Undoubtedly, Notre Dame football played a game to remember on Saturday night. Defeating No. 1 Clemson 47-40 in double overtime, the Irish shocked the nation. The euphoric feeling was surely felt throughout Notre Dame’s campus, as well as in Irish fans globally. A dream became a reality for Notre Dame football, as Clemson had been favored to win this game for quite some time and had not lost an ACC matchup since 2017.
Ironically enough, this is not the first time the Irish have defeated a No. 1 team from the south. Notre Dame is now 3-0, as before it defeated Miami in 1988 and Florida State in 1993. Not only that, but these three victories occurred in South Bend and were all nail biting games to say the least.
Catholics vs. Convicts
The No. 1 Miami Hurricanes traveled to South Bend on October 15, 1988 to play the No. 4 Irish with both teams undefeated. Not only has this matchup been named as one of the greatest games in college football history, but it also came down to crucial plays that left fans on the edge of their seats. Miami was attempting a two-point conversion with less than a minute to go in the game. This was going to secure a win for the Hurricanes, but the pass was incomplete. The Irish went on to win by 31-30, finishing their season as national champions. This is the last time Notre Dame has won the title.
Game of the Century
An even closer matchup, Notre Dame was ranked one below Florida State, making the expectations very high for a close game. To many, this game was going to depict the national championship. Although the Irish pulled away with a 31-24 win, there was never a certain leader during the game. Florida State had a chance to tie the game in the last three seconds, as it was down by a touchdown. An incomplete pass gave Notre Dame the victory, one that has been reminisced for many years by Notre Dame football fans.
The Game of 2020?
As I mentioned before, the matchups between Miami and Florida State were considered some of the best games in college football history. Although those games were close, neither entered overtime or double overtime. I certainly believe this past Saturday’s game will be considered one of the best games of this decade, if not in college football history.
Despite different teams and different games, they all share one thing in common. That is an upset from Notre Dame in Notre Dame Stadium. Upsets create a whole different dimension of college football. It is never certain who will experience the next upset. I am pretty certain Clemson fans did not expect Saturday to go as it did, but nonetheless, it is a game that should be respected by both teams and fans.
The beauty of college football is the ability to witness greatness happen. Notre Dame truly performed at a level that captured greatness, and I am sure Irish fans are still letting the emotions sink in.
Photo by Notre Dame Athletics | The Observer
My name is Claire Frego and I am a senior at the University of Dayton. As an aspiring journalist, I love to share my passion of sports with everyone. This college football season, I will be focusing on Notre Dame. Whether you are an Irish fan or just want to keep up with football this season, I invite you to follow along on my journey as I continue to write and gain knowledge about this crazy world of sports!