidad ha producido 39 campeonatos nacionales , ^{[ 445 ] : 113–118} 15 ganadores del Trofeo Heisman , ^{[ 446 ]} y 184 All-Americans por consenso hasta la temporada 2021. ^{[ 447 ]} Se considera una de las rivalidades más prominentes en el fútbol americano universitario, ^{[ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ]} y se ha llamado la mayor rivalidad no dictada por la afiliación a la conferencia o la geografía. ^{[ 448 ]} Los juegos notables en la serie incluyen el juego de la "Camiseta Verde" de 1977 y el juego del "Empuje de Bush" de 2005. Hasta la temporada 2025, Notre Dame lidera la serie de todos los tiempos 51–37–5 y la serie de trofeos 36–30–3. ^{[ 449 ]}

Notre Dame y los Miami Hurricanes se enfrentaron por primera vez durante la temporada de fútbol americano universitario de 1955. [ ^{450 ] Se} enfrentaron tres veces durante la década de 1960 (1960, 1965 y 1967) y continuaron jugando entre sí anualmente desde 1971 hasta 1990 (excepto en 1986). Notre Dame dominó consistentemente la serie en la década de 1970, pero en la década de 1980, Miami comenzó a dominar a medida que la rivalidad, antes dócil, se intensificó significativamente. Ambos equipos fueron contendientes nacionales en la última parte de la década, y ambos equipos se costaron mutuamente al menos un campeonato nacional. Las hostilidades se avivaron cuando los Hurricanes aplastaron a los Fighting Irish en el último partido de la temporada de 1985 58-7, y Miami fue ampliamente acusado de inflar el marcador en la segunda mitad. La rivalidad acaparó la atención nacional y ambos equipos disputaron sus partidos más famosos entre 1988 y 1990. El encuentro conocido como "Católicos contra Convictos" en Indiana fue ganado por los Fighting Irish por 31-30. Al año siguiente, Miami puso fin a la racha de 23 victorias consecutivas de Notre Dame con un triunfo de 27-10. La rivalidad concluyó después de que los Fighting Irish frustraran las esperanzas del número 2, Miami, de revalidar su título nacional con una victoria de 29-20 en Indiana.

Los dos equipos se enfrentaron en el partido inaugural de la temporada 2025 en el Hard Rock Stadium , con victoria de Miami por 27-24. ^{[ 451 ]} Esta victoria resultó decisiva, ya que el Comité de Playoffs de Fútbol Americano Universitario dictaminó que “La única métrica a la que podíamos recurrir era el enfrentamiento directo. Les pedimos a los miembros del comité que volvieran a ver ese partido entre Miami y Notre Dame”, lo que permitió a Miami acceder al décimo y último puesto de comodín para los Playoffs de Fútbol Americano Universitario, donde llegarían al partido por el Campeonato Nacional. Esto llevó a Notre Dame DB a exclamar que los Irish estaban en una “gira de venganza” en 2026, con el encuentro programado entre ambos equipos en noviembre.

También se enfrentarán en fechas aún por programar en las temporadas 2031, 2032, 2034 y 2037. ^{[ 452 ]}

El primer encuentro entre Notre Dame y Michigan fue en 1887, el primer partido oficial de fútbol americano en la historia de Notre Dame. ^{[ 453 ]} Las dos universidades se han enfrentado 44 veces en total, el último encuentro fue en 2019. Hasta la temporada 2021, ambas universidades se encuentran entre las cinco mejores en porcentaje de victorias de todos los tiempos en la División I, con Notre Dame en cuarto lugar y Michigan en tercero. Michigan lidera la serie 25-18-1.

