Close calls and what might have been is a good way to put what Notre Dame has gone through since its last National Championship title in 1988. Sure there were close calls along the way—plenty of them. They could have played for a title a year later had they won in the Orange Bowl. Who can forget, a week after beating No. 1 FSU, the loss that occurred at home against Tom Coughlin and Boston College?
Notre Dame vaulted itself back onto the map (albeit a short time) in the college football ranks in 2000. An overtime loss against Nebraska then kept the Irish from chasing what could have been a national title game appearance. Sad, but actually true if you go back and look at that season.
Let's take a look back at heartbreaking Notre Dame losses over the past 20 years and see which ones really were the worst.
1989 vs. Miami
Many expected Notre Dame to repeat as National Champions in 1989 as they entered the season ranked second in the nation, behind only the Michigan Wolverines. After defeating UM in the "Big House," 24-19, the Irish soared up to No. 1 in the nation. What stood between them and another national title, though, were the Miami Hurricanes, the defending champs the Irish had to knock off in South Bend the year before.
Although this game did not come down to a last-second play, it showed the Irish they were not the best team in the nation that year. Miami cruised to a 27-10 win in the Orange Bowl and finished the year as National Champs. Although it was not as heartbreaking as other Irish losses, it was still a day that Irish fans can look back at and just wonder.
1991 Orange Bowl vs. Colorado
This season woefully provided two offerings on this list for the Irish, this one coming on the first day of the year in the Orange Bowl against Colorado. Although Notre Dame entered the game incapable of winning a national championship themselves in all likelihood, they still had the opportunity to defeat the Buffs and keep them from being the champs.
Well, long story short, the Irish were held in check by the Colorado defense throughout. Trailing late in the game, 10-9, there was no way Colorado would kick to the Rocket...right? This pains me to post, but why not? It's still a hell of a run back, clipping call or no.
1991 vs. Tennessee
In 1991, the Irish seemed primed for another title run before the Tennessee Volunteers came to South Bend and started off the game down by a 14-0 score before most fans in the stands even blinked. The Irish continued to pile on, gaining a 31-7 advantage at one point in the matchup. However, the Vols came storming back and defeated the Irish, 35-34, as Reggie Ho missed a last-second field goal that would have won the Irish the game.
The Irish needed to have other things work out which did not in order to gain a trip to the title game in 1991, but this loss still pains Irish fans to think about to this day. The loss sent the Irish in a downward spiral that set up the dramatic Sugar/Cheerios Bowl game against Florida.
1993 vs. Boston College
12 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jeff Contizano 10 months ago
Michigan laying the beatdown 38-0 wasn't painful last year? Or was the year so painful the memories have been blocked? haha I joke. I remember watching that USC game.. I was pissed at Bush/Leinart when they pulled that garbage. But then I asked myself.. who do I really hat emore?
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Clashmore Mike 10 months ago
That "beatdown" isn't even close. But that doesn't mean payback isn't coming.
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Jeff Contizano 10 months ago
I can understand your feelings, losing a game in the closing seconds is a lot worse than giving up before the game even started right?
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Brian 10 months ago
The painful memories have been blocked, just like your attempted field goal to beat App State!
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Jon Hunn 10 months ago
The '93 game was by far the most heartbreaking for me. Although, I was older during the 2005 loss and I remember being pretty pissed then too. I think I stayed at my house and sulked the rest of the weekend.
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Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago
I guess the 1985 loss to Miami doesn't bother ND anymore? Up 51-7 with less than 2 minutes left Miami blocks a ND punt and runs it in for another score, Allen Pinkett was in tears along with other ND players on the sidelines. Maybe it was a joyous day as the Irish said goodbye to the Faust era.
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Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago
I see...last 20 years...sorry for brining up what must be a sore subject for you ;)
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Clashmore Mike 10 months ago
While that defeat will never, EVER be forgotten by Notre Damers, it isn't a "heartbreaker" in the sense of the other games listed in this article. We were never in that game, and the despicable way Johnson ran the score up served to motivate the team over the next few years, especially in 1988.
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Pat 10 months ago
Reggie Ho was in Med School for the Tennessee game in 91. That was walk-on Rob Leonard after Craig Hentrich got hurt on the final play of the first half on a field goal that was blocked and returned for a TD.
FSU's QB was Charlie Ward, not Tommy Ward.
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sven ghali 10 months ago
I'd include the '91 and '94 losses to Michigan in my personal list. I was a young fan of the Irish full of preseason championship dreams back then. In '91 I had a hard time dealing with the fact that Rocket wasn't around to put Desmond in his place, and in '94 Beano had recently decided Ron Powlus was going to win 3 Heismans. I'd put both of these games in place of the '00 losses because as Nick said, not much was expected from ND that year.
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Clashmore Mike 10 months ago
I was at both the 1993 and 2005 losses (and most of the others as well) and neither one was good, but hands down the worst loss was the 1993 loss to Boston College. The second was the 2005 loss to USC. 1993 was worse because, with the incredible win the previous week, ND had a supposedly clear road to claiming the national championship that year. They were favored in the remaining games, and if they had taken care of business would have clearly been crowned champs that year. (Of course, they should have been anyway, but that is another story.) The delirious joy following the FSU win came crashing to earth with the loss to BC.
The 2005 game against USC, loss notwithstanding, was perhaps the greatest college football game I have ever witnessed (and I've seen some doozies). When Nick says "The atmosphere of Notre Dame that day was unmatched and there was just the feeling in the air something was different on that afternoon," he is accurate. Actually, the feeling began the day before with a pep rally in the stadium. They threw the doors open and 50,000 people showed up. A parade of alums (Montana, The Bus, Rudy, and on and on) were on hand, as well as a giant Trojan Horse (reminiscent of the 1977 ND/USC game). This game was a heartbreaker because it was Weis' first year, and no one predicted the season ND would have when a real coach was once again at the helm. Every play counted, every possession was crucial, and despite being serious underdogs, ND played USC toe-to-toe (and even statistically out-played them). The electricity, spirit, and NOISE in that stadium was unlike any I'd seen in over 30 years. And then it came down to the last play following an overly generous spotting of the ball by the PAC-10 refs...the same refs that didn't throw an obvious flag on the "Bush Push." Painful? Yes, but leaving the stadium, most ND fans were still happy. It was a great, great game, and ND was obviously back in business.
To all the smart aleck ND Haters out there, don't be fooled by last year. It was an anomaly. Enjoy your wisecracks now, and pray your team doesn't run up against the Irish in the next few years.
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J B 10 months ago
The 1993 BC game was the worst for me. I was there, and I really thought we were going to be national champions after the FSU game. I guess the voters felt bad since Bowden hadn't won a national championship. It just makes me ask myself every year, when are playoffs in college football going to start?
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