After Notre Dame rescinded its non-bowl policy in 1969, it became college football’s “Belle Of The Bowls” the next quarter century. In the 25 years from 1969-93, the Fighting Irish won 10 major bowl games (Cotton, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta or Rose, although they were ineligible for the latter).

No other school won more than eight over that same span (with the Fiesta officially becoming a “major” in 1981). The trio of Oklahoma, Penn State and USC won eight apiece.

Incredibly, in the 21 years hence from 1994-2014, Notre Dame has failed to win a major, going 0-6 in that span and losing by an average of 20.5 points. It is a dubious streak the Irish will attempt to snap on Jan. 1, 2016 versus No. 7 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Our countdown from 10 to — going from most memorable, valuable and greatest — continues with …

Dec. 31, 1973 Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23

It was the dream matchup between two superpowers meeting for the first time: No. 1 and 11-0 Alabama versus No. 3 and 10-0 Notre Dame (Oklahoma was No. 2 at 10-0-1, but the Sooners were on probation and ineligible to play in a bowl).

In the 18 football seasons from 1962-79, six programs won the AP national title 16 times: Alabama (4), Notre Dame and USC (3 apiece), Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska (2 apiece). The Crimson Tide was the last of that elite group the Irish finally had a chance to play.

North vs. South. Ara Parseghian vs. Bear Bryant. Catholics vs. Baptists. You name it, every possible storyline was there. Prior to kickoff, Bryant even referred to it as “the biggest game in the history of the South.”

The 85,161 who were in attendance at old Tulane Stadium that evening remains a Notre Dame record for a bowl game.

Game Notes

· A one-yard run by Wayne “The Train” Bullock gave Notre Dame a quick 6-0 advantage. Meanwhile, Alabama failed to net any yardage in the first quarter.

· The Crimson Tide took its first lead with a Randy Billingsley touchdown plus the PAT in the second quarter, but Irish freshman Al Hunter responded with a 93-yard kickoff return. A two-point conversion from Tom Clements to Pete Demmerle made it 14-7.

· Alabama cut the halftime deficit to 14-10 and then opened the second half with a powerful 93-yard drive in 11 plays, capped by a Wilbur Jackson touchdown for a 17-14 advantage.

· A 12-yard touchdown run by Irish halfback Eric Penick after an Alabama turnover made it 21-17, but the Crimson Tide answerered for a 23-21 lead. The missed extra point — plus Notre Dame’s two-point play earlier — would prove decisive.

· The seventh lead change occurred when Irish kicker Bob Thomas barely placed a 19-yard field goal kick inside the right upright with 4:26 remaining. The go-ahead score was set up on a remarkable 30-yard catch by senior tight end and tri-captain Dave Casper.

· With three minutes left, a 69-yard Alabama punt was downed at the Notre Dame one, setting up the final drama, which led to …

Game Standout

There were supreme efforts on both sides, but Notre Dame junior quarterback Tom Clements made one huge play after another, completing 7-of-12 passes for 169 yards, plus a two-point conversion, and adding 74 yards rushing on 15 carries.

In Notre Dame annals, there might be not be single play more famous than his pass from the end zone on third-and-8 from the three with two minutes left and the Irish clinging to their 24-23 lead. On a slippery surface where a misstep in the end zone for a safety or an errant toss could cost the Irish the game, Clements, while under duress, lofted a perfect 35-yard strike to backup tight end Robin Weber (one catch all season) to help seal the outcome.

ABC color analyst Bud Wilkinson, who guided the Oklahoma Sooners to an NCAA record 47 straight wins from 1953-57, commented that he couldn’t recall ever seeing a more clutch pass play in college football history.

In a 2007 ESPN countdown of the 100 most timeless or defining plays in 138 years of college football, “The Pass” was placed at No. 7, the highest of any play involving Notre Dame.

Why No. 1 On Our List?

There is no other national title game in history (or Super Bowl for that matter) that had seven lead changes, or so many ebbs and flows.

Every play in this contest had a pulsating, game-changing element to it, especially in the second half when both teams had opportunities to take a two-score lead, which would have been gold in this showdown. The game displayed magnificent coaching and adjustments by both teams throughout the course of the contest.

Alabama seemed to seize control at the start of the second half when it drove 93 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession to take a 17-14 lead and then pinned Notre Dame at its five. On third down, ‘Bama had Irish quarterback Clements trapped for what looked like would be a safety — but Clements somehow ducked underneath the rush and made it out of the end zone. After an Irish punt, the Crimson Tide drove to the Irish 28, but failed to come up with any points.

Then early in the fourth quarter with Notre Dame ahead 21-17, it drove to the Alabama 25 … before losing a fumble. On both sides, somebody would come up with a supreme effort to keep the game riveting and on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

“You’re ahead, you’re behind, you’re ahead, you’re behind …” Parseghian said years later. “That kind of game, with so much on the line, doesn’t occur much.”

It wasn’t until Notre Dame’s 38-34 win over Navy in 2013 that an Irish game had more lead changes (nine).

Notable Stat

Since Knute Rockne’s era (1918-30), there were only two times when an unbeaten, untied Notre Dame team played another unbeaten, untied opponent in the final game of the season. The 1973 Sugar Bowl was the first. The other was the 1989 Fiesta Bowl versus West Virginia.

Epilogue

In our humble opinion, this ranks as the greatest Notre Dame game of all time because 1) both teams were playing for the national title, 2) seven lead changes are seldom ever seen, 3) the build-up and anticipation with the festive New Year’s Eve atmosphere that included Howard Cosell as one of the broadcasters , and 4) The Pass.

Notre Dame-Miami in 1988 has generally been cited or voted as the greatest Irish game ever — but that was in mid-season and there was still plenty more to do for the Irish to finish No. 1. Notre Dame also never trailed in that game, whereas the 1973 showdown was back and forth. The Miami game also was at home, but this was in southern territory, and Dixie was primed to dance.

One other element that made this special was that on Jan. 1, 1973, Notre Dame reached its nadir under Parseghian with a 40-6 demolishing of the Irish by Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. It was a) the worst loss of the nine-year Parseghian era, b) the first time in nine seasons one of his Irish teams lost three games in one year and c) it resulted in the lowest AP finish (14th) under his watch.

Parseghian vowed that from those ashes, Notre Dame would rise again. In the closing minutes of 1973, his Irish had reached the summit again in dramatic fashion.