En su primer encuentro en 1897, Notre Dame y Michigan State compiten por el Trofeo Megáfono. Los dos equipos se enfrentaron en 64 de las 70 temporadas entre 1948 y 2017, pero no se han vuelto a encontrar desde entonces. Su próximo partido programado es en 2026. ^{[ 454 ]} Entre los partidos más destacados de la serie se encuentra el "Partido del Siglo" de 1966. Hasta la temporada 2023, Notre Dame lidera la serie histórica con un marcador de 48-28-1 y la serie por el trofeo con 33-27-1. ^{[ 455 ]}

Navy y Notre Dame jugaron 93 partidos sin interrupción desde 1927 hasta 2019. Notre Dame tuvo una racha de 43 victorias consecutivas durante este período, la racha más larga de un equipo sobre otro en el fútbol americano de la División IA, que terminó en 2007. ^{[ 456 ]} Si bien el partido de 2020 fue cancelado debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, la serie se reanudó en 2021. Hasta la temporada 2024, Notre Dame lidera la serie 83-13-1. ^{[ 457 ]}

Debido a su larga historia, el equipo de fútbol americano Fighting Irish tiene una serie de tradiciones únicas de Notre Dame. Algunas de ellas son:

• The tradition of having 23.9 karat gold in the helmet paint continues, with the painting process provided by Hydro Graphics, Inc. and no longer by student managers. The gold particles that are used on the helmet were collected from the re-gilding on the Notre Dame dome in 2007. During the 2011 season, however, a new helmet paint scheme was introduced. While retaining the basic gold helmet and gray facemask look, the new gold is much more reflective than the old; there have already been several variations of this new "gold chrome" look, including brick and fish-scale texturing.^[388]
• Formerly, prior to the start of the game, the team attended Mass in semi-formal attire at the Sacred Heart Basilica. At the conclusion of Mass, fans formed a line that the team walked through from the chapel to the stadium.^[458] However, in 2011 the team changed its movements prior the game, instead taking buses back to Guglielmino Athletics Complex for final meetings.^[459] In 2013, Mass was moved to Friday night; as a result, the walk now originates from the Athletics complex.^[460] In 2022, Coach Freeman announced that the tradition of Mass before home games would return.^[461]

• Earlier on game day, the Band of the Fighting Irish trumpet section plays Notre Dame, Our Mother & the Notre Dame victory march under the Golden Dome, with visitors standing at the bottom of the rotunda, and behind the band members on each upper floor.^[462]
• Coming out of the locker room, players slap the famous "Play Like a Champion Today" sign. This sign originated in 1986 when head coach Lou Holtz stumbled across a black and white photo of a similar sign and wanted one for his own players.^[463]
• Prior to the start of the game, with between 15 and 30 seconds left on the pregame clock, a clip of Cathy Richardson singing "Here Come The Irish" is played, followed up by I'm Shipping Up To Boston, which continues to play until the football is kicked off.^[464]
• Between the third and fourth quarters of home games, the Notre Dame Marching Band plays the finale to the 1812 Overture, as the crowd reacts with a synchronized waving of arms, with their fingers in the shape of the current coach's first initial. As of 2023, this is an "F" for Marcus Freeman.
• A partir de 1960, el sargento Tim McCarthy de la Policía Estatal de Indiana leía un anuncio de seguridad vial a la multitud durante el cuarto cuarto. Cuando el sargento McCarthy comenzaba su anuncio, la multitud guardaba silencio para escuchar su mensaje, que invariablemente terminaba con un juego de palabras. ^{[ 465 ] [ 466 ]} El sargento McCarthy se retiró de este servicio en la temporada 2015 después de 55 años de mensajes favoritos de los aficionados. Fue homenajeado en el campo el 26 de septiembre de 2015, para dar su último discurso en persona en el que repitió el mismo anuncio que hizo en su primer día de juego. ^{[ 467 ]} Murió el 1 de octubre de 2020. ^{[ 468 ]}
• Al finalizar cada partido en casa, el equipo se vuelve hacia la sección de estudiantes para saludarlos levantando sus cascos. Lo hacen después de una victoria o después de una derrota. ^{[ 458 ]} Luego, la banda toca el himno universitario, "Notre Dame, Our Mother". Quienes se quedan se toman de los brazos y cantan la letra.

