Biggest Games in Notre Dame history this century

EifertPower

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In anticipation of this Saturday's Stanford game which almost functions as a quarterfinal playoff game, i thought i would document Notre Dame's history in big-time games.

In order for it to count as a big-time game, it typically has to be at least in October and with huge implications.

By my count we are 3-9 in these types of big games. Let's hope it's 4-9 after this weekend. Given our injuries and the matchups, i'd say it'd be the most impressive victory this century for ND football. 2002 and 2006 were similar scenarios where we entered 10-1 and had to win on the road against a top 10 team and were blown out in both cases.


2014
@ Florida State -- Lost 27-31 -- played very well but got hosed on a late call that took away a TD

2012
@ Oklahoma -- Won 30-13 -- played very well. A late Chris Brown catch and a Manti Te'o interception sealed it

@USC -- Won 22-13 -- down year for USC but huge game in that we were playing at our biggest rivals building and knew if we won we'd be in the BCS championship.

vs. Alabama -- Lost 14-42 -- never had a chance in this one as Alabama jumped all over us from the start

2006
@ USC -- Lost 24-44 -- 10-1 entering this game and #6 playing on the road against #3 USC. Never could get the game within one score.

vs. LSU -- Lost 14-41 -- BCS bowl game and got blown out

2005
vs. USC -- Lost 31-34 -- greatest college football game ever. Lost on the Bush Push. Had USC in 3rd and long on their final drive.

vs. Ohio State - Lost 20-34 -- lost in BCS bowl game

2002
@ Florida State -- Won 34-24 -- looked very sharp and game wasn't as close as final score even indicates. Led us to #4 ranking

@ USC -- Lost 13-44 -- dismal showing on road against #6. allowed Carson Palmer to win the Heisman that night

2000
vs. Nebraska -- Lost 24-27 in OT -- this loss gets forgotten when listing painful losses but we played well and took #1 to the wire in an early-season contest

vs. Oregon State - lost 9-41 -- blown out in BCS bowl
 

domerdude

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2005 USC game was phenomenal, aside from the outcome!!. Irish had USC to 4th and 8 on final drive, not 3rd and long....
 

EifertPower

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2005 USC game was phenomenal, aside from the outcome!!. Irish had USC to 4th and 8 on final drive, not 3rd and long....

It was 3rd and 20 after Trevor Laws sack. Then USC completed an 11-yard pass on 3rd down and made it 4th-and-9. The 3rd down play is what killed me. That is until i heard after the game that Dwayne Jarrett couldn't even see out of one eye and still made that catch on 4th down. I'll never get over that game.
 

NDohio

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So this coaching staff is 2-2 in these games and should be 3-1 if not for the FSU debacle.
 

domerdude

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Gotcha. I was going off memory. Dwayne Jarrett catch was what I thought was the killer. Definitely no defense for a perfectly thrown pass. I was there, and my absolute highest moment as a fan was when the students started rushing the field when clock hit zero! The lowest moment was about 2 minutes after that!!
 
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