Notre Dame: Decade Challenge Fighting Irish Football Version

Previous to Kelly’s arrival you would have to count back all the way to 1991 if you wanted to count out all of Notre Dame’s victories over USC, a number Kelly was able to reach in just one decade.

I’m not sure even the biggest Notre Dame or college football fans are away of just how rare perfect regular seasons are under the golden dome.

If you had to guess how many times would you think Notre Dame has gone an entire regular season without a loss or tie?  Remember they’ve won 11 national championships when I ask that.

The Fighting Irish have had perfect regular seasons just seven times in program history.

Knute Rockne did it three times, Frank Leahy twice, Ara Parseghian once and Lou Holtz once.

That means that Brian Kelly’s perfect regular seasons in 2012 and 2018 are the only two other times it’s happened in Notre Dame football history.

If that’s not eye-opening I’m not sure what would be for you short of winning a national title and blowing out the opposition by 40 in that game.

For what it’s worth, Notre Dame’s 8-0 start under Tyrone Willingham in 2002 was the closest the Irish got to a perfect regular season last decade.  Even that Notre Dame team stumbled down the stretch, finishing just 10-3.

Bowl Success:

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