In the Citrus Bowl Jan. 1, Notre Dame and LSU will meet for the 12th time (and an Irish-record fourth matchup between the two schools in a bowl). The current series has the Irish ahead 6-5.
The first encounter occurred in 1970, and among the 11 played contests we rate that one as the best in the series for Notre Dame.
Here is our 1-11 countdown, from a Fighting Irish perspective:
1. Nov. 21, 1970: Notre Dame 3, LSU 0
One of the more underrated great games in Notre Dame Stadium annals, a slugfest won by the No. 2 Irish over No. 7 LSU, thereby earning the Irish a shot to play No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl for the national title. Scott Hempel’s 24-yard field goal with 2:54 left in the contest was the difference.
Especially amazing is the two quarterbacks were future NFL MVPs Joe Theismann and Bert Jones. Notre Dame defensive end Walt Patulski was credited with eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage for minus-42 yards.
LSU got a form of “revenge” on New Year’s Day. Although 9-1 Notre Dame (which lost to USC in the regular-season finale) upset No. 1 Texas, it needed the Tigers to defeat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to win the national title. The Cornhuskers scored late to win 17-12, leaving the Irish No. 2.
2. Nov. 21, 1998: Notre Dame 39, LSU 36
This wacky shootout was the antitheses of the 3-0 win 28 years to the day earlier in Notre Dame Stadium.
It saw three defensive touchdowns scored, four blocked kicks and the Irish rallying from a 34-20 deficit, including an 89-yard interception return for a score by linebacker Bobbie Howard, to improve to 9-1.
The craziness included Notre Dame quarterback Jarious Jackson injuring his knee while taking a safety in his own end zone in an effort to run out the clock in the closing seconds. Jackson finished the game with 276 passing yards and 80 rushing yards, but his absence proved costly in the following week’s 10-0 loss at USC.
3. Oct. 27, 1984: Notre Dame 30, LSU 22
Irish head coach Gerry Faust’s 3-4 Irish were on a three-game losing streak (all lost at home) and heavy underdogs at unbeaten and No. 6 LSU, which would win the SEC championship that season.
In one of his three or four most amazing victories of his era, Faust, led by 162 rushing yards from Allen Pinkett, sees his team pull off the upset and make the cover of Sports Illustrated.
4. Sept. 12, 1981: Notre Dame 27, LSU 9
Faust’s debut before an electric Notre Dame crowd that has “Faust Fever” sees the Irish score touchdowns on three of their first four possessions, with Blair Kiel and Tim Koegel alternating at quarterback, for a quick 20-0 lead. The performance helps vault the Irish from No. 4 to No. 1.
“I think I’ll retire now,” Faust joked about his debut afterwards.
5. Nov. 15, 1997: Notre Dame 24, LSU 6
Similar to 1984, the Irish were 4-5 and underdogs at Death Valley to No. 11 LSU. Instead, they control the game with a stout running game led by Autry Denson and Clement Stokes and see most of the stadium empty by the start of the fourth quarter when it is 24-0.
Of the 1,271 games played in Notre Dame history, this is the only one in which the Irish had neither a turnover nor a penalty.
Both the 1984 and 1997 contests were rare day games at Tiger Stadium. The late Beano Cook, The Pope of College Football at ESPN, stated LSU was the Count Dracula of college football because it does its greatest damage at night.
Interestingly, the Irish are 6-1 versus LSU in the day and 0-4 at night. The Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl has a 1 p.m. kickoff.
6. Dec. 30, 2014: Notre Dame 31, LSU 28
This Music City Bowl game that was capped by Kyle Brindza’s 32-yard field goal as time expired snapped a four-game losing streak to finish the year 8-5 and provide some uplift to a 10-1 start the next season.
In his first career start, quarterback Malik Zaire was named MVP with his 96 rushing yards and 96 passing yards while the Irish racked up 263 yards on the ground. Incumbent Everett Golson also was used in passing situations and helped lead the game-winning drive while assisting on others.
7. Nov. 22, 1986: LSU 21, Notre Dame 19
Head coach Lou Holtz’s debut season Irish saw the Irish put up the good fight again before losing and dropping to 4-6. Notre Dame this season lost by one (24-23) to Big Ten champion Michigan, by two at SEC champ LSU and by five to national champ Penn State (24-19), plus 20-15 at Michigan State and 10-9 to Pitt.
8. Nov. 23, 1985: LSU 10, Notre Dame 7
Faust’s Notre Dame debut was versus the Tigers, and ironically his final game at Notre Dame Stadium also was against LSU, who blocked two John Carney field goal attempts in this win. A late Irish drive for the winning score ended when a pass bounced off sophomore Tim Brown’s chest, resulting in an interception.
Brown would bounce back well in his career.
9. Nov. 20, 1971: LSU 28, Notre Dame 8
In an ugly, hostile environment at Baton Rouge in which the favorite cry was “Go to hell, Notre Dame,” No. 14 LSU hands Irish head coach Ara Parseghian his largest margin of defeat in his eight seasons.
The Irish already had rejected a Gator Bowl bid the week of the game with an 8-1 record, and the 8-2 finish marks the first time Parseghian’s troops finish outside the top 10.
10. Dec. 28, 1997: LSU 27, Notre Dame 9
After the flawless performance a month earlier in Notre Dame’s 24-6 victory, the two teams have a rematch at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport. This time, led by running back Rondell Mealey’s 222 rushing yards, the Tigers avenge the loss under head coach and Notre Dame alumnus Gerry DiNardo. Irish head coach Bob Davie's initial Irish campaign ends 7-6.
A few months later in a conference room at Notre Dame, I notice something sticking out in an isolated bookcase. It’s the participation trophy from the Independence Bowl.
11. Jan. 3, 2007: LSU 41, Notre Dame 14
No. 11 and 10-2 Notre Dame has another chance to end its 13-year drought without a major bowl victory, this time versus No. 4 LSU. The Tigers rush for 245 yards while quarterback JaMarcus Russell makes himself the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft with 332 passing yards.
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