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The Major Bowls: When Notre Dame Ruled Dec. 31-Jan. 2

In his final Notre Dame game, Joe Theismann led the Irish to a 24-11 upset of Texas in the 1971 Cotton Bowl to end the Longhorns' 30-game winning streak.
In his final Notre Dame game, Joe Theismann led the Irish to a 24-11 upset of Texas in the 1971 Cotton Bowl to end the Longhorns' 30-game winning streak. (Notre Dame Media Relations)

Notre Dame’s all-time bowl record is 17-18, mainly because of an NCAA record 0-9 drought from Jan. 2, 1995 through Jan. 3, 2007. It also has not won a major bowl — now defined as a Big Six — in an astouding 23 seasons, and countng. Since 1994, it is 0-7 in such contests while losing by an average score of 39-19.

However, once upon a time, Notre Dame was the “Belle of the Bowls” with these four achievements:

• Beginning with the 1925 Rose Bowl victory versus 7-0-1 Stanford, Notre Dame is 8-3 against unbeaten and/or No. 1-ranked teams in bowl games. In a 20-year run from 1970-89, the Irish defeated five No. 1 teams in bowls. Since 1968, the year the AP poll began voting after bowl games, Florida is second with three, resulting in 1996, 2006 and 2008 national titles.

• After its 24-21 victory versus Texas A&M in the Jan. 1, 1994 Cotton Bowl, Notre Dame’s all-time bowl record improved to 13-6. That .684 winning percentage at the time was the best in college football among any program that had participated in at least 10 bowl games.

• In the 20th century, Notre Dame and Penn State were the only two teams to win each of what is or were considered the five major bowls: Rose, Orange, Sugar, Cotton and Fiesta. Since then, several others joined that fraternity.

• In the 25 years from 1969 (the year Notre Dame rescinded its 44-year non-bowl policy) through 1993, the Irish won 10 major bowls, the most of any school during that span. Here’s out countdown of those top 10:

10. Jan. 1, 1994 Cotton Bowl: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 21

Kevin Pendergast’s 31-yard field goal with 2:22 left lifted the No. 4 Irish to victory against 10-1 and No. 7 Texas A&M after trailing 21-14. Notre Dame finished No. 2 to Florida State, which it vanquished in November, 31-24.

Standout: Tailback Lee Becton carried 26 times for 138 yards to earn the game’s Offensive MVP honors.


9. Jan. 1, 1992 Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 39, Florida 28

The 9-3 and No. 18 Irish were deemed unworthy to play head coach Steve Spurrier’s No. 3 and 10-1 Gators and was at least a nine-point underdog. Notre Dame trailed 16-7 at halftime but wore down Florida with 245 yards rushing in the second half.

Standout: Fullback Jerome Bettis scored on 3-, 49- and 39-yard runs in the fourth quarter to finish with 150 yards rushing, still an Irish bowl record.


8. Jan. 1, 1975 Orange Bowl: Notre Dame 13, Alabama 11

In head coach Ara Parseghian’s final game, the Irish toppled 11-0 and No. 1 (UPI poll) Alabama a second consecutive year. Cornerback Reggie Barnett intercepted a Richard Todd pass near the Irish 30 in the closing minute.

Standout: The Irish defense, coming off a 55-24 humiliation at USC that knocked them out of defending its national title, held Alabama to three points through the first 57 minutes and hung on at the end.


7. Jan. 1, 1990 Orange Bowl: Notre Dame 21, Colorado 6

For the sixth time in 20 years, the Irish defeated an unbeaten and/or No. 1 team in a bowl. A scoreless first half was highlighted by a Notre Dame goal-line stand in which the Buffaloes failed to score despite first-and-goal at the one. Even though head coach Lou Holtz's squad defeated No. 1 in this game and six other teams that finished in the AP top 18, the 12-1 Irish finished No. 2 to 11-1 Miami, who ended their school record 23-game winning streak in the regular season finale

Standout: Stepping in for an injured Ricky Watters, flanker Raghib “Rocket” Ismail rushed for 108 yards, and his 35-yard third-quarter scamper gave Notre Dame a 14-0 cushion.

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6. Jan. 1, 1979 Cotton Bowl: Notre Dame 35, Houston 34

In frigid conditions the 8-3 Irish rallied from a 34-12 deficit with 7:37 left to post a miraculous triumph when Montana found Kris Haines for an 8-yard score on the last play, followed by Joe Unis’ extra point (twice). It enabled Notre Dame to finish No. 7 in the AP poll despite playing the nation's No. 1 ranked toughest schedule (opponents won 70.9 percent of their games).

Standout: After starting 7 of 27 with four interceptions (a prime reason Notre Dame trailed 34-12), Montana finished 6 of 7 for 78 yards, completed a two-point conversion and ran for another.


5. Jan. 1, 1971 Cotton Bowl: Notre Dame 24, Texas 11

All the scoring occurred in the first half, with quarterback Joe Theismann tossing a 26-yard TD to Tom Gatewood and then tallying on 3- and 15-yard runs to stake the Irish to a 21-3 lead to help end the No. 1 Longhorns’ 30-game winning streak. The 10-1 Irish finished No. 2 to 11-0-1 Nebraska, which eked out a 17-12 Orange Bowl win versus LSU.

Standout: In addition to Theismann, defensive back Clarence Ellis broke up four passes, was named Defensive MVP and caught a 37-yard pass to set up Notre Dame’s last score right before halftime.


4. Jan. 2, 1989 Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame 34, West Virginia 21

The fourth and most recent Irish bowl victory to earn a consensus national title seemed anti-climactic, but it still came against an 11-0 team.

Standout: Quarterback Tony Rice’s stats were almost identical to Tom Clements’ in the 1973 Sugar Bowl: 7 of 11 passing for 213 yards, plus 75 yards rushing.


3. Jan. 1, 1925 Rose Bowl: Notre Dame 27, Stanford 10

The Four Horsemen and Seven Mules delivered Notre Dame’s and head coach Knute Rockne’s first consensus national title despite getting out-gained in total yardage, 316-186, by previously unbeaten Stanford.

Standout: Fullback Elmer Layden scored once on offense on a 3-yard run, twice on defense with 78- and 70-yard interception returns and kept Stanford bottled up deep in its territory by averaging 48.5 yards per punt.


2. Jan. 2, 1978 Cotton Bowl: Notre Dame 38, Texas 10

Many believed the No. 5 Irish not only had to beat 11-0 and No. 1 Texas in their home state, but win decisively (a minimum of two touchdowns) to move up all the way to No. 1. Style points would be needed. The 28-point beat down clinched No. 1 and has not been surpassed by the Irish in a bowl game. Each of the last two Irish national titles were won on Jan. 2.

Standouts: Running back Vagas Ferguson rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and also made a diving 17-yard reception in the end zone on a Joe Montana pass. (Yet fullback Jerome Heavens led the team in rushing with 101 yards.) Linebacker/nose guard Bob Golic recorded 17 tackles and blocked a field-goal attempt.


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

The national title showdown between the two unbeatens can be considered the most exciting Irish game ever. The seventh and final lead change came on Bob Thomas’ 19-yard field goal with 4:26 left.

Standout: Quarterback Tom Clements completed 7 of 12 passes for 169 yards, highlighted by the most famous Notre Dame pass ever, a 35-yarder to tight end Robin Weber from the end zone on 3rd-and-8 with two minutes left to help seal the verdict. Clements also rushed for 74 yards.

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