Notre Dame Aims to Overpower Georgia and Secure Its Largest Postseason Victory in 31 Years
Notre Dame's football history is drenched in nostalgia, dating back to the 1920s when Grantland Rice famously labeled their backfield as the "Four Horsemen." The Fighting Irish had a dedicated fanbase, many of whom were affectionately known as "subway alumni," meaning they didn't graduate from the university but still faithfully followed the team.
Despite clinging to its past, Notre Dame isn't arrested in time. Instead, the institution has poured substantial resources into football, securing a contract extension for coach Marcus Freeman, enhancing its facilities, recruiting qualified transfers, embracing Name, Image and Likeness, and allocating a large portion of the anticipated $20.5 million settlement revenue to the football team.
As the 7th seeded Fighting Irish (12-1) prepare to face the 2nd seed Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in New Orleans, they can't shake off their three-decade long struggle in significant postseason games. Yes, Notre Dame emerged victorious against Indiana, 27-17, in the CFP opener on Dec. 20. However, the Hoosiers have a history of underachievement, ranking among the most defeat-prone teams in Division 1.
The last time Notre Dame recorded a notable postseason victory? That occurred on Jan. 1, 1994, when the 4th ranked Fighting Irish overcame the 7th ranked Texas A&M, 24-21, in the Cotton Bowl. Notre Dame concluded the season with an impressive 11-1 record and ranked second in the Associated Press poll behind Florida State, a team that Notre Dame had previously defeated in the acclaimed "Game of the Century." However, votes penalized Notre Dame for losing, 41-39, to Boston College in the regular season finale and kept Florida State at the poll's top spot following their victory over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Florida State ultimately emerged as the unanimous national champion in both the AP and coaches' polls.
"I was genuinely disappointed that it wasn't a split poll," recalled Notre Dame's offensive coordinator Skip Holtz in 2014. "It's hard to argue against Florida State's deserving it, but I believe it's incredibly challenging to assert that Notre Dame didn't deserve a share of it, given that we emerged victorious against them head-to-head."
Over the subsequent 31 years, Notre Dame has suffered defeats in all 10 major bowl and postseason games, including a 42-14 loss to Alabama in the national title game in January 2013, a 30-3 loss to Clemson in the CFP semifinals in December 2018, and a 31-14 loss to Alabama in the CFP semifinals in January 2021. The majority of these losses have been lopsided, such as the 41-9 defeat to Oregon State in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and the 41-14 loss to LSU in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. Notre Dame's coaches, Bob Davie, Charlie Weis, and Tyrone Willingham, weren't immune to the consequences of these disappointing campaigns and ultimately paid the price with their jobs.
Brian Kelly, who assumed coaching duties after Weis' departure in 2009, restored a measure of stability to the program. In his 12 seasons, Kelly surpassed Knute Rockne as the coach with the most victories (113) in Notre Dame's history. Notre Dame achieved 10 wins and ranked among the top 12 teams in the Associated Press poll in each of Kelly's final five seasons before departing for LSU following the 2021 season.
In the third season under Marcus Freeman, Kelly's successor, Notre Dame finds itself in a position to break the streak. Since suffering a loss to Northern Illinois in early September, the Fighting Irish have won an impressive 11-game winning streak. Notre Dame has outscored its opponents by an average of 25 points per game, boasting the largest scoring margin in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Fighting Irish rank fourth in the nation in scoring offense (38.8 points per game) and third in defense (13.8 points per game).
If Notre Dame manages to defeat Georgia, they will establish a school record of 13 victories. More significantly, they will have advanced to the CFP semifinals, where they will face either Penn State or Boise State in Miami on Jan. 9. They will also have the opportunity to claim the program's first national title since 1988.
However, Notre Dame isn't indulging in premature celebrations. Georgia is a slight one-point favorite in the upcoming game, has suffered two losses this season, and lost its starting quarterback, Carson Beck, with a season-ending injury. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs boast a recent track record of success, having won national titles in 2021 and 2022 and suffering just one loss last season. The Bulldogs are accustomed to winning in high-stakes games.
"Georgia's managed to accomplish what we're aiming for," shared Notre Dame's defensive coordinator Al Golden during a recent press meet. "They've scaled that mountain. If there's a slight add-on, it's that we need to figure out how to pull this off, how to step into these arenas and perform at an exceptional level, no matter the situation and regardless of who we're facing off against. It's continually about us, our performance, and our readiness. This won't change this week either."
Notre Dame's recent success in football has been significantly aided by monetary investments and the implementation of Name, Image and Likeness rules, enabling the team to secure top talent and enhance its overall performance. The Fighting Irish's football program is set to receive a substantial portion of the $20.5 million settlement revenue, which further underscores the institution's dedication to excelling in sports and generating substantial income.