Desde que la NFL comenzó a reclutar jugadores en 1936, 495 jugadores de fútbol americano de Notre Dame han sido seleccionados por equipos de la NFL. Además, Notre Dame ha tenido 65 jugadores seleccionados en la primera ronda del draft de la NFL, incluyendo cinco selecciones número uno en general. De los 46 Super Bowls disputados, hasta 2012, solo 14 equipos han ganado el evento sin un jugador irlandés en la plantilla. ^{[ 469 ]} Mirando las plantillas de ambos equipos participantes, solo ha habido cinco Super Bowls que no presentaron al menos un ex jugador de Notre Dame en la plantilla de ninguno de los equipos: Denver vs. Atlanta, 1999; Dallas vs. Buffalo, 1994; Washington vs. Denver, 1988; Dallas vs. Denver, 1978; y Baltimore vs. Dallas, 1971. ^{[ 469 ]} Once exjugadores han ganado múltiples Super Bowls: Mark Bavaro, Rocky Bleier, Nick Buoniconti, Eric Dorsey, Dave Duerson, David Givens, Terry Hanratty, Bob Kuechenberg, Joe Montana, Steve Sylvester y Justin Tuck. ^{[ 469 ]}

Trece exjugadores de Notre Dame, además de un exalumno que no fue jugador, han sido incorporados al Salón de la Fama del Fútbol Americano Profesional, igualando así a la USC en el primer lugar entre todos los programas de fútbol americano universitario. ^{[ 470 ] [ 471 ]}

• 1963: Curly Lambeau – Green Bay Packers (1919–1949), Chicago Cardinals (1950–1951), Washington Redskins (1952–1953).
• 1963: Johnny Blood * – Milwaukee Badgers (1925–1926), Duluth Eskimos (1926–1927), Pottsville Maroons (1928), Green Bay Packers (1929–1933, 1935–1936), Pittsburgh Pirates (1934, 1937–1938).
• 1964: George Trafton – Decatur Staleys / Chicago Staleys / Chicago Bears (1920–1921, 1923–1932).
• 1968: Wayne Millner – Boston / Washington Redskins (1936–1941, 1945).
• 1975: George Connor – Chicago Bears (1948–1955).
• 1986: Paul Hornung – Green Bay Packers (1957–1962, 1964–1966).
• 1988: Alan Page – Minnesota Vikings (1967–1978), Chicago Bears (1978–1981).
• 2000: Joe Montana – San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992), Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994).
• 2001: Nick Buoniconti – Boston Patriots (1962–1968), Miami Dolphins (1969–1974, 1976).
• 2002: Dave Casper – Oakland Raiders (1974–1980), Houston Oilers (1980–1983), Minnesota Vikings (1983), Los Angeles Raiders (1984).
• 2015: Jerome Bettis – Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams (1993–1995), Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005).
• 2015: Tim Brown – Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders (1988–2003), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004).
• 2016: Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. – San Francisco 49ers (1977–2000), recibió una licenciatura de Notre Dame, fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama Profesional en 2016 como Contribuyente.
• 2021: Bryant Young – San Francisco 49ers (1994–2007).

*Blood se graduó de St. John's (MN), pero comenzó su carrera en Notre Dame y figura como miembro del Salón de la Fama de ambas universidades en el Salón de la Fama del Fútbol Americano Profesional. ^{[ 472 ]}

Los Fighting Irish son el único equipo, profesional o universitario, que tiene todos sus partidos transmitidos a nivel nacional por radio y sus partidos en casa por televisión. ^{[ 474 ]} Notre Dame abandonó la College Football Association , un consorcio que administraba los derechos de transmisión televisiva en nombre de más de 64 universidades, en 1990, para establecer su propio acuerdo de transmisión con NBC . Desde 1968 hasta 2007, Westwood One fue el socio radiofónico oficial de los Irish, transmitiendo sus partidos durante 40 años consecutivos. ^{[ 475 ]}

Hasta el partido de la Fuerza Aérea de 2006, Notre Dame tenía un récord de 169 partidos consecutivos transmitidos a nivel nacional por NBC , ABC, ESPN o CBS . ^{[ 476 ]} El partido de ND contra la Fuerza Aérea de 2006 se transmitió por CSTV , un canal de deportes universitarios propiedad de CBS que tenía un contrato exclusivo con la Conferencia Mountain West , de la cual la Fuerza Aérea es miembro.

Los derechos de radio de los Fighting Irish pertenecen a Skyview Networks, que comenzó a distribuir las transmisiones como parte de un acuerdo multideportivo en 2020. ^{[ 477 ]}

• Paul Burmeister (narrador) 2018–presente
• Ryan Harris (comentarista deportivo) 2018–presente
• Jack Nolan (presentador de estudio de la cadena) 2020–presente

• Tony Roberts (narrador) – 1980–2005
• Tom Pagna (analista de color)
• Pat Haden
• Ralph Guglielmi
• Lindsey Nelson
• Al Wester
• Don Criqui (narrador) – 1974–1976, 2006–2017
• Allen Pinkett (analista de color) – 2002–2017
• Tom Hammond
• Mike Mayock
• Tony Dungy

NBC ha estado televisando los partidos de fútbol americano de temporada regular de Notre Dame en casa desde la temporada de 1991. ^{[ 9 ]} Además de las transmisiones de televisión, NBC también mantiene varios sitios web dedicados al fútbol americano de ND y Notre Dame Central, ^{[ 478 ]} que proporciona cobertura completa, repeticiones completas de los partidos y comentarios del equipo de Notre Dame. El contrato televisivo de NBC con Notre Dame se renovó en abril de 2013 y estaba previsto que continuara hasta la temporada de fútbol americano de 2025, ^{[ 479 ]} antes de que se hiciera otra renovación del contrato en 2023. Ahora NBC será la casa del fútbol americano de Notre Dame hasta la temporada de 2029. También emitió partidos de fútbol americano en el servicio de streaming de NBC, Peacock , que comenzó en la temporada de 2021, con el partido inaugural en casa el 11 de septiembre de 2021, contra Toledo , emitido exclusivamente en el servicio de streaming. ^{[ 480 ] [ 481 ]} La filial de NBC de South Bend, WNDU-TV, también produce su propio programa previo al partido, Countdown to Kickoff , que se emite antes de cada transmisión de un partido en casa en NBC. A nivel internacional, Sky Sports ha estado cubriendo los partidos de fútbol americano de Notre Dame en casa en el Reino Unido , la República de Irlanda , Italia y Alemania desde 2018 como resultado de la adquisición de Sky por parte de Comcast .

• Dan Hicks ( narrador principal )
• Jason Garrett ( comentarista principal )
• Zora Stephenson ( reportera principal a pie de campo )
• Noah Eagle ( narrador principal )
• Todd Blackledge ( comentarista deportivo en horario estelar )
• Kathryn Tappen ( reportera de horario estelar )

Aunque el programa de fútbol americano de Notre Dame no es miembro de la Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), tiene un acuerdo para jugar un promedio de cinco universidades de la ACC por temporada. A cambio, Notre Dame tiene acceso a la programación de tazones de la ACC que no pertenecen a los Playoffs de Fútbol Americano Universitario. ^{[ 482 ] [ 483 ]} Notre Dame utiliza un formato de seis partidos en casa en South Bend, cinco partidos fuera de casa y un partido en casa de la "Shamrock Series" en un sitio neutral de un área metropolitana importante para la programación. ^{[ 401 ]} Esto incluye preservar su partido anual contra Navy, ^{[ 484 ]} cinco oponentes rotativos de la ACC (dos partidos fuera de casa de la ACC coincidirán en años pares con partidos fuera de casa en Navy y tres partidos fuera de casa de la ACC coincidirán en años impares con partidos en casa contra Navy), ^{[ 485 ]} dos series de ida y vuelta (un partido en casa y un partido fuera de casa), un partido en casa de un oponente único y el partido en casa itinerante de la "Shamrock Series". ^{[ 486 ] [ 487 ]}

Debido a que la Big Ten y la ACC están pasando a un calendario de fútbol americano de nueve partidos de conferencia, los partidos de rivalidad tradicionales de Notre Dame con USC y Stanford se han suspendido después de la temporada 2025. ^{[ 444 ] [ 488 ]}

TBA: Se programará 1 partido adicional.

Por confirmar: Se programarán 2 partidos adicionales.

Por confirmar: Se programarán 3 partidos adicionales.

Por confirmar: Se programarán 2 partidos adicionales.

Por confirmar: Se programarán 4 partidos adicionales.

Por confirmar: Se programarán 5 partidos adicionales.

Por confirmar: Se programarán 6 partidos adicionales